Tribulus Terrestris

Names in Different Languages

English	Tribulus Terrestris
Urdu	گوکھرو
Hindi	गोखरू
Farsi	خارخاسک
Unani	Gokhru
French	Tribule terrestre
German	Erd-Burzeldorn

Traditional Uses

In Ayurveda, gokshura fruit and root have traditionally been used as a Vrsya (aphrodisiac) for men, a Mutrala (diuretic) for painful or difficult urination, and a tonic for strength; in Traditional Chinese Medicine the fruit is used for headache, dizziness, red eyes and skin itching.

Modern Research

Tribulus is heavily marketed as a testosterone booster, but the evidence does not support that claim: a 2025 systematic review in Nutrients (10 trials, 483 men) found 8 of 10 studies showed no significant change in androgen levels, and a 2026 meta-analysis found no significant difference in total testosterone versus placebo. The more defensible signal is on sexual-function questionnaires, with modest gains and wide confidence intervals. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded in 2024 that safety and efficacy data were insufficient to establish a European monograph, so expectations should stay modest.

Uses

• Libido and sexual-function support
• Male vitality tonic in Ayurvedic practice
• Urinary and diuretic support (traditional)
• Blood sugar and blood pressure support (traditional and preliminary)

Benefits of Use

• Sexual function support: randomised trials reported improved erectile-function and sexual-function scores, including Kamenov et al. (2017) in 180 men over 12 weeks
• Libido support: trials in men and women with sexual dysfunction reported improved desire and satisfaction scores
• Blood pressure support: preliminary evidence suggests a mild blood-pressure-lowering effect
• Blood sugar support: traditional use and small studies suggest a possible blood-sugar-lowering effect, though evidence is limited

Safe Dose & Overdose (mg/g)

Side Effects

• Mild stomach upset, nausea or acid reflux, especially at high doses
• Trouble sleeping or restlessness in some users
• Rare reports of irregular periods, breast enlargement (gynaecomastia) or hair loss
• Isolated severe liver or kidney injury reports involving tribulus-containing products, though direct causality is uncertain
• Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding and in children under 16; caution with gallstones

Interactions

• Diabetes medicines: may lower blood sugar and add to their effect
• Blood pressure medicines (antihypertensives): may lower blood pressure further
• Blood thinners such as clopidogrel: potential interaction reported; discuss with a clinician
• Statins and other CYP3A4-metabolised drugs: tribulus is a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor; one case report describes muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) with a statin

Sources

• TrueHGH - Is Tribulus Terrestris Safe? Uses, Evidence, and Who Should Skip It
• Health Canada - Tribulus Terrestris Natural Health Product Monograph
• ManCore - Tribulus Terrestris and Testosterone: Does It Actually Work?
• Nutrimuscle - Tribulus Terrestris: Benefits, Effects and Dangers Explained