{"id":1996,"date":"2020-07-22T10:54:42","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T09:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/84.18.216.250\/~herbalreality\/?post_type=herb&p=1996"},"modified":"2025-04-14T10:26:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T09:26:32","slug":"gokshura","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/gokshura\/","title":{"rendered":"Gokshura"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":453,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"abcd27ac-5760-4383-a1c8-5e0063def62c","beyondwords_preview_token":"0dfdbaba-6f51-4207-b046-3e21123f0cc0","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[180,61,143],"conditions":[698,700,697],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[18,27],"western_action":[1008,989,999,1017],"chinese_action":[1053,1043],"ayurvedic_action":[1057,1109,1067,1112,1081,1065,1066,1085],"energetics_action":[1510,1498,1512,1557,1382,1533,1559,1544,1627,1519,1558,1619,1560,1507,1626,1556,1562,1617,1618,1494,1536,1545,1568,1550],"region":[1897],"class_list":["post-1996","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gokshura","tag-skin","tag-urinary","conditions-reproductive-system","conditions-skin","conditions-urinary-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-bitter","sense-sweet","western_action-diuretic","western_action-alterative","western_action-aphrodisiac","western_action-nervine","chinese_action-extinguish-wind-stop-tremors","chinese_action-regulate-the-qi","ayurvedic_action-rakta-shodhana-rakta-prasadana","ayurvedic_action-vajikarana","ayurvedic_action-brmhaniya","ayurvedic_action-vedana-sthapana","ayurvedic_action-kushtaghna","ayurvedic_action-balya","ayurvedic_action-bhedaniya","ayurvedic_action-mutravirechana","energetics_action-acrid","energetics_action-bitter","energetics_action-bitter-taste-chinese","energetics_action-blood","energetics_action-cool","energetics_action-cooling","energetics_action-fat","energetics_action-heavy","energetics_action-kapha-balancing","energetics_action-liver","energetics_action-muscle","energetics_action-nervous-channel-srotas","energetics_action-nervous","energetics_action-neutral-temperature-chinese","energetics_action-pitta-balancing","energetics_action-plasma","energetics_action-reproductive","energetics_action-reproductive-channel-srotas","energetics_action-respiratory","energetics_action-sweet","energetics_action-sweet-post-digestive-effect-vipaka","energetics_action-unctuous","energetics_action-urinary-channel-srotas","energetics_action-vata-constitution-dosha","region-ayurvedic-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20200722","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Gokshura has an affinity for the kidneys and urinary system","latin_name":"Tribulus terrestris<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Zygophyllaceae","herb_summary":"This spikey fruit looks like the cloven hoof of a cow and hence the name Go-kshura (cow-hoof). \u2018Kshura\u2019 also means \u2018scratcher\u2019 and as this thorny shrub is found growing in sandy wasteland all over the sub-continent it is responsible for scarring the hide of many a sacred cow. It is a superb diuretic that clears excess fluids from the system. Its hormonal precursor compounds actively nourish the reproductive system. It is also very useful for itchy skin, especially on the hands and feet.","key_benefits":"Digestive remedy\r\nCleanses urinary system","how_does_it_feel":"Gokshura grows throughout India, China, Vietnam and some parts of Europe and South Africa. It is a thorny, trailing plant that can grow up to 1m in length. The leaves are an oblong shape and have 5-8 pairs of leaflets. It produces single flowers which are a pale yellow in colour and its fruits are globular with two characteristic pairs of spines.","hdif_image_1":8472,"hdif_image_2":8473,"hdif_image_3":13573,"hdif_video":"","sense":[18,27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Gokshura protects against the formation of calculi in the urinary tract and the kidneys through the inhibition of the enzyme glycolic acid oxidase (GAO) which is involved in the oxalating of certain metabolites. Certain constituents within gokshura have also demonstrated antimicrobial activity.\r\n\r\nGokshura enhances the conversion of protodioscin to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a key steroid hormone affecting the functioning of the adrenal glands and also the reproductive organs. As such, gokshura supports the functioning of the reproductive system in both men and women, improving fertility and libido. In men specifically, gokshura encourages spermatogenesis.","into_the_heart_of":"\"\"Gokshura has an affinity for the kidneys and urinary system, encouraging rejuvenation, nourishment and cleansing of the whole system. Gokshura can effectively clear stagnant and\/or toxic accumulations seated in the urinary system and the kidneys whilst also encouraging cellular repair and rejuvenation processes once the cleansing has taken place. Skin based conditions affecting the hands and feet are often effectively treated through cooling excess heat and inflammation present in the kidneys and the liver; gokshura has a cleansing and cooling effect on both organs and is, therefore, effective for treating characteristically hot, irritated and itching skin based complaints.\r\n\r\nGokshura has a direct effect upon hormone production within the reproductive system of both men and women, improving fertility, libido and sperm production in men. It is particularly effective at supporting a weakness within the male reproductive system, including the prostate where it will reduce inflammation and strengthen and nourish the whole system.