Natural Herb Library

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit

Chinese
蒺藜
Pinyin
Ji Li
Latin
Fructus Tribuli
Botanical illustration of Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit, Tribulus terrestris, showing dried spiny fruits and diagnostic source details.
Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Ji Li (蒺藜), this pungent and bitter and salty, slightly warm herb enters the Liver. Traditionally, it pacifies the Liver and subdues rising yang ... Ji Li is used for headache, dizziness, irritability, and upward-surging Liver activity, most often applied for headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. Modern research has identified Protodioscin among its active constituents.

Part used: Fruit

Also Known As

Tribuli Ji Li Tribulus Fruit

Latin: Fructus Tribuli | Pinyin: Ji Li | Chinese: 蒺藜

TCM Properties

Taste
pungent, bitter, salty
Temperature
slightly warm
Channels
Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Pacifies the Liver and subdues rising yang ... Ji Li is used for headache, dizziness, irritability, and upward-surging Liver activity.
  • Soothes constrained Liver qi ... it is selected for rib-side discomfort, breast distention, mood frustration, and pressure-type headache when tension and qi stagnation are prominent.
  • Dispels wind and brightens the eyes ... traditional use includes red painful eyes, blurred vision, and itching of the eyes linked to Liver channel disturbance.
  • Dispels wind from the skin and stops itching ... it is frequently added for urticaria, pruritic eruptions, and diffuse itchy rashes.

Secondary Actions

  • This page preserves the shorter Ji Li naming lane for Tribulus fruit ... many clinics use Ji Li and Ci Ji Li interchangeably, while later trade pages may reserve Bai Ji Li for de-spined or differently prepared lots.
  • It should not be confused with Sha Yuan Ji Li, a different seed herb whose function is tonifying and securing rather than dispersing and Liver-soothing.

Classic Formulas

  • Liver-constraint formulas pair Ji Li with Chai Hu or Xiang Fu for headache, breast distention, and emotional frustration.
  • Eye-focused formulas combine it with Ju Hua or Jue Ming Zi when Liver heat, wind, or rising yang affects vision.
  • Wind-itching formulas pair it with Fang Feng or Chan Tui for urticaria and diffuse pruritus.

Classical References

  • Traditional materia medica describes Ji Li as a Tribulus fruit that calms rising Liver activity, soothes constraint, brightens the eyes, and relieves itching.
  • Older naming practice uses Ji Li broadly, while Ci Ji Li emphasizes the thorny fruit and later trade language may distinguish Bai Ji Li as a prepared or de-spined presentation.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Protodioscin and related steroidal saponins ... the best-known constituents in Tribulus supplement research
  • Tribulosin and other saponin fractions ... compounds discussed in vascular and metabolic studies
  • Flavonoids ... antioxidant constituents reported in Tribulus phytochemistry
  • Beta-carboline alkaloids ... minor constituents relevant to safety discussions

Studied Effects

  • A 2014 systematic review examined Tribulus terrestris and the roots of its putative aphrodisiac and performance-enhancing reputation, finding the evidence mixed and often weak in humans (PMID 24559105).
  • A 2020 cell study reported protective effects of Tribulus terrestris against oxidative-stress injury through PI3K-Akt-Nrf2 signaling, illustrating the herb's largely preclinical modern literature (PMID 32774685).
  • A 2016 clinical study explored Tribulus extract in women with diabetes and reported effects on serum glucose and lipids, reflecting ongoing metabolic interest but limited high-quality clinical depth (PMID 27840471).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy
  • Use without supervision in hormone-sensitive or prostate-related conditions
  • Marked deficiency patterns without clear Liver wind, Liver yang, or qi stagnation features

Cautions

  • Modern supplement reports include gastrointestinal irritation and rare liver, kidney, neurologic, or priapism case concerns ... concentrated commercial products are not equivalent to traditional processed decoction fruit.
  • Source verification matters because Ji Li naming can overlap with Ci Ji Li trade language and should never be confused with the distinct tonic seed Sha Yuan Ji Li.
  • Prostate-cancer patients and others with hormone-sensitive conditions should review Tribulus use with a clinician before self-supplementing.

Drug Interactions

  • Diuretics ... possible additive diuretic effect
  • Antihypertensive drugs ... possible additive blood-pressure-lowering effect
  • Antidiabetics ... possible additive glucose-lowering effect
  • Clopidogrel ... a Tribulus-containing formula has been associated with altered antiplatelet outcomes in case literature

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit used for?

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit is traditionally used to Pacifies the Liver and subdues rising yang ... Ji Li is used for headache, dizziness, irritability, and upward-surging Liver activity., Soothes constrained Liver qi ... it is selected for rib-side discomfort, breast distention, mood frustration, and pressure-type headache when tension and qi stagnation are prominent., Dispels wind and brightens the eyes ... traditional use includes red painful eyes, blurred vision, and itching of the eyes linked to Liver channel disturbance., Dispels wind from the skin and stops itching ... it is frequently added for urticaria, pruritic eruptions, and diffuse itchy rashes.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2014 systematic review examined Tribulus terrestris and the roots of its putative aphrodisiac and performance-enhancing reputation, finding the evidence mixed and often weak in humans (PMID 24559105).; A 2020 cell study reported protective effects of Tribulus terrestris against oxidative-stress injury through PI3K-Akt-Nrf2 signaling, illustrating the herb's largely preclinical modern literature (PMID 32774685)..

What are other names for Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit?

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit is also known as Tribuli, Ji Li, Tribulus Fruit. In TCM: 蒺藜 (Ji Li); Fructus Tribuli.

Is Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit safe during pregnancy?

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit is not recommended during pregnancy.

What are the contraindications for Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit?

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit should not be used in: Pregnancy; Use without supervision in hormone-sensitive or prostate-related conditions; Marked deficiency patterns without clear Liver wind, Liver yang, or qi stagnation features. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit interact with any medications?

Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit may interact with: Diuretics ... possible additive diuretic effect; Antihypertensive drugs ... possible additive blood-pressure-lowering effect; Antidiabetics ... possible additive glucose-lowering effect; Clopidogrel ... a Tribulus-containing formula has been associated with altered antiplatelet outcomes in case literature. Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.