Thread: tribulus myth

The Tribulus myth

It says it helps you look like Hugh Jackman but does the body supplement Tribulus actually work? Dr. Ric Gordon joins us in the studio to help dispel some of the myths surrounding the body supplement Tribulus.

What is Tribulus?


Tribulus is a herb collected from a plant which is supposed to have performance enhancing qualities
It is most often used for infertility, erectile dysfunction, and low libido. In the last decade, it has become popular to improve sports performance
It has a long and mythical history since being discovered centuries ago. Many different cultures have used it for a number of conditions. The Greeks, for example, used Tribulus terrestris as a mood-enhancer. The people of Bulgaria used Tribulus terrestris as a way to enhance sex and as a treatment for infertility. Recently, eastern European athletes have used it in place of certain anabolic drugs to gain strength and size
Several studies have found that the drug has little or no clinical effect on the people that take them. All of the studies that Dr Ric Gordon has seen indicate this and take in male subjects only (there is very little research on how it affects women)
It can be dangerous for people with hormone-induced conditions, such as breast and prostate cancer, pregnant or nursing women and teens going through puberty
A local study done on rugby league players in Lismore showed it had no effect on players' strength or muscle mass after five weeks of pre-season training
What Dr. Robert Rey (Dr. 90210) said

"I discovered that the ancient Aztec warriors - you better take notes on this - took an ancient herb called tribulus. That's T-R-I-B-U-L-U-S. And that will make you an Alpha male, I mean it will make you grow everywhere.”

“You'll never run out of energy. You know what, when we doctors make things there is side effects. But when the creator of the universe makes things, I notice there are no side effects. It's a homeopathic medication."

According to Dr. Ric Gordon

Does it work?

“No not all. From the research I've done, there is little or no clinical evidence to suggest that Tribulus actually helps to build muscle mass and strength. Most of the good reviews seem to be anecdotal, with no medical substance whatsoever.

One interesting study on the subject was done by Southern Cross University in Lismore on a team of rugby league players. Half took Tribulus for five weeks of pre-season training and the others were given another placebo. The end result was that there was virtually no difference between the two. The players that took the Tribulus hadn't developed any more muscle mass or strength over the time period.

Who should be taking it?

Nobody should be taking it in my opinion. There are potential dangers for a whole number of people including breastfeeding women and teens going through puberty

I agree with the Doc, in personal experience Trib does jack.

plenty of studies proving it does nothing just wikipedia it and you can see them all quoted.

Plenty of people done blood tests shows it does sfa

And there are enough studies to say it does work.

The problem with tribulus is that the exact method of action is still unknown so having it not impact on test levels is hardly surprising. Even factoring in any placebo effect (and fwiw, I'm as cynical as the next, but it works for me) there are simply too many accounts of the herb working as to discount it entirely.

A major part of the issue with trib is the quality of the herb and the dosing.

At the end of the day people will make up their own minds, but I don't have any problem recommending it to people, especially when added to things Muira Puama and the like.

Originally Posted by Lazarus

And there are enough studies to say it does work.

The problem with tribulus is that the exact method of action is still unknown so having it not impact on test levels is hardly surprising. Even factoring in any placebo effect (and fwiw, I'm as cynical as the next, but it works for me) there are simply too many accounts of the herb working as to discount it entirely.

A major part of the issue with trib is the quality of the herb and the dosing.

At the end of the day people will make up their own minds, but I don't have any problem recommending it to people, especially when added to things Muira Puama and the like.

SO ALL these studies say it is basically crap and a money making scam and you are still happy to recommend it to people????

No he said that there are studies that prove it does work. It depends on which studies you read.. but I do like your bait so I thought I would take it lol. Personally it doesn't work for me.

not baiting anymore. we have another place to bait people now.

Bwhahaha and you know that Laz is never going to go in there..

he's been looking, i know.

I still use Tribulus, I've been using it on and off for at least 10 years now. I must have used over 50 different Natural Test Boosters over the last decade. Some work and some don't.