\r\n\r\nGokshura fruit relieves bladder and kidney infections, renal colic, kidney stones, urinary retention, cloudy urination and haematuria. It soothes the urinary tract membranes and promotes urination and is specific for prostate problems, urinary retention or an obstructed urinary flow.\r\n\r\nGokshura aerial parts and fruits are tonic herbs with sweet post-digestive effects that nourish the reproductive system increasing virility, fertility, sperm production as well as lactation. It rejuvenates the reproductive system, especially the uterus and the gonads and is used in infertility and impotence where there is an obstruction in the reproductive tissue. Its saponin and flavonoid content act as hormonal precursors and protodioscin is actually converted to DHEA, enhancing sexual function.\r\n\r\nGokshura fruit is useful in all aggravations of the nervous system. Its harmala alkaloid content has MAOI activity that can be utilised for psychological and nervous imbalances to enhance the balance of serotonin in the brain.\r\n\r\nGokshura fruit is very useful for stopping itching in the skin caused by toxic congestion in themuscle, blood or plasma. It is also a specific herb for lesions on the psalms of the hands or soles of the feet.","tradtional_uses":"","what_practioners_say":"","research":"[caption id=\"attachment_6624\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"528\"]\"\" Figure 1[\/caption]\r\n

Male sexual dysfunction<\/h3>\r\nA study was conducted with 180 males aged between 18 and 65 with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction and with our without hypoactive sexual desire order. 90 participants were put in a placebo group and 90 were given\u00a0tribulus terrestris<\/em> extract for 12 weeks. At the end of each month, participants\u2019 sexual function, including ED, was assessed by International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire and Global Efficacy Question (GEQ). The extract was well tolerated and overall there was significant improvement on several parameters measured for sexual function (2).\r\n\r\nAvailable data suggests that there are many different possible mechanisms of action. These include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), intratesticular testosterone (ITT), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) , cyclic guanosine monophosphate\u00a0 (cGMP) and nitric oxide (NO) amongst other things. Figure 1 displays a simplified illustration of how gokshura could work.<\/picture>\r\n\r\nLuteinizing hormone (LH) regulates the enzyme 17\u03b2-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase which transforms androstenedione into testosterone. Nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which could promote erection by vasodilation and increased bloody supply to the corpora cavernosa which are muscles forming the bulk of the penis and clitoris.\r\n\r\nEvidence also shows the molecule protodioscin is converted to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and thus enhances sexual function as it increases free testosterone levels (4).\r\n

Blood sugar<\/h3>\r\nA double-blind, randomized placebo controlled clinical trial with 98 women was conducted to test if gokshura effected the glucose levels of people with diabetes. The extract significantly lowered the blood glucose of diabetes patients as compared with the placebo group (5).\r\n\r\nAnother study with 100 people with diabetes and microalbuminuria showed that an Ayurvedic preparation with gokshura in significantly lowered the blood glucose and microalbuminuria after treatment as compared with the initial blood reading (6). However, this was a formula with more than one plant in, and so it cannot be concluded that it was the gokshura alone that had this effect.\r\n\r\nResearch suggests that there is a correlation between testosterone levels and type 2 diabetes and that low testosterone is linked to a high risk of type 2 diabetes (7). The effects previously stated of gokshura on testosterone levels could also contribute to the improvement of sugar levels in diabetic patients as androgens increase carbohydrate tolerance and promote glycogenesis (8).","did_you_know":"The fruit, aerial parts and root are used in Ayurvedic medicine. The aerial parts appear to have the widest spectrum of rejuvenative activity for the reproductive system and the fruits are best known for their lithotropic activity and for their action on the skin.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":6669},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Gokshura is a member of the Zygophyllaceae family. Its leaves are opposite, 5 to 8cm long, containing four to seven pairs of leaflets. It is a prostrate, spreading herb and the flowers are 1-1.5cm in diameter and yellow in colour. The fruit is usually hairy and consists of five cocci (mericarps), each with two long and two short very sharp spines. (1)<\/span>","common_names":"
    \r\n \t
  • Puncture vine fruit (Eng)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Caltrops (Hindi)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Gokhru (Hindi)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Goksura<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Gokhru<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Bastitaj<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","safety":"Caution with anti-psychotic drugs (especially MAOI medication) as its harmala alkaloid content may speed up the breaking down of the medication in the digestive system.","interactions":"","contraindications":"","preparation":"","dosage":"1\u20139g\/day as decoction, 3\u201315ml\/day of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture.","constituents":"
      \r\n \t
