Re: Side effects of Tribulus Terrestries

 HV, you have spoken of using Tribulus to increase Testosterone. It is also supposed to relax smooth muscles and lower blood pressure.

Yes, the sterols in tribulus relax smooth muscle including blood vessels lowering blood pressure.  Tribulus also has a calming effect on the nervous system, increases endothelial nitric oxixde, and has an ACE inhibiting action also lowering the blood pressure.

I find however that it increases my blood pressure. Some people have said that increasing testosterone may in fact increase blood pressure. Your thoughts, please.

Testosterone does not raise blood pressure.  In fact studies have shown that low testosterone in men at least raises blood pressure.  If your blood pressure is going up immediately after taking it then you are likely allergic to it.  Especially considering that tribulus is not that fast to take effect.  So even if testosterone were able to raise the blood pressure it would take long longer than a few minutes or even hours since tribulus does not increase testosterone this quick.

As far as side effects the only real side effects would be from the increase in testosterone, which can increase aggression.  If converted in to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) then other side effects can occur such as hair loss, prostate enlargement in men.  This can be countered though by the addition of DHT blockers such as licorice root.   If the person has high levels of the enzyme aromatase then the testosterone can also be converted in to estrogen, which has a number of its own side effects including hypothyroidism, increased risk of gallstones and contributing to the growth of certain cancers.  But again there are ways around this.  For example, the addition of nettle root, which is a aromatase inhibitor.