Rasa (Taste)
Madhura
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Gokshura (Puncture Vine)
Tribulus terrestris is a prostrate herb .
Medicinal Plant
Gokshura (Puncture Vine)
Tribulus terrestris Linn. · Zygophyllaceae
Tribulus terrestris is a prostrate herb .
Scientific Name
Tribulus terrestris Linn.
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Hindi Name
Gokhuru
Used Part
Root, Fruit
Botanical Description
About the Gokshura Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
Tribulus terrestris is a prostrate herb . Leaves are opposite, paripinnate, leaflets are 3 - 6 pairs, oblong. Flowers are bright yellow in color, solitary and hairy. Fruit globose, light greenish yellow in color, consisting of fine hairy or nearly glabrous, often muriculate and woody cocci, each with two pairs of hard sharp spines, one pair longer than the other. There are many seeds in each coccus.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Guru, Snigdha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Madhura
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Tridosha Shamaka
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Sheeta
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Shothahara, Mutrala, Bastishodhak, Balya, Dipana, Vrashya, Ashmarihara, Pramehahara, Shwasahara, Kasahara, Arshaoghna, Hradya
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Diuretic, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Diosgenin, Gitogenin, Harmane, Harmine. Kaemperal, Quercitin, Rutin, Steroidal glycosides, Saponin C & G, astragaline. Fruits yielded flavonoid components like Kaempferol, Steroid sapogenins, neotigogenin and hecogenin.
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Gokshura
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
Gruel prepared from Gokshura and Kantakari is taken with jaggery reliefs Mutrakricchra (Dysuria). (Decoction) of total plant of Goksura is mixed sugar and honey is given to drink. It alleviates Mutrakricchra (Dysuria),
02
Churna of Gokshura mixed with honey and Goat's milk is given to drink for 7 days to break Ashmari (Calculus).
03
Flowers of Gokşura and Tila are mixed with equal quantities of honey and ghee, and then applied on the scalp. This therapy promotes hair-growth.
04
Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) & Katishula (Lumbago): Decoction of Shunthi and Gokshura if taken in morning times regularly acts as digestant there by relieves Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis), Katishula (Lumbago) and Pain.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Gokshura is a key ingredient.
- Gokshuradyavaleha, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Gokshurdi Kashaya
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
गो रः शीतलः स्वादुर्बलकद्वस्तिशोधनः ।मधुरो दीपनो वृष्यः पुष्टिदश्चाश्मरीहरः ।प्रमेहश्वासकासार्श कृच्छूहृद्रोगवातनुत् ॥ (भा.प्र. गुडूच्यादि वर्ग 45-46)