What Herbal Supplement Increases Testosterone?

Many herbal supplement companies claim that different herbs provide certain benefits to the human body that are mostly unfounded scientifically. But one herb that works to varying degrees from person to person is tribulus terrestris. More common names include puncturevine, bullhead, caltrop, Mexican sandbur, goathead and Texas sandbur. Tribulus terrestris is native to tropical climates in Southern Asia, Southern Europe, Northern Australia and Africa. The plant grows along the ground and flowers from midsummer to frost. The fruit of the tribulus terrestris are disk-shaped, spiny burs that are a nuisance to bike tires and bare feet.

What does Tribulus Terrestris do Inside the Body?

• Tribulus terrestris increases testosterone levels in men and women by increasing the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) that is secreted by the pituitary gland. LH stimulates the gonads in men and women to produce more testosterone. In women, more estrogen is also produced.

Sexual Benefits

• The sexual benefits of using tribulus terrestris are threefold: correcting infertility, correcting erectile dysfunction and increasing low libido. The active chemical in the herb is probably protodioscin, which is related to DHEA. DHEA is a chemical precursor to testosterone, meaning that DHEA is needed by the body to produce testosterone. By increasing the level of protodioscin in your body, you are basically adding extra raw materials enabling it to produce more DHEA. When there is more DHEA available in your system, your body will then convert that DHEA into testosterone. Testosterone has to be present in order for a male sexual response to occur. This is also true for women, but to a lesser degree than men. The female sex drive is dominated by estrogen, but women do produce some testosterone, and increasing testosterone in women is thought to be beneficial, if it is done in small amounts.
  Testosterone is required to produce sperm, and low sperm counts can be caused by low testosterone levels. Tribulus terrestris will act to increase the amount of testosterone available, and increase low sperm counts as well. Erectile dysfunction can also be related to low testosterone levels, and the same goes for low libido. By supplementing the body with an all natural, non-chemical solution to sex-based disorders, you do not have to worry about side effects and overdosing.

How Much Should Be Taken?

• The typical dose varies between 85 to 250 mg 3 times a day. The amount taken depends on the end goal. If the goal is to increase fertility, take a higher dose. If you want to increase libido, take a mid-level dosage. Some people might require more than 250 mg per dosage; others will require less than 85 mg per dosage.

Is Tribulus Terrestris Safe for Everyone to Take?

• People with hormone-related conditions should not take tribulus terrestris, and pregnant or nursing women, or women who may become pregnant should not take tribulus terrestris. Tribulus terrestris also has negative effects on sheep.

Side Effects

• The only known side effect of using tribulus terrestris is a stomach ache, and this can be resolved by taking tribulus terrestris with food. People have been taking tribulus terrestris for a long time all over the world, so it has a good track record where side effects are concerned. Keep in mind that it is not a hormone supplement, but a supplement that stimulates hormone production. So you will not experience the same side effects as you would when taking a actual hormone drug.