Puncture Vine

Tribulus terrestris

Also known as Gokshura, Gokharu, Caltrop, Goathead, Bai Ji Li

At a glance

Family

Zygophyllaceae (the caltrop family)

Type

Low, trailing annual (sometimes short-lived perennial) herb

Parts used

Dried spiny fruit (the classic medicinal part), occasionally the leaves and root

Size

Mats that hug the ground, rarely more than 6 inches tall but spreading 3 feet or more

Bloom

Small five-petaled yellow flowers through the warm summer months

Habitat

Dry, sandy, sun-baked soils, roadsides, fields, and disturbed ground across warm and arid regions worldwide

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Traditional vitality tonic

Supports urinary comfort

Traditional reproductive tonic

Used for joint comfort

Traditional uses

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In Ayurvedic medicine, the dried fruit of Tribulus terrestris is known as Gokshura, literally 'cow's hoof,' for the shape of its hardened burr, and it has been steeped into decoctions for centuries as a rejuvenating tonic and a support for the urinary tract. Traditional Chinese medicine calls it Bai Ji Li and has long paired it with other tonic herbs to move stagnant energy and ease joint discomfort. Across the folk medicine of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India, it earned a reputation as a builder of stamina and vigor for both men and women, taken well before it found its way into modern sports nutrition shelves. Herbalists prized it not for a single dramatic effect but for its gentle, steady support taken over time.

How to grow & use it

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Pairs well with

✦Ashwagandha
✦Shatavari
✦Ginger

Substitutes

✦Ashwagandha
✦Saw palmetto

Choose it when

“For old-world support when you want steady, traditional vitality rather than a quick jolt.”

Did you know?

The plant's fearsome, star-shaped burrs are the reason it earned the nickname 'goathead' and 'puncture vine' in English, since the woody spines are stiff enough to flatten a bicycle tire, while its Sanskrit name Gokshura simply means 'cow's hoof,' describing that very same spiky shape.

Safety

Puncture Vine should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it may interact with medications for diabetes, blood pressure, or blood thinning. High doses have been linked to kidney and liver strain in animal studies, and the fresh plant is a known livestock toxin that can cause photosensitization in grazing animals.