4 Amazing Health Benefits Of Tongkat Ali & How To Take It

Tongkat ali is a plant root that has been used in folk medicine for centuries. This plant is native to Southeast Asia and is used as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments. Tongkat Ali is predominately found in Malaysia and Indonesia, and is often called “Malaysian ginseng.” It has been used for everything from increasing libido to promoting general well-being. The benefits of tongkat ali are numerous and can be attributed to its active components. Fresh and dried extracts of this plant root are used as herbal medicine to treat erectile dysfunction, control blood glucose levels, and help treat age-related physical and mental disorders.

Know Your Ingredient: Tongkat Ali

What Is It?
A medicinal herb plant root with a bitter taste and a sweet and smoky smell.

What Are Its Benefits?
It improves athletic performance, boosts testosterone, maintains bone health, and regulates diabetes.

Who Can Consume It?
Anyone can consume this except people with a weak immune system and those on diabetes and blood pressure medications.

How Often?
You can take between 200 – 400 mg every day.

Caution
Avoid consuming this if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Excess consumption may cause mild nausea or stomach cramps.

Here, we explore the potential health benefits of tongkat ali, a list of its active compounds, and how you can use it in your diet. Keep reading.

What Is Tongkat Ali?

Eurycoma longifolia a.k.a Tongkat ali, Pasak Bumi, Malaysian Ginseng, or Longjack is a medicinal herb that grows in parts of Vietnam, Java, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Thailand.

For many years, the plant parts of this herb have been lauded for their aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and revitalizing properties (1).

These properties are due to Tongkat ali’s rich biochemical composition. These active components primarily boost testosterone levels. Drinking tongkat root tea regularly might help men and women improve their libido (2). Alongside tongkat ali, incorporating other foods that boost testosterone levels into your diet might also enhance your overall well-being.

With age, testosterone levels drop. This causes several bone, brain, and metabolic disorders. Tongkat ali, according to scientific evidence, can be of great help in such cases.

Go to the next section to see how and why tongkat ali is also called the Malaysian Viagra.

Fun Fact

Tongkat Ali means ‘Ali’s walking stick,’ referencing the aphrodisiac properties of the plant.

What Are The Benefits Of Tongkat Ali?

Eurycoma longifolia or tongkat ali has potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activity. Some components of the tongkat ali extract are known to have antimalarial properties. Regular supplementation of tongkat ali can reduce stress, anxiety, anger, and confusion. The root extracts have phytochemicals that reduce cortisol levels and protect your body from various stresses.

“Let’s take a look at its benefits in detail:”

1. Improves Performance In Athletes And Bodybuilders

Tongkat ali is a part of several sports and bodybuilding supplements. This herbal extract can increase energy levels, decrease cortisol, and enhance exercise performance. These effects could be because of the probable increase in serum testosterone levels in athletes.

Studies on male and female athletes showed a spike in the bioavailability of free testosterone upon tongkat ali supplementation. A daily dose of 400 mg tongkat ali for 5 weeks improved muscle force in older men and women (3).

Another study showed that consuming a herbal drink with 0.1 mg/100 ml Tongkat Ali enhanced running performance in cyclists (4).

2. Can Boost Testosterone And Libido In Men

Using tongkat ali extract (200 mg/day) can act as a testosterone booster in men.

Traditionally, this herb was used to treat sexual health issues. It was used to improve stamina, libido, and overall endurance for better sexual performance. Though the mechanism remains unclear, it is speculated that the “eurypeptides” in tongkat ali could be involved (2).

Eurypeptides are a group of small peptides in this herb. They are thought to influence the rate of release of bound testosterone from sex-hormone-binding-hormone (SHBG).

The Malaysians used tongkat ali as an aphrodisiac for impotence and erectile dysfunction as well as an energy booster (2).

A rat study performed in 2017 demonstrated how tongkat ali extracts could counter penile contraction. Its semi-purified root extract can treat erectile dysfunction by working on the angiotensinⁱ  A hormone that helps regulate blood pressure by restricting blood vessels and increasing water and sodium consumption. system (5).

3. Helps Maintain Bone Health In Aging Men And Women

As you age, your skeletal system gets affected the most. This might be because of the depleting levels of the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone.

Particularly in men, testosterone deficiency leads to reduced bone strength, lean body mass, and calcium absorption. Some studies also suggest such hypogonadismⁱ  A medical term indicating reduced functional activity of ovaries or testes. Assisted reproduction is one of its possible treatments. impairs the activity of estrogen too. All these might cumulatively give rise to osteoporosis and frequent fractures or dislocations (6).

As an alternative to testosterone replacement therapy, supplements containing herbs like tongkat ali can improve the condition in these older individuals.

Tongkat ali is known for increasing the serum testosterone level. It can, therefore, help male and female menopausal osteoporosis (6).

4. Might Help Regulate Diabetes

It was observed across several rat studies that tongkat ali extracts could also regulate blood glucose levels.

