Bodybuilding and fitness blog

Tribulus terrestris, what is it?

When I was writing my Review of 1996, I was in doubt of Tribulus terrestis. Over the past year I’ve learned more about this product, besides, I’ve got a lot of feedback from people who have tried it. I also had the opportunity to talk with people who were seriously engaged in its studies for a long time. One of them is Dr. James Wright, who in his article in the September (1996) issue of Muscle and Fitness has told about the possible advantages of this product. James Wright is very familiar with bodybuilding and he is the author of numerous books on steroids and other bodybuilding products, and very often I refer to these books in my works. Another expert, whose opinion I greatly appreciate is Charles Polikvin, strength coach. He was confident that many European athletes Olympians have taken Tribulus terrestis. I’m still not sure until the end, whether this drug is “working”, but I think that this is one of the most talked about “nutritional supplement”.

What is this?

Tribulus terrestis (literally “puncture vine” – prickly vine?) It is a plant that grows in moderate climate and in many tropical areas around the world. The ancient Greeks used this herb as a diuretic (it actually has this effect) and as a tonic, improving the mood. In India it was used as a diuretic, an antiseptic and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The Chinese have used it in a variety of therapies for diseases of liver, kidney and heart problems.

The plant contains a lot of substances that have a biological importance – saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. The presence and quantity of the valuable substances in the plant depends on what part of it is used, mainly these are the aerial parts – leaves, fruits and, to a lesser extent, scions. The place where the plant has grown is also important, under what conditions, when collected, etc.

It is interesting, in Bulgaria and the Balkan countries, the plant is used primarily as a remedy for infertility and lack of libido. It was intensively studied by the specialists from the Institute of Chemical and Pharmacological Studies in Sofia. The data from these studies over the past two decades are of a greatest interest. And I found no indications that this plant has been studied by the American scientists.

The States knew practically nothing  about this plant until the appearance of the “Guide to Chinese herbs and prescriptions” (Volume 1) by Dr. Him-Che Yong in 1983, and “The chemical composition of Chinese herbs”, by Hsu, Chen and  Hong in 1985. The bodybuilders got their interest in the plant after they have learnt about its use by the Olympic athletes of the Eastern bloc.

How does it work?

As well as DHEA and androstenedione, Tribulus terrestis is announced as a drug that improves the production of testosterone. But the mechanism of action is different – the DHEA and androstenedione provide the raw materials for the production of testosterone, but Tribulus terrestis enhances the level of the luteinizing hormones (LH). LH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, it “includes” the process of natural production of testosterone in the body. And numerous studies show that Tribulus terrestis can increase the LH level. That is probably why, in Asia, this plant is widely used as a remedy for infertility. Various laboratory experiments on animals show that the plant increases the production of sperm, testosterone and improves the function of the testes.

Did you have such things happen?

You know that exercise is necessary, but you do not want to go to train. It would seem to be a question of motivation. It turns out that big muscles are not very needed to you. No, my friends, everything is much more complicated. In our brains are as if sitting some evil trolls that impede our desires. Moreover, the stronger your desire, the stronger the resistance. In short, whenever you want to achieve something, your mind will desperately interfere. This phenomenon was recently discovered by psychologists. They believe that the fault lays with our ancestors monkeys. They led gregarious way of life, where a member of the herd cannot be a maverick. He needs to live according to the common needs, forgetting his own. The psychological mechanism of suppression of the initiative, according to the scientists, helped the monkeys to survive, and then was transferred to the man. First he also led the herd life and the legacy of the monkeys was very helpful.

What to do? How to deal? The psychologists advise the following. Use the old method of the weightlifters. Give yourself a resounding slap in the face with both arms and severely shake your head. Immediately grab the gym bag and rush out of the house. Show your psyche that there is no way back. Do not leave it any slightest gap, where could stick a blade of a doubt!

It is important, as psychologists point out, not to engage with yourself in the internal dialogue. No need to persuade yourself and give some rebuttals, no need to browse through the training diary and looking at your idols! Thus, you only give your enemy the right to reply. In short, always answer the doubt with action! Behave like a rhino! It also does not listen to others’ advice, but merely ran in a straight line and on a running breach the obstacle!

