A devil of a pain treatment

A perennial plant called Devil's claw that's native to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia has been in use for 50 years in Europe for digestive problems, fevers and allergic reactions and as a pain reliever.

A review of research on the plant's properties published last fall found that evidence supports the use of devil's claw to treat chronic lower back pain and osteoarthritis. According to Prevention magazine, the review was conducted by scientists from universities in Toronto, Sydney, Maryland and Freiburg, Germany. Most of the studies they reviewed had a placebo group and were blinded -- meaning neither doctors nor participants know who was getting devil's claw or a placebo.

The pain-relieving compound derived from the plant is called harpagoside and research revealed a daily dose of 60 mg relieved back pain as effectively as a standard dose of the troubled commercial pain reliever Vioxx.

Matters of faith

Practicing physicians say that although it is clear when medical referrals are appropriate, spiritual issues often are ambiguous.

In a recent journal article, Dr. Jerome Groopman of Harvard Medical School described treating an Orthodox Jewish patient who believed her breast cancer was a punishment from God for an adulterous affair. Groopman, drawing on his experience with the Jewish faith, engaged the woman in spiritual discussion but was unable to persuade her to accept chemotherapy. She eventually died.

The episode, say Groopman and others, illustrates the complication of introducing spirituality into medicine: Unlike observable science, there are few clearly right and wrong answers in spiritual issues.