Tribulus (Bai Ji Li): Traditional Use vs Supplement Claims
Tribulus terrestris in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine: its traditional uses, what trials found for testosterone and erectile function, and reported kidney and liver harm from supplements.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What it is
Tribulus terrestris, also called puncture vine, is a low-growing plant with spiny fruit. In Chinese medicine the fruit is the herb Ci Ji Li (this page's title also uses the name Bai Ji Li; we did not read a source that sorts out the two names, so ask a practitioner which herb a product means). Today it is mostly sold as a supplement for sex drive, testosterone and muscle. This page separates the old uses from those marketing claims.Traditional use, in its own terms
A review of the plant says the Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists the fruit as used for tonifying the kidneys, as a diuretic and cough expectorant, and for conditions such as skin itching, headache, dizziness and blocked milk ducts. It adds that the plant is also used in Indian medicine. [1] Memorial Sloan Kettering likewise lists traditional use for chest pain, dizziness, skin and eye problems, kidney stones and as a diuretic and tonic. [2] "Tonifying the kidneys" is a traditional idea, not the same thing as improving kidney function as a doctor measures it. See traditional frameworks versus biomedical explanations and the discussion of "Kidney Yang" marketing claims.What the supplement claims are, and what trials show
Marketing for tribulus focuses on testosterone, libido, erections and athletic gains. These are modern claims, not the traditional indications above.| Claim | What the source found | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Raises testosterone | A 2025 systematic review of 10 studies (483 men) found no robust evidence of increased testosterone; 8 of 10 studies showed no significant change in androgens [3] | No good evidence of benefit |
| "Testosterone booster" | A 2024 review of 52 studies of many supplements concluded most fail to raise total testosterone [4] | No good evidence of benefit |
| Helps erectile dysfunction | The 2025 review found a low level of evidence; three of five studies measuring erections reported improvement [3] | Insufficient evidence |
| Builds muscle | One clinical study found no significant change in strength or mass [2] | No good evidence of benefit |
| Female sexual function | Small studies suggest possible help; large studies are needed [2] | Insufficient evidence |
Half of the studies in the 2025 review had low methodological quality, and in the studies that found no change, the men did not have low testosterone at the start. [3] For what low testosterone is, how it is diagnosed and why supplements do not replace testing, see testosterone and low testosterone, testosterone boosters: claim check and erectile dysfunction. The Chinese medicine view of men's health is in TCM for men's health.
Frequently asked questions
Does tribulus raise testosterone?
A 2025 systematic review found no robust evidence that it does. [3]
Is tribulus a Chinese or an Indian herb?
Both. A review reports the fruit in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and in use in India. [1]
Can tribulus help erectile dysfunction?
Evidence is low. Three of five studies that measured erections reported improvement, and quality was often low. [3]
Is it safe for kidneys and liver?
Case reports describe severe kidney, liver and nerve harm, so people with kidney or liver conditions should avoid it unless a clinician advises otherwise. [2]
Is tribulus a steroid?
We found no source saying so. The marketing belief that it acts like testosterone is described as a belief, not a finding. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Kidney, liver and nerve harm. Memorial Sloan Kettering reports case reports of severe liver, kidney and neurological toxicity. [2] One case described a healthy young man with seizure, very high liver enzymes and raised creatinine after two days of an herbal water; he improved after stopping. [5] Another report described acute kidney injury and raised bilirubin in a young man who used the plant as a performance supplement; the authors warn that such products are sold over the counter and used casually. [6] Case reports cannot show how common this is.
- Medicines. Possible added effects with diuretics, blood pressure medicines and diabetes medicines, and a report of stent thrombosis in a patient who combined clopidogrel with a herbal formula containing tribulus. [2]
- Quality. Supplement contents vary. See how supplements are regulated.
- Pregnancy, children, kidney or liver disease: we found no source showing safety, so avoid unless a clinician agrees.
When to see a clinician
References
- Zhu W et al. A review of traditional pharmacological uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Tribulus terrestris. Chem Cent J 2017, PMC5503856. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.
- Tribulus, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. www.mskcc.org. Read 2026-10-22.
- Vilar Neto JO et al. Effects of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on erectile dysfunction and testosterone levels in men: systematic review of clinical trials. Nutrients 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.
- Morgado A et al. Do testosterone boosters really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review. Int J Impot Res 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.
- Tribulus terrestris-induced severe nephrotoxicity in a young healthy male. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.
- Acute kidney injury and hyperbilirubinemia in a young male after ingestion of Tribulus terrestris. Clin Nephrol 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.