Tribulus Terrestris is a very common and popular herbal ingredient in many testosterone boosters, it is also one that has courted a lot of controversy – largely because, despite the hype and claims surrounding its reported effects, science hasn’t really proven that it has any testosterone boosting properties whatsoever. This article looks at the herb and tries to ascertain exactly what benefits (if any) this ingredient can provide.
What Will I Learn
Tribulus Terrestris : Effective T-Booster Or Simply All Hype With No Substance?
It was believed, largely due to an over hyed marketing program by many manufacturers that Tribulus Terrestris had a direct influence on luteinising hormone.
This is a direct precursor to testosterone production.
We took a look at Tribulus Terrestris in depth.
We looked at a number of clinical studies with the aim of trying to determine if it actually has any real value as a t-booster.
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What Is Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus Terrestris is a naturally occurring creeping plant, commonly grown throughout parts of Europe, China and Asia.
It has yellow flowers and spines on its stems and flower heads.
This gives it its more common name – ‘puncture vine’
In traditional Chinese medicine it has been used as a treatment for eye problems, high blood pressure, oedema, and cardiovascular disease.
In India it plays a key role in natural Ayuvedic medicine.
It is commonly used to help treat poor libido in men and women along with male erection problems.
It is also thought to be able to treat jaundice, poor appetite and as well as improve circulatory problems.
There are also some claims about its ability to control levels of bad cholesterol.
The dried extracts of the root, leaves and fruit are all commonly used in supplements.
Clinical Studies On Tribulus Terrestris
There have been many studies involving Tribulus Terrestris.
Sadly most of them have been carried out on laboratory animals – mice, rats and monkeys.
Now its not impossible to get the same results in humans.
However, the facts are that we do differ from these animals in many ways.
There is one key human study that was performed in 1985.
It is the only human blind study to date that has looked into its potential to boost testosterone.
It is also the only one being cited by numerous manufacturers trying to sell their products.
The study results did return a noticeable increase in testosterone.
There were 16 humans subjects, and 8 of them were women – so the results aren’t exactly groundbreaking.
There have been a few more basic trials and studies also.
These have been carried out on healthy men and to date no other study has replicated the results.
This does bring the first study results into question.
Even in men who are infertile, there is no definitive evidence that taking Tribulus Terrestris can give testosterone anything more than a very minor boost.
There was one human study that tested the effects of Tribulus Terrestris on men who had very low sperm count.
They were each given a massive dose of 6000mg per day for 60 days.
They did report some slight increase in strength, fertility and even a tiny boost in testosterone.
The dose in question is a scary amount to take.
To replicate this dose you would have to take around 8 giant horse sized pills per day.
Most supplements only contain between 500 and 1000mg.
Health Risks And Interactions
There have been some concerns surrounding the taking of Tribulus Terrestris.
This is more to do with women who take it while pregnant.
It has been linked to problems with foetal development.
It’s also thought to cause sleeping problems in both sexes and in women, tribulus has been linked to irregular periods.
Tribulus Terrestris has also been linked to interactions with certain medications.
You should not take anything containing Tribulus Terrestris if you are taking any blood pressure medicine or heart drugs.
These include warfarin, and amiodarone.
It can also reduce blood sugar levels to dangerous levels, which is not suitable for anybody with diabetes.
Does Tribulus Terrestris Boost Testosterone Conclusion
Tribulus Terrestris can offer users some health benefits.
These can include improvements in sexual response, erection strength and possibly fertility.
We must stress however that the evidence is still rather sketchy at best.
Most claims are made on the results of just a handful of studies.
It is in truth, a seriously overhyped ingredient.
On that being blunt has very limited ability to make any changes to testosterone production, let alone anything else.
Large doses might help provide a slight increase to erection power and overall virility.
But unless you are prepared to take massive doses for what are rather minor benefits then it’s certainly not really worth taking.
Our Thoughts on Tribulus Terrestris and Boosting Testosterone
If you are experiencing problems with your erections or sexual response and performance, then taking tribulus terrestris might offer you some very mild benefits.
If you are reading this, especially after reading manufacturers over hyped claims about tribulus and its effects on boosting testosterone.
You really need to think again.
The sad scientific facts are that on its own, as a direct testosterone boosting ingredient, tribulus terrestris does not work. It’s a simple fact .
As a T-booster It’s a worthless ingredient.
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