Cistanche vs Tribulus for libido
Short answer: For libido, more users report improvement with Tribulus — 86% of 51 reports, versus 80% of 51 for Cistanche.
Cistanche has 4 meta-analyses and 6 randomized trials on PubMed; Tribulus has 13 and 34.
Based on 321 reports about Cistanche and 216 about Tribulus. Not medical advice.
| Cistanche Supplement | Tribulus Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 66%helped132 reports · high confidence | 41%helped99 reports · medium confidence |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mixed |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 4 / 6 | 13 / 34 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Libido % reporting improvement | 80% (51) | 86% (51) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 73% (41) | 75% (24) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 82% (40) | 60% (20) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 67% (30) | 100% (16) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (25) | 20% (5) |
| Common side effects | fatigue, anhedonia, drowsiness, hair loss | anxiety, aggression, irritability, insomnia |
| Typical dose reported | 210 mg / daily | 1 Cap / daily |
Dietary supplements have a positive impact on hair density, terminal hair density, and blind doctor evaluations in patients with androgenetic alopecia, with good tolerability. They may serve as beneficial adjuncts or alternatives to conventional treatments. Future large-scale, high-quality RCTs are needed to verify these findings.
Front Nutr, 2025 ↗“Cistanche extract increases my drive, energy and vigor. It makes me want to attack life. I get better sleep...My work ethic has improved. My memory. my attitude towards life. Every facet of my life has been altered in a positive meaningful way.”
Based on the scoring system, 2 (8%) supplements matched with the cluster of higher expected efficacy, 3 (12%) with the lower efficacy cluster and 20 (80%) matched with the criterion of no expected efficacy. DSs marketed in Italy are usually blends of many substances that are frequently employed at a negligible dose or without any evidence.
Nutrients, 2023 ↗“i feel good on nd trib, even double dose and no sleep issue.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate