Gokshura

GOKSHURA (Tribulus terrestris)

Type: Fruiting Herb
Used In: BurnOut Brew

Origin

Gokshura is a ground-trailing, spiny fruiting herb native to warm, dry climates across Southern Asia, Southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Northern Australia. Known as Tribulus terrestris in botanical terms, it holds a revered place in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its tonifying and revitalizing effects on the body.

Primary Benefits

  • Supports libido and sexual vitality in both men and women

  • Aids urinary tract health and fluid regulation

  • May reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity

  • Can ease menopausal symptoms and support hormonal balance in women

  • Contains potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds

  • Traditionally used as a rasayana herb for rejuvenation and longevity

Traditional Use

In Ayurveda, Gokshura is a classical vajikarana, traditionally used to enhance strength, virility, and longevity. It is especially known for supporting the kidneys, bladder, and reproductive system, and is often used to help manage urinary infections, kidney stones, and infertility. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is valued for its ability to dispel wind, nourish kidney and liver function, and support balance in the lower body.

Contraindications

  • May interact with medications that affect blood pressure or blood sugar

  • Not recommended during pregnancy or lactation unless advised by a qualified practitioner

  • May cause mild digestive upset in some individuals

  • Use with caution in hormone-sensitive conditions

Scientific Insight

Modern research affirms several traditional uses of Gokshura, especially in reproductive and metabolic health.

  • Studies show improvements in libido and sexual function in both men and women, even when testosterone levels remain unchanged

  • May help lower blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in individuals with metabolic imbalance

  • Exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that may offer protection to the heart, brain, liver, and kidneys

  • Demonstrates mild pain-relieving, anti-hypertensive, and diuretic effects in clinical contexts

Although frequently marketed as a testosterone enhancer, scientific evidence does not consistently show an increase in testosterone levels in human studies. Its benefits appear to work independently of hormonal shifts.

Energetics

Taste: Sweet, slightly bitter
Energy: Cooling and nourishing
Tissue States: Atrophy, stagnation, dryness
Primary Systems: Reproductive, urinary, endocrine, circulatory

Gokshura nourishes and replenishes the body’s foundational energy, restores fluid balance, and supports the kidney-adrenal axis.

References

  • Raman, R., Orford, S., & Richter, A. (2021). 8 Emerging Benefits of Gokshura. Healthline Media.

  • National Institutes of Health. Tribulus terrestris: A Systematic Review of Its Uses and Clinical Effects.

  • Aether Apothecary. Gokshura Powder Product Overview (2025).

  • Additional peer-reviewed studies accessed via NIH PubMed Central.