The use of herbal medicines and supplements has been steadily rising in the western world over the past few decades. Not to mention that 80% of the world population (around four billion people) relies on herbal supplements and medicines as a key part of their healthcare.
Tribulus Terrestris is one supplement that’s been used for hundreds of years. It has numerous health benefits and few side effects. With effects ranging from lowered blood sugar to increased libido, Tribulus can benefit everyone.
Keep reading to learn more about this herbal medicine, its effects, and how you can incorporate it into your health regimen.
What Is Tribulus Terrestris?
Tribulus Terrestris is a plant that’s native to southeast Asia, tropical areas of Europe, Austrailia, and parts of Africa.
It’s been used throughout history, especially in ancient Greece, India, and China. It was, and is, used as a type of tonic to rejuvenate the body, the immune system, and to help cure certain kidney and liver diseases.
Benefits of Tribulus Terrestris
We mentioned that Tribulus Terrestris has been used throughout history as a rejuvenator of health. While it was often used as a general health tonic, there are some particular health benefits that people look for when supplementing with Tribulus Terrestris.
Increased Sex Drive
One of the most popular and well-known benefits of this herbal supplement is its ability to boost your libido no matter what your gender.
One study examined both men and women with low sex drives. They saw that when they took between 500 to 1500 mg of Tribulus every day for a two-month span, their sex drive significantly increased.
Not only can this supplement increase sex drive, but it can also increase sexual pleasure and arousal.
It also has the potential to treat men with erectile dysfunction. While the jury is out on this conclusion, there have been exciting results supporting this. One study showed that daily supplementation can help men with ED get and maintain erections more easily. They also saw an improvement in sexual satisfaction.
Blood Sugar Levels
High or unregulated blood sugar levels are often associated with obesity, diabetes, stress, and illness. Having consistently high blood sugar levels can be damaging to the body.
It has the potential to result in a number of negative health problems, including:
- Skin infection
- Vaginal infection
- Worsening vision
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Blood vessel damage
- Kidney damage
- Nerve damage
Regulating your blood sugar is essential for keeping your body and preventing this type of damage. If you have diabetes, you have to be extra aware of your blood sugar levels since your body isn’t regulating it on its own.
One study examined 100 women with type 2 diabetes. One group was given a placebo and another group was given a Tribulus supplement. They found that the women taking the Tribulus supplement had decreased blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels as well.
There have also been some exciting Tribulus studies in animals that also show results of lowered blood sugar levels.
Boost Immune System
The historical use of this supplement was often to help patients feel rejuvenated. It was often used for patients who were feeling sick or had an illness.
There’s scientific support of the usage: Tribulus supplementation is thought to help boost the immune system. While most studies in this subject have only been performed on animals, the results are exciting to consider.
Rats given a Tribulus supplement were found to have increased immune system activity. An immune system boost can help fight infection, recover from illness/wounds more easily, and make you feel healthy and strong.
Antidepressant and Antianxiety
There’s also some evidence to suggest that Tribulus supplementation can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Mice treated with this supplement saw a significant decrease in both stress and depression symptoms.
Tribulus Terrestris Side Effects
One of the great things about this supplement is that there are usually no side effects, and the ones people do experience are usually mild.
The most common side effects are stomach cramping and acid reflux, both of which are most often mild and treatable.
You should speak to your doctor about potential drug interactions before you begin taking this supplement. Some herbal supplements can have potentially harmful interactions with other chemicals and medications. It’s always best to consult a physician before starting a new supplement.
This is especially true if you’re pregnant. Talk with your doctor to make sure it’s safe to take this supplement while pregnant.
A more serious side effect is the potential for kidney issues or damage. This is a very rare side effect. But it’s something to be aware of, especially if you already had prior kidney damage.
How to Take Tribulus Terrestris
Most people take Tribulus Terrestris in the form of a capsule or a pill. These capsules will list the dosage on the side so you’ll know exactly how much you’re taking at a given time.
The standard dose is range between 80-250 mg three times per day. There are more concentrated capsules you can take that can get up to 750 mg.
You can try this product to get one of the most concentrated capsules currently on the market if you’re looking to take a higher dose.
Wrapping Up
If you’ve been considering taking an herbal supplement, Tribulus Terrestris is a reliable and safe place to start. It can boost your sex drive, lower your blood sugar, reduce feelings of anxiety, and more.
This supplement can be one of the ways to accomplish your health goals. Keep in mind that supplements aren’t cure-alls. Be sure to combine supplementation with proper diet, exercise, and activities to help your mental health.
You can also check out our other articles on health and wellness to get some more tips on staying healthy and living your best life.