Yet motivation is a great power!

Remember Lindemann. This hero went across the ocean in frail boat without food and water. He wanted to prove that people, who were shipwrecked, can survive if they keep the strength of spirit. Lindeman ate the caught fish and collected in palms the rainwater. However, the most difficult was to preserve the right course, after all, Lindemann had no compass! And he proved that even this task is doable! Do you know his secret? As Lindeman says, initially he did not believe in luck. This disbelief was his worst enemy. It persuaded to surrender, to leave the supposedly hopeless idea. And Lindeman took to inspire himself the opposite – steadfast belief in success! From this triumphant experience over time has grown a whole psychological and philosophical system of auto-suggestion. It can do real miracles!

If you have a goal, every day before going to sleep, repeat it out loudly for 6 times, 6 times in half a voice and 12 times in a low voice. There will come a time when it will find the same immortal power that all subconscious desires. It will be as unmanageable and strong as the desire or need for procreation! It will be for you something of a true Guidance Candle beyond the pitiful attacks of the timid mind. Why, so simple?

Yes, it is really hard only for the pioneers. They give us the weapons of victory. But learning to use it – is also an art!

1. Diuretics:
As a diuretics drug we are offered the following medicine:
a) Arbutin – allows increasing the excretion of liquid from the body in a short time (72 hours). This effect is useful for the competing bodybuilders who are preparing for a specific date of competition. In addition, this medicine is not a synthetic diuretic and is not determined by the doping control.

2. Drugs affecting the sympathetic-adrenal system.

As the studied drugs are designed to burn fat without ephedrine, then they should have a similar effect on the sympathetic-adrenal system. The ephedrine effect on the A-receptors has allowed the adrenaline to stimulate lipolysis. However, this caused some anxiety and insomnia. The new fat burners turned their effect on B -receptors, thus making unnecessary a large number of powerful non-selective adrestimulators and therefore the side effects are excluded.
a) Octopamine- a substance which effects on specific adrenoceptors-B3, forcing them to send a wrong signal to the brain that the body lacks energy. The body immediately begins to burn the energy supplies in the fat deposits. Another thing is that people, unlike animals practically do not have such receptors (B-3).
b) Norsinefrin – it turns out that it is the same as Octopamine, although the drug under this name was used for fat burning much earlier.

3. The substances that are designed to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones. Acceleration of the decay of the adipose tissue without the thermogenic effect is possible only for L-carnitine. However, the way through the increased thermogenesis is shorter. In this regard, the majority of burners, which promise to replace ephedrine, contain a substance designed to stimulate the production of the thyroid hormones.
a) Diiodotyrosine -iodine-containing substance secreted by the thyroid gland, from which are formed the thyroid-stimulating hormones. However diiodotyrosine supports the thyroid function without suppressing the development of the own hormones.
b) Evodiamine-increases the production of catecholamines (the hormone the adrenal medulla). Catecholamines have a thermogenic effect. This miracle substance has a unique opportunity to increase the heat production and simultaneously reduce it, to expend the energy (i.e. fat) obtained from food as heat.
c) Tyramine – a nucleoprotein complex, which selectively affects the cells of the thyroid gland and contributes to the accelerated recovery of its functions.

4. Drugs for switching the body to fat fuel. As it is known, excess in carbohydrates can cause fatty deposits. In order to block the carbohydrates the fat burners of the latest generation include the following substances:
a) Garcinia Cambodian – its main component hydroxycitric acid. It suppresses the appetite and slows the conversion of the excess carbohydrates into fat, increases the body’s energy potential and helps to reduce the blood cholesterol level.
b) Gimnema -helps to block sugar. This is important in limiting the appetite. Gimnema improves the insulin action and reduces the blood cholesterol level.
c) Hydroxyisoleucine – the insulinothrope drug that reduces hyperglycemia and improves the glucose tolerance. I.e. Hydroxyisoleucine helps to maintain insulin at the normal level while using a large of amount of sugar.