Can just one plant help restore your sexual appetite, decrease your appetite for food, and reduce your stress? That’s the supposed tongkat ali extract benefits. Never heard of this supplement? Learn more about it, including if research backs these impressive claims….
What is Tongkat Ali?
It’s a medicinal plant. The botanic name for it is Eurycoma longifolia. The west refers to it as Lone Jack. Malaysians, where this plant is native, refer to it as “home-grown Viagra.”
Southeast Asians celebrate it as an aphrodisiac. Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand also believe it is an aphrodisiac. But “Tongkat Ali” comes specifically from Malaysia.
One of the most popular herbs on the planet is ginseng. People refer to Eurycoma longifolia as Malaysian ginseng because of its vast benefits. This is due to its potential to improve physical and mental energy.
Traditionally used as “anti-aging” remedy, the root of this plant is most famous for low libido and erectile dysfunction. But, people use it to treat malaria, hypertension, and postpartum depression in folk applications.
Lab studies support these traditional uses. They also support the potential to manage diabetes, cancer and bacterial infections.
Tongkat Ali Extract Benefits
Let’s scrutinize the hype. Studies on cells are one thing. But are there at least animal studies that support the claims that it can boost libido, testosterone, endurance and muscle mass? Not to mention weight loss and stress reduction?
In fact, studies do show that water extracts of eurycoma boost sexual performance. The herb has a testosterone-boosting-like effect. This means it doesn’t actually boost your testosterone level.
However, if your level of this sex hormone is low, Lone Jack can restore your testosterone levels back to normal. It does this by stimulating the release of free testosterone. (“Free” means that the hormone circulates in your blood rather than the other inactive testosterone that’s in the rest of your body).
Testosterone has other benefits besides libido. Normal levels of the hormone are required for energy levels and preventing fatigue, as well as maintaining normal body weight, and for an overall sense of well-being.
Thus, while it’s not a true testosterone booster, Lone Jack acts like one. Companies combine it with other pseudo-testosterone boosters such as forskolin and D-asparactic acid in some herbal products.
After age 30, your levels of testosterone start dropping by up to two per cent a year. That’s why some people consider Lone Jack one of the best supplements for men over 40.
And it’s not just because of all the benefits from tongkat ali on testosterone. It’s also because this plant is an adaptogen. Adaptogenic herbs help your body adapt to stress.
This plant reduces anxiety in some behavioral tests on rodents. The rodents used in the study stopped fighting and demonstrating aggressive behavior after being given the extract.
In fact, the anti-anxiety effects were similar to the prescription drug, diazepam.
Tongkat Ali Benefits for Females
Certain products that include this ingredient promise Lone Jack will help men achieve an erection (a firmer, larger one at that). But what about this supplement for women? Is it just the men who get to have all the fun?
Testosterone is also important for women. Women don’t need as much of this hormone as men. Nonetheless, it’s important that women have enough of it to balance estrogen and prevent estrogen dominance.
At least one study supports women using this supplement. Specifically, ones who exercise. The clinical trial examined women 45–59 years old. For 3 months, they performed strength training twice a week. And they took 100 mg/day of Eurycoma longifolia extract.
The result: the women who took the extract had greater lean body mass than the women who also worked out but took a placebo.
More Evidence Based Proof of Tongkat Ali Extract Benefits
In the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the stress hormones and mood of 32 men and 31 women with moderate stress was analyzed. The participants were given a Lone Jack hot-water root extract for 4 weeks (or a placebo).
The participants given the supplement experienced significant improvements: tension was reduced by over 10%. Anger levels dropped 12%. Confusion rates were 15% lower. And levels of the stress hormone, cortisol plunged 16%.
Most impressive of all, testosterone levels shot up 37%
Researchers of the study conclude:
“This “ancient” remedy may be an effective approach to shielding the body from the detrimental effects of “modern” chronic stress, which may include general day-to-day stress, as well as the stress of dieting, sleep deprivation, and exercise training.”
And good news for men, the tongkat ali extract benefits them in the bedroom. Research shows improved libido and sexual performance.
Tongkat Ali For ED
In a study published in Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, a group of men, 30-55 years old either received a tongkat ali dosage of 300 mg or a placebo for 3 months. The result was that the men who took the supplement showed improvement in erectile function.
Also, the men experienced an average 14% increase in sexual libido by the 12th week. Sperm quality of the men also improved. Collectively, the men receiving the supplement had a sperm motility improvement of over 44%. Semen volume, too, showed improvement (over 18%).
More good news for the men. Some of the participants also experienced a lower body mass index (BMI).
In fact, study after study demonstrates that this plant increases testosterone levels in the blood. And this herb causes several quality-of-life improvements based on consistent research.
Tongkat Ali extract benefits as shown by research include reduced stress levels, lower body fat, as well as increased strength and endurance. In one clinical trial of endurance cyclists, the supplement reduced cortisol levels by 32%, while testosterone increased 16%.
No wonder some tongkat ali reviews describe this supplement as a natural anabolic steroid.
How does it work?
Eurycoma (remember, that’s the botanical name for “TA”) contains bioactive compounds called “eurypeptides.” These compounds encourage the metabolism of the hormones pregnenolone and progesterone. In doing so, the hormone DHEA is created. DHEA is a precursor to testosterone.
Tongkat Ali Side Effects
Are there any risks of negative side effects of eurycoma longifolia? Just like any other plant or drug, there’s always the potential for adverse reactions. In fact, with this herb, animal studies have shown toxicity with some extracts.
However, research shows that hot-water root extracts (containing 1% eurycomanone, 22% protein, 30% polysaccharides, 35% glycosaponins) are generally safe for any length of time.
Best Extract of Eurycoma Longifolia
Keep in mind that the most effective and safest hot-water extracts are intensely bitter. If you take a pure root extract of TA that doesn’t taste bitter, it’s because of one or two reasons. The first possibility is that the extract doesn’t contain real Eurycoma longifolia root; it’s not the real thing if it’s not pure Eurycoma longifolia.
The other possibility is that the active compounds in it are of lesser quality.
You really need to do your research because some products claim to contain Eurycoma longifolia. But in reality, what they contain are prescription erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs. It’s illegal for companies to sell herbal products containing ED drugs.
What is the best product with all the Tongkat Ali Extract Benefits?
If you want all the benefits without the bitter taste, the company TK Supplements has a product called Triple Edge XL. It eurycoma longifolia, plus other herbs that collectively may help normalize testosterone levels. The other herbs in TripleEdge XL are fenugreek, rhodiola, tribulus, and yohimbe.
Triple Edge XL also vitamin B12 and zinc to enhance energy and stamina.
What dosage is best?
According to the research on this herb, the typical dose is 50-200 mg/day. This is for a water-extract of the root, standardized to 22% eurypeptides (the bioactive compounds).
However, if you want to take more, the good news is there is research showing it’s safe. A two-month trial involving 20 healthy males (38–58 years old), found doses of 600 mg per day to have no negative influence on blood profiles. The study also showed that this high dose had no effect on liver or kidney function.
Conclusion
If you have no sex drive and have trouble losing stubborn body fat, you might experience some impressive tongkat ali extract benefits. However, if you’re currently taking any medication, it’s always best to check with a health professional to see if this herb is safe for you.
Also, if after getting a blood test back, you know you have low testosterone levels, this plant can be a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy. It may also be beneficial if you’re an overeater or suffer from mild depression.
Even elite athletes can benefit from it. Overtraining is a form of stress. Tongkat ali helps the body recover from intense training.
Do you use it? Does it help you? Leave a comment….
References
Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects
Sexual Enhancer Supplements Review (subscription required)
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