U.N - u dont take tribulus stop lying

ur like immune to 2 g of test already... how the hell wud bulgarian grass have any effect on u !

but if u say " " i just take it because it has a picture of Ronnie on the front flexin his gut " i will accept ur answer

Originally Posted by UN Soldier

I still use Tribulus, I've been using it on and off for at least 10 years now. I must have used over 50 different Natural Test Boosters over the last decade. Some work and some don't.

Cool, can you tell me which ones did work 'cause I'm yet to find one, either that or I expect too much from it?

Originally Posted by micksnowdog

SO ALL these studies say it is basically crap and a money making scam and you are still happy to recommend it to people????

Actually, there are studies that support its use, and like all supplements, people will do some research, make a choice, and if it doesn't do what they want, then they will move on.

Personally? I have no problem recommending trib, based on my research and personal experience with it. I do caution, however, that I don't believe it's of much use to young, relatively "normal" males, because raising test levels on those men is going to be hard anyway. However, for slightly older blokes, with less than optimal hormones, trib is an effective supp to use. I've expressed this view many times.

Too many young men expect a herbal supplement to work like gear or a prescribed drug, and the reality is, in almost all cases, a supp won't do much for young, virile men.

At the end of the day you will do as you like, but try to keep your condemnation of a supp confined to some facts, and not emotive claptrap about "money-making scams" and so on.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Actually, there are studies that support its use, and like all supplements, people will do some research, make a choice, and if it doesn't do what they want, then they will move on.

Personally? I have no problem recommending trib, based on my research and personal experience with it. I do caution, however, that I don't believe it's of much use to young, relatively "normal" males, because raising test levels on those men is going to be hard anyway. However, for slightly older blokes, with less than optimal hormones, trib is an effective supp to use. I've expressed this view many times.

Too many young men expect a herbal supplement to work like gear or a prescribed drug, and the reality is, in almost all cases, a supp won't do much for young, virile men.

At the end of the day you will do as you like, but try to keep your condemnation of a supp confined to some facts, and not emotive claptrap about "money-making scams" and so on.

Cheers

yeah cool, i've spent hundreds on tribulus and other supps i would not waste my time with now.
all i see on shelves at health stores in the bbing sections is a huge scam it is like a red light flashing, hey pay 300 bucks for a tub of max's muscle growing bullshit chocolate smoothie mix, yeee haw! you'll be outlifting arnie in no time.

i still have tribulus in the cupboard at home, i am a young bloke tho and cannot comment on what effects it would have on someone with lower test levels.

Originally Posted by micksnowdog

he's been looking, i know.

yes, I've been there, I am a Mod here afterall.

If you guys want to waste time talking racist, sexist crap, and looking like fools, then that's your business, but I won't be a contributor in any way.

As for the topic, there are many forms of tribulus, so you need to get one with a high concentration of saponins. If you add it to other herbs such as muira purama, for example, you can get very good results in some sections of the population.

I say again: most blokes under 30 have no real need for these sorts of supps and it's unrealistic to expect that a herbal supplement will boost test levels much that are already healthy.

Originally Posted by Shrek

Cool, can you tell me which ones did work 'cause I'm yet to find one, either that or I expect too much from it?

It would seem that resveratrol may well be the best alternative.

Originally Posted by zayd687

U.N - u dont take tribulus stop lying

ur like immune to 2 g of test already... how the hell wud bulgarian grass have any effect on u !

but if u say " " i just take it because it has a picture of Ronnie on the front flexin his gut " i will accept ur answer

Well my Tribulus came from Thailand in the shape of little pink hexagons, all I know is they blew me the fuck up big time. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure they contain Tribulus?

Originally Posted by Shrek

Cool, can you tell me which ones did work 'cause I'm yet to find one, either that or I expect too much from it?

Off the top of my head I can't, but if I think back to some older products I can remember a few that worked.

It also depends what you mean by "work"? Do you mean an increase in libido? an increase in sperm size? an increase in strength and power? an increase in aggressiveness?

I found when I was younger that they gave me a little boost, but some also made me moody. Obviously once you hit the juice, these OTC products are like nothing, except Resveratrol this stuff gave me a kick and packs a punch.