    • Quercetin<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Astragalin<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Asiatic acid<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Asiaticoside<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Brahmoside<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Brahminoside<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Stigmasterol<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Sitosterol<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Volatile oils<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","plant_part_used":""},"habitat":"","sustainability":"","sustainability_content":"","sustainability_alternatives":"","quality_control":"","how_to_grow":"","recipe":"","references":"
        \r\n \t
      1. Bone K, Mills S.\u00a0<\/span>Principles And Practice Of Phytotherapy<\/span><\/i>. London: Elsevier Health Sciences UK; 2013.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      2. Kamenov Z, Fileva S, Kalinov K, Jannini E. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Tribulus terrestris in male sexual dysfunction\u2014A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.\u00a0<\/span>Maturitas<\/span><\/i>. 2017;99:20-26. doi:10.1016\/j.maturitas.2017.01.011<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      3. \u0218tef\u0103nescu R, Tero-Vescan A, Negroiu A, Auric\u0103 E, Vari C. A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L.\u00a0<\/span>Biomolecules<\/span><\/i>. 2020;10(5):752. doi:10.3390\/biom10050752<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      4. Williamson E.\u00a0<\/span>Major Herbs Of Ayurveda<\/span><\/i>. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2002.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      5. Samani N, Jokar A, Soveid M, Heydari M, Mosavat S. Efficacy of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Tribulus terrestris<\/em> on the Serum Glucose and Lipid Profile of Women With Diabetes Mellitus.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      6. Ramteke R, Thakar A, Trivedi A, Patil P. Clinical efficacy of Gokshura-Punarnava Basti in the management of microalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus.\u00a0<\/span>AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda)<\/span><\/i>. 2012;33(4):537. doi:10.4103\/0974-8520.110535<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      7. Karakas M, Sch\u00e4fer S, Appelbaum S et al. Testosterone Levels and Type 2 Diabetes\u2014No Correlation with Age, Differential Predictive Value in Men and Women.\u00a0<\/span>Biomolecules<\/span><\/i>. 2018;8(3):76. doi:10.3390\/biom8030076<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
      8. Navarro G, Allard C, Xu W, Mauvais-Jarvis F. The role of androgens in metabolism, obesity, and diabetes in males and females.\u00a0Obesity<\/span><\/i>. 2015;23(4):713-719. doi:10.1002\/oby.21033<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","related_condition":[8023,6655],"related_herb":[278,7060],"related_article":[2423,2398],"herb_overview_content_one":"","herb_overview_content_two":"","herb_overview_content_three":"","herb_overview_content_four":"","herb_overview_content_five":"","herb_overview_content_six":"","herb_overview_content_seven":"","herb_overview_content_eight":"","botany":"","botanical_description":"","botanical_image":null,"common_names":"Ingwer (Ger), gingembre (Fr), zenzero (Ital), jenjibre (Sp), adrakh, sont (Hindi), vishwabhesaja (Sanskrit), jiang (Chin). ","herbal_preperation_image":null,"preparation":"","plant_part_used":"","dosage":"","constituents":"","recipe_image":null,"safety_post":null,"safety":"","interactions":"","contraindications":"","sustainability_image_one":null,"sustainability_image_two":null,"faqs":null,"not_suitable_for":[]},"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled.jpg",2048,1365,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled-1000x667.jpg",1000,667,true],"large":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled-1300x866.jpg",580,386,true],"banner_image":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled-1600x800.jpg",1600,800,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled.jpg",300,200,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled.jpg",400,267,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21130527\/110422_gokshura-scaled-scaled.jpg",600,400,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"","url":""},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/1996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/herb"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/1996\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/7060"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/278"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/condition\/6655"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/condition\/8023"}],"acf:term":[{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"sense","href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense\/27"},{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"sense","href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense\/18"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"conditions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/conditions?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"sustainability","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sustainability?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"sense","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"western_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/western_action?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"chinese_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chinese_action?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"ayurvedic_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ayurvedic_action?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"energetics_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/energetics_action?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=1996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}