Gokhru chhota small Tribulus Terrestris 50gm
Research suggests Tribulus terrestris may help manage blood sugar and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Many of today’s popular dietary supplements come from plants that have been used medicinally since ancient times.
One of these botanicals is Tribulus terrestris, which is purported to have a variety of health benefits, including reduced blood sugar and cholesterol, altered hormone levels and increased sexual function and libido.
This article tells you everything you need to know about this plant, its health effects and whether you should consider consuming it as a dietary supplement.
Tribulus terrestris is a small leafy plant. It’s also known as puncture vine, Gokshura, caltrop and goat’s head (1).
It grows in many places, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East (2Trusted Source).
Both the root and fruit of the plant have been used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurveda medicine (3Trusted Source).
Traditionally, people have used this plant for a variety of potential effects, including to enhance libido, keep the urinary tract healthy and reduce swelling (3Trusted Source).
Today, Tribulus terrestris is widely used as a general health supplement, as well as in supplements that claim to increase testosterone levels (4Trusted Source).
Summary: Tribulus terrestris is a plant that has been
used for a variety of potential health benefits for many years. It is popular
as a general health supplement and as an ingredient in testosterone booster
supplements.
Although people often take Tribulus terrestris for its potential effects on sexual function and testosterone, it has also been studied for other important effects.
One study examined the effects of taking 1,000 mg of Tribulus terrestris per day in 98 women with type 2 diabetes.
After three months, women taking the supplement experienced lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, compared to those who took a placebo (5Trusted Source).
Animal studies have also shown that Tribulus terrestris may reduce blood sugar levels, help protect against blood vessel damage and help prevent increases in blood cholesterol (6, 7Trusted Source).
While these findings appear promising, more research is needed before this plant can be recommended for these health benefits.
Summary:
Preliminary evidence shows that Tribulus terrestris may improve
blood sugar control and cholesterol in people with diabetes. However, research
in humans is limited.
A quick online search for Tribulus terrestris supplements shows that many products made with the plant are focused on boosting testosterone.
One review analyzed the results from 12 major studies on the plant’s effects in men and women aged 14–60. The studies lasted from 2–90 days, and the participants included healthy people and those experiencing sexual problems.
The researchers found that this supplement did not increase testosterone (4Trusted Source).
Other researchers found that Tribulus terrestris may increase testosterone in some animal studies, but that this result is not usually seen in humans (8Trusted Source).
Summary:
Despite marketing claims, Tribulus terrestris does not appear to
increase testosterone in humans. This conclusion is based on studies in men and
women of various health statuses and ages.
Even though this supplement may not increase testosterone, it may boost libido.
Some researchers found that when men with reduced sex drives consumed 750–1,500 mg of Tribulus terrestris daily for two months, their sexual desire increased by 79% (4Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
Also, 67% of women with very low libidos experienced increased sexual desire after they took supplements of 500–1,500 mg for 90 days (4Trusted Source).
Other studies have also reported that supplements containing the herb enhanced sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction in women with low libido (10Trusted Source).
However, studies in men with erectile dysfunction have yielded mixed results.
Some research shows that taking 800 mg of this supplement per day may not effectively treat erectile dysfunction (11Trusted Source).
However, other reports showed significant improvements in erections and sexual satisfaction with a dose of 1,500 mg per day (12Trusted Source).
While it seems that Tribulus terrestris may improve libido in women and men, more research is needed to clarify the extent of the sexual effects of this supplement.
Summary: Research has found that Tribulus terrestris may
improve libido in women and men with reduced sex drives. Studies on the herb as
a treatment for erectile dysfunction have shown mixed results, with higher
doses appearing to be more beneficial.
Active individuals frequently take Tribulus terrestris supplements to improve their body composition by increasing muscle or decreasing fat (13Trusted Source).
This may be partly due to the herb’s reputation as a testosterone enhancer, though research shows it may not actually live up to these claims.
In fact, research is also very limited on whether the plant improves body composition or performance in active individuals and athletes.
One study examined how Tribulus terrestris supplements affected the performance of elite male rugby players.
The men took the supplements during five weeks of weight training. However, by the end of the study, there were no differences in improvements in strength or body composition between the supplement and placebo groups (14Trusted Source).
Another study found that eight weeks of taking this supplement with an exercise program did not improve body composition, strength or muscle endurance more than a placebo (15Trusted Source).
