Tribulus terrestris is an invasive species, and may be considered a weed if found in your garden. However, this “weed” has a long history of medicinal use, primarily for urinary tract health and sexual vitality.
You may have never heard of Tribulus terrestris before, but that’s because this is a plant of many names. Found around the world, this plant is known as:
- Goat’s head
- Bindii
- Bullhead
- Burra gokharu
- Bhakhdi
- Caltrop
- Small caltrops
- Cat’s-head
- Devil’s eyelashes
- Devil’s-thorn
- Devil’s-weed
- Puncture vine
In cases the above list of names isn’t clear enough, this is a thorny plant you’ll need to handle carefully. It easily identifiable with its razor sharp nettles, which hold the seeds, and the ground-crawling vines sprout yellow, five-petal flowers. The plant is typically dried and crushed into a powder, and used that way for its health benefits.
Helps Prevent Kidney and Urinary Stones
Kidney and urinary stones are crystallized minerals that form in urine and are incredibly painful to pass. Tribulus terrestris can work prevent the formation of these deposits in the urinary tract and kidneys. It is considered a relatively safe and natural renal stone preventative.
Beneficial To Men’s Sexual Health
Male fertility may see a big boost when supplementing with Tribulus terrestris. After all, this is the traditional medicinal purpose of the plant, and now science is verifying that it works. In fact, studies found this weed to enhance sperm motility and viability significantly. This is important for couples trying to conceive.
For men, it goes beyond producing healthier, stronger sperm; it helps with sexual performance problems as a whole. Oral supplements showed to substantially benefit patients who experience premature ejaculation. It is also a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction. While this may be a safe, natural treatment for these conditions, the medical condition often goes untreated due to the nature of the problem. However, they are real conditions that could be a sign of other medical problems, so it is important to speak to a physician if you experience complications with sexual performance.
Beneficial To Women’s Sexual Health
Men aren’t the only ones to benefit from this plant. Tribulus terrestris reduces the symptoms of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women. Hormone changes can be a big part of the loss of sex-drive, so this can be a good, natural way to bring back that desire. Women reported greatly enhanced sexual arousal and lubrication with few side effects when taking a Tribulus terrestris supplement.
Blood glucose and cholesterol levels were lowered in diabetic women when supplementing with Tribulus terrestris. This can go a long way to improving overall health and vitality.
While Tribulus terrestris has a long history of treating sexual health, it was widely believed to be tied to the androgen enhancing effects. However, new research studies found insufficient empirical evidence to confirm this theory. For now, we will have to settle with knowing the effects and will have to wait for further research to discover the why.
If taken in large quantities, Tribulus terrestris can cause toxicity, leading to liver damage.