In hyperglycemic rats, blood glucose levels saw a drop by about 38% – 47% after consumption of the supplement. In normal rats that had optimal glycemic levels, no change was observed (7).

This effect is attributed to increased insulin sensitivity brought about by tongkat ali components. A small dose (50 μg/mL) of the herbal extract enhanced glucose uptake by 200%!

Tongkat ali root extracts showed the ability to reduce lipid accumulation and increase insulin sensitivity in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, this herb can be a comprehensive treatment option for diabetes (7).

Did You Know?

Tongal Ali is also an adaptogen as it helps the body adapt to different kinds of physical, chemical, or biological stress.

What Are The Active Components Of Tongkat Ali?

Eurycoma longifolia

has various active biochemicals that are responsible for the benefits you just read about. The most extensively characterized compounds include β-carboline alkaloids, quassinoids, canthin-6-one alkaloids, and squalene derivatives (7).

Steroids like eurycolactone, eurycomalactone, laurycolactone, and biphenyl neolignan are reported. Triterpenes, including tirucallane and eurylene, along with propanoidsⁱ  An abundant source of metabolites in plants, necessary for the production of lignin that are considered to have antioxidant properties. like scopolin and propan are also present in the extracts (7), (8).

Quassinoids are the major constituents and impart the characteristic bitter taste to this Malaysian ginseng root. The β-Carboline and Canthin-6-one alkaloids are nitrogen-containing components that give tongkat ali its insect-repellent properties (7).

What a unique phytochemical profile for a simple shrub! Aren’t we envious of those who’ve been using this holistic herb traditionally?

You don’t have to envy them anymore! This is because tongkat ali is available for the world to use. You can find various forms of this potent herb in the marketplace.

Eager to know what they are? Jump to the next section!

How Do You Take Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is currently available in various forms on the markets. You can find them as vegetarian capsules, liquid extract, root extract powder, and alcohol-free tincture.

It is recommended to use them only under medical guidance since certain formulations might be very potent. Your body might not need or not be able to handle certain doses mentioned by the manufacturer. Therefore, consult your doctor for the right dosage and directions to use.

Animal studies showed that administration of tongkat ali alcohol extract up to 200-350 mg/kg/day was not toxic. Some mice and rat studies quote a daily dose below 1000-1200 mg/kg body weight to be safe and non-toxic (9).

According to these studies, oral administration of tongkat ali is about 100 times less toxic than intraperitoneal injections (9).

But is Tongkal Ali safe for all? Are there any potential risks or side effects? Let us find that out in the next section.

Is Tongkat Ali Safe?

Tongkat Ali is generally considered safe when consumed in the right dosage. According to a 2012 study conducted on 109 men, consuming 300 mg of tongkat ali water extract for a 12-week period is as safe as taking a placebo, and it showed significant improvement in the participants’ quality of life (10). Another study also showed that taking up to 1.2 g of this herb per day is safe for adults (11). However, according to a report, consuming a high dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight may lead to DNA damage in the stomach and duodenum (beginning part of the small intestine) tissues (12). Further, tongkat ali has been observed to improve wakefulness during the body’s active phases and enhance sleep during resting hours (13). However, anecdotal evidence suggests that excessive consumption may lead to undesirable side effects such as insomnia, irritability, or increased aggression. These effects can be particularly concerning for individuals with underlying mental health conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult your doctor to determine the right dosage, especially if you have any existing health issues or are taking medications.

Infographic: 4 Ways Tongkat Ali Improves Your Health

This old plant root has been a part of many cultures and traditions and has often been used to treat various ailments. If you have not been aware of this potent component and still need a push to add it in your dietary routine, take a look at the infographic below. Check it out to know 4 ways tongkat ali can extensively improve your health.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

In Short…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to take Tongkat Ali?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that you should take Tongkat Ali in the morning.

Is Tongkat Ali good for the prostate?

Yes. Tongkat Ali may even help reduce prostate cancer risk (14).

Is Tongkat Ali good for blood pressure?

Yes. Tongkat Ali is a good source of alkaloids, terpenesⁱ  Fragrant chemicals that give many plants and herbs, such as lavender and rosemary, their distinctive scents. , and polyphenols that may help maintain blood pressure (15).

Is Tongkat Ali the same as Maca root?

No. However, both Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and maca (Lepidium meyenii) are natural supplements, good for boosting male fertility.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Staci GulbinMS, MEd, RD, LDN

   

Staci Gulbin is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, health editor, and founder of LighttrackNutrition.com. She has been a registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration since 2010 and has over a decade of experience in the nutrition and dietetics industry.

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Swathi HandooHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Swathi holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from Osmania University and has worked in places where actual science and research happen. She has four years of experience and a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Payal KarnikSenior Health & Wellness Writer

Payal Karnik is a senior health and wellness writer and a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach. She is a biotechnology graduate from the University of Mumbai with a keen interest in writing and a natural curiosity for science.

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