Tribulus Terrestris is an herb that has been extracted for its saponin and alkaloids isolated and utilized to heighten libido. Tribulus Terrestris has been used as an effective anabolic product in athletic training and development.
Tribulus Terrestris a branching weedy shrub to vine with distinctive burr fruit with sharp hard spines that grow as weeds in pasture and agricultural land. The leaflets are less than a quarter-inch long. The whole plant is a tap rooted annual about three to thirty inches across. The plant flowers with very hard sharp "seeds? each one a single-seeded wedge of the intact fruit. The herb has worldwide distribution including Asia and the Pacific realm. There are some 10 species of Tribulus indigenous to Australia where the herb is very popular.
Traditional Uses: Tribulus Terrestris has been used in past centuries for improving sexual function in both men and women, improving stamina and endurance and promoting a generalized feeling of well-being.
Physiology: Tribulus terrestris increases muscle mass and improves erections by increasing testosterone levels in a unique fashion. Unlike, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or Androstenedione, which simply act as testosterone precursors, Tribulus terrestris increases testosterone levels by increasing the levels of Lutenizing Hormone (LH). LH is responsible for signaling the leydig cells in the testes to release testosterone.
Studies have shown an increase in excess of 50% testosterone levels when taking the Tribulus terrestris herb. The increase in testosterone levels will promote protein synthesis, positive nitrogen balance as well as a quicker recovery from muscular stress. The plant has also been shown to increase in sperm production and motility.
Clinical Studies: An interesting correlation of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) level with the incident of low sex drive and higher occurrence of impotence was discovered in studies with patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. In order to test the further relationship between DHEA-S and erectile dysfunction, a clinical trial was done with 30 non-diabetic men with Erectile Dysfunction, 30 non-diabetic men without Erectile Dysfunction and 15 diabetic men with Erectile Dysfunction. These men are given extract of Tribulus terrestris (Libilov) at 3 x 250 mg / day for 3 weeks. The DHEA-S levels, as well as other blood and liver parameters were evaluated.
Clinicians found a significant increase of DHEA-S levels in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects after treatment, and a significant increase in the frequency of successful intercourse by 60% in both the diabetic and non-diabetic groups with or without Erectile Dysfunction. Protodioscin from herbal plant tribulus terrestris L improves the male sexual functions, probably via the DHEA. Adimoelja A, Ganeshan P. Adaikan A University, Indonesia and National University of Singapore in 6th Biennial Asian-Pacific Meeting on Impotence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1997)Int. J. Impotence Research v9, supp 1 (1997)
In another study clinicians investigated the effects of Tribulus terrestris L. on sperm morphology and acrosome reaction in subjects with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed with 30 primary and secondary infertile men. Half received oral Tribulus three times per day for 60 days, and the rest were given sugar pills. The ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, morphology, acrosome reactions, and other parameters were evaluated before and after treatment.
A significant increase in the percentage of slow or sluggish progressive motile sperm in the treated group was observed when compared to the control group. The percentage of the sperm with normal acrosome (a process at the anterior end of a sperm cell that produces enzymes to facilitate penetration of the egg) reaction was also increased, whereas, the percentage of immotile sperm decreased significantly. The frequency of sexual intercourse was also increased significantly in the Tribulus group. The study concluded that Tribulus terrestris L., given at 500mg three times a day for 60days proved to be effective in restoring some of the sperm functions, such as motility and acrosome reactions.
Tribulus terrestris L. extract improves spermatozoa motility and increases the efficiency of the acrosome reaction in subjects diagnosed with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia L. Setiawan Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia (1996).
Modern Day Uses: Today, Tribulus terestris is prescribed by physicians and herbal specialist for the following:
Increase spermatozoa motility
Treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence)
Increase testosterone levels
Diseases of genito urinary tract including dysuria chronic cystitis, phosphaturia, incontinence, etc
Spermatorrhoea (Involuntary discharge of semen without orgasm)
