March 2021
By Cathy Wong
Medically reviewed by Elena Klimenko, MD

Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris) is a small, flowering plant also known as puncture vine and goat's head. The plant yields a fruit that is covered with spines. The fruit, leaf, and root are used as medicine to treat a number of conditions, most notably sexual dysfunction.1

Health Benefits

Tribulus has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as in ayurveda to enhance athletic performance or increase libido. Tribulus is also said to raise your levels of certain hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, and is found in supplements claiming to increase testosterone levels.2

In addition, tribulus is purported to help a variety of health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and act as a diuretic.

Here's a look at selected findings from the available research on tribulus.

Athletic Performance

Dietary supplements containing tribulus are often marketed for their potential to increase testosterone levels and, in turn, build muscle mass and boost strength. However, a report published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements in 2014 states that such marketing claims are unsubstantiated.2

In the analysis of 11 previously published clinical trials, the report's authors determined that a testosterone-increasing effect was found only when tribulus was consumed by way of supplements containing a combination of substances.

Sexual Dysfunction

Tribulus may help treat erectile dysfunction, according to a study published in Maturitas in 2017.3 In testing the effects of 12 weeks of a tribulus extract on men with mild or moderate erectile dysfunction, researchers found that those who took tribulus had a significant improvement in sexual function (including erectile dysfunction).

In a report published in Drugs in 2018, researchers sized up previously published clinical trials.4

 According to the report's authors, their analysis demonstrated that "T. terrestris produced mixed results."

Additionally, a small study published in Gynecological Endocrinology in 2018 indicates that tribulus may help treat sexual dysfunction in women.5

For the study, 40 women with diminished libido were treated with tribulus or a placebo. At the study's end, those who received tribulus had increased testosterone levels and experienced a significant improvement in factors such as desire, arousal, pain, and satisfaction.

Based on existing evidence some practitioners recommend an herbal preparation of tribulus to support hormonal and sexual function of their patients.