Tribulus terrestris, also known as Mingci, Pangtong, Quren, Zhixing and so on, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Tribulus in the family Zygophyllaceae. It is distributed throughout the country. When used as medicine, it has the effects of calming the liver and relieving depression, activating blood and dispelling wind, improving eyesight and relieving itching. It has therapeutic effects on headache and dizziness, distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium, blocked lactation and breast abscess, red eyes with corneal opacity, rubella and itching and other conditions. Now let us take a look at the benefits and effects of Tribulus terrestris!

The medicinal effects of Tribulus terrestris

[Nature and flavor] Pungent and bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, mildly toxic.

[Meridian entry] Liver meridian,

[Effects] Calms the liver and relieves depression, activates blood and dispels wind, improves eyesight and relieves itching. Mainly treats headache and dizziness, distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium, blocked lactation and breast abscess, red eyes with corneal opacity, rubella and itching.

Processing methods of Tribulus terrestris

1. Fried Tribulus terrestris: Take clean Tribulus terrestris, fry until slightly yellow, then grind off the spines.

2. Salted Tribulus terrestris: Take de-spined Tribulus terrestris, mix evenly with salt water, let it be fully moistened, fry over low heat until slightly yellow, take out and dry in the air.

Pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris

1. Anti-aging effect: Tribulus saponins can enhance the activity of the body's natural killer cells and can be used to prevent and treat reduced immune function in the elderly.

2. Effect of enhancing sexual desire: A single saponin component extracted from Tribulus terrestris——protodioscin can enhance sexual desire and improve sexual performance.

3. Effect on the cardiovascular system: Total saponins of Tribulus terrestris have a protective effect on myocardium subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation and ischemia-reperfusion, and this is related to improving the body's endogenous antioxidant capacity and reducing the degree of lipid oxidation.

4. Effect on cerebral blood vessels: Tribulus terrestris can increase blood supply to areas of cerebral ischemia, thereby improving cerebral circulation and protecting ischemic brain tissue. This may be due to the inhibitory effect of Tribulus saponins on phosphodiesterase.

5. Effect on the nervous system: Tribulus saponins can reduce apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and alleviate cell damage. This mechanism of action may be related to their inhibition of calcium overload in nerve cells.

6. Anticancer effect: Total saponins of Tribulus terrestris in the alcohol extract of Tribulus terrestris can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human breast medullary cells.

7. Diuretic effect: The water infusion fraction of Tribulus terrestris fruit has a mild diuretic effect and is clinically effective in patients with ascites and edema.

8. Blood sugar-lowering effect: The water decoction of Tribulus terrestris can significantly reduce glucose tolerance in alloxan diabetic mice and normal mice.

9. Other effects: Studies have found that Tribulus terrestris has effects such as regulating blood lipids, regulating the content of trace elements in the body, antibacterial and analgesic effects, and protecting retinal nerve cells.

Medicinal supplementary formulas of Tribulus terrestris

1. To treat wind-induced itching of the body and dry, rough, stubborn impediment: Tribulus terrestris 4 liang (fried with spines, ground into powder), flaxseed 2 liang (soaked in hot water, peeled, pounded into paste), Polygonatum odoratum 3 liang, honeysuckle 1 liang (fried and ground into powder). Make the four ingredients into pills with refined honey. Take 3 qian each morning and evening, swallowed with plain warm water.

2. To treat eye diseases with corneal opacity and blurred vision: Tribulus terrestris 4 liang (fried with spines), Polygonatum odoratum 3 liang (fried). Grind together into powder. Take 3 qian after meals every morning, mixed with plain warm water.

3. To treat chest impediment, with distension, stuffiness and obstruction in the diaphragm or pain: Tribulus terrestris 1 jin, fried with spines, ground into fine powder. Take 4 qian each morning, noon and evening, mixed with plain warm water.

4. To treat generalized edema: Wash with a decoction of Du Tribulus terrestris every day.

5. To treat running piglet qi and hernia masses: Tribulus terrestris 10 liang (fried with spines), fennel 3 liang (fried), frankincense and myrrh 5 qian each (baked on tiles until sweating). Grind all into powder. Take 3 qian each time, mixed with plain warm water.

6. To treat acute pulling pain of the waist and spine: Pound Tribulus terrestris seeds into powder, mix with honey and make into pills. Take 2 pills the size of broad beans with wine, 3 times a day.

7. To treat painful qi swelling: Tribulus terrestris seeds 1 sheng, roast until yellow, grind into powder, mix with sesame oil into a paste, fry until scorched black, spread on old cooked cloth according to the size of the swelling, apply without making holes. Change when dry.

8. To treat breast distension with no milk flow, or breast rock with lumps, swelling and pain: Tribulus terrestris 2 to 3 jin, fried with spines, ground into powder. Take each morning, noon and evening, at any time, mixed with plain warm water into a paste.

9. To promote menstruation: Angelica sinensis and Du Tribulus terrestris in equal parts. Grind the above into powder, mix with rice porridge water and take before meals.