Picture of the Tongkat Ali plant, also known as Eurycoma-longifolia

Tongkat Ali: Potential Benefits, Side Effects, & Dosage

By / April 6, 2020

Tongkat Ali, also known as Longjack or Malaysian Ginseng, is a popular herb for its aphrodisiac effects. This southeast traditional medicine claims to have sexual benefits and improves masculine virility. While the benefits are many, the incorrect dosage of Tongkat Ali can have negative side-effects too.

Tongkat Ali is native to countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar. The roots of this herb have many potential benefits, which we have outlined below. Tongkat Ali is often consumed with dietary supplements, beverages, tea or coffee. Nowadays, it comes in capsule forms as well.

Benefits of Tongkat Ali

For centuries people used Tongkat Ali to combat fever, malaria and bacterial infections. Medical science supports the claims of Tongkat Ali benefits used in traditional treatments.

1. May Boost Testosterone Production

Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, is responsible for masculinity and secondary sexual characteristics. The hormone influences mood, libido, stamina, and the overall energy flow in a man’s body. The amount of testosterone in a male peaks around 35 years of age, and declines thereafter.

Other than that, testosterone production may also decrease due to extreme temperature, powerful medication, infection in testes, or exposure to radiation. So, it affects virility and makes a man lethargic. Lack of testosterone can cause some more problems, such as:

  • Hair loss
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Low semen volume
  • Increased body fat deposits
  • Low blood count
  • Reduction in testicle size
  • Mood swings and more

Tongkat Ali can boost testosterone production naturally. A study on older patients showed some positive effects. 76 old men took 200 mg of Tongkat Ali every day for at least four weeks or so. Guess what happened? 90% of these men showed a spike in testosterone levels.1

2. May Provide Aphrodisiac Effects

Tongkat Ali improves erectile dysfunction and boosts testosterone production. That has direct aphrodisiac effects on men. The Medicus Research LLC carried out a study on 26 men to find aphrodisiac effects of Tongkat Ali.

The study was conducted for 12 weeks. Regular consumption of Tongkat Ali improved users’ libido score by up to 8.7%. Research suggests the natural med contains 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one molecules. That helps for delayed ejaculation and more libido in men.2

3. May Improve Male Fertility

Men can suffer fertility because of oligospermia or immotile sperm. Other than that, there could be less sperm concentration or defective sperm morphology. A study of Phytomedicine showed regular Tongkat Ali consumption increases the chance of pregnancy by at least 12 %.

Another study conducted by the University of Science in Malaysia applied Tongkat Ali on 109 men for 12 weeks or so. Each individual took 200mg of Tongkat Ali per day. The result showed an increase in erectile time, sperm motility, semen volume, and more sex drive. 3

4. May Help Treat Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones lose their density and become more fragile and lightweight. Testosterone increases RBC production and improves bone density. The National University of Malaysia conducted a study to find the impact of Tongkat Ali on osteoporosis.

Tongkat Ali kills osteoclasts and stimulates the production of osteoblasts. Thus, bone density increases and heals the loss of osteoporosis.4

5. May Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Tongkat Ali is also a good mood lifter. It can cut stress, anxiety, tension, confusion and regulate the positive energy flow in your body. A study on 63 males and females showed Tongkat Ali positive effects in relieving stress.

Each of these subjects took 200mg of Tongkat Ali for four weeks. The result is 11% less stress, 12% less anger, 15% less confusion, and 16% less cortisol exposure. So, individuals became more relaxed and experienced mild euphoria after Tongkat Ali consumption.5

6. May Reduce Dependence on Insulin

More than 400 million diabetes patients across the globe have one common goal. The goal is simple- control blood sugar level. The National University of Malaysia conducted Tongkat Ali experiments on 52 diabetes patients for four months. After 16 weeks of Tongkat Ali consumption, it helped 31 of these patients reduce their dependence on insulin treatment.6

7. May Boosts The Immune System

Tokyo Medical University conducted an experiment to find Tongkat Ali’s importance on the immune system. The study was conducted on 84 people of different age groups of men and women. Each of them was given 200mg of Tongkat Ali for four weeks.

Subjects showed more T-cells, CD4+ and naive T-cells count. So, not only Tongkat Ali improves your sexual health but also boosts immunity.7

8. May Reduce Tumor Size in Cancer Patients

Surprisingly, Tongkat Ali has cancer-fighting properties too. The National Research Center in Cairo had research on 13 cancer patients. All the patients were given 200mg of Tongkat Ali for 24 weeks. 9 Out of 13 patients showed a reduced subcutaneous tumor with Tongkat Ali consumption. That is a clear sign of cancer-fighting properties.8

9. May Fight Intestinal Parasites

Tongkat Ali has quassinoids and alkaloids in its roots. That not only prevents parasitic growth but also kills them. The University of Malaya had a study of Tongkat Ali on intestinal parasites. Guess what? It found the highest antiprotozoal activity at 1 mg/dl.9

Research also found that Tongkat Ali has anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Side Effects

Though Tongkat Ali has a number of proven benefits yet it has some side effects if taken in heavy doses. Excessive consumption can cause restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety in some people.

Other than that, people with heart disease or hormone-sensitive cancer should avoid Tongkat Ali. That is because testosterone increase could further aggravate the condition. People who are taking immunosuppressant drugs should avoid Tongkat Ali too. This can possibly create drug interaction in patients.

Dosage

In the case of raw extract, a ratio of 100:1 has proven to be an effective dose. However, experts suggest a dose of 300mg is good enough to find its benefits. Depending on BMI, some people can consume up to 400mg per day. Tongkat Ali should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Other than that Tongkat Ali should be consumed in cycles. There are two popular cycles to follow.

Dosage Method 1

In this method, take two capsules per day- one in the morning with breakfast and the other after dinner. Follow this same routine for five days and take two days of break. Continue the cycle for at least four weeks for positive results.

Dosage Method 2

For this method, take one capsule of Tongkat Ali every night. Maintain if for four days and take a break for one day. Continue it for a minimum of six weeks to get the benefits.

In the case of a capsule, make sure the provider has ISO 17025 by Intertek or SGS. Not all brands have the same quality. Also, look for labeling that states it is free from microbial contamination and free from all heavy metals.

Tongkat Ali can be a wonder medicine for the stresses of the twenty-first century. Not only it helps men’s sexual improvement but also it offers a range of other benefits in reducing stress and fighting cancer. Though this natural medicine has some side effects if taken in the wrong dose, the potential benefits are profound. Consult with your doctor before taking Tonkat Ali. We hope you are able to enjoy its benefits!

Footnotes

  1. Tambi MI, Imran MK, Henkel RR (2012) Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism, Andrologia, 44 Suppl 1:226-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01168.x.
  2. Udani, J. K., George, A. A., Musthapa, M., Pakdaman, M. N., & Abas, A. (2014). Effects of a Proprietary Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta) and Polygonum minus on Sexual Performance and Well-Being in Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2014, 179529. doi:10.1155/2014/179529.
  3. Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WM, George A, Nik Hussain NH, Musthapa Kamal ZM, Liske E. Randomized clinical trial on the use of PHYSTA freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the improvement of quality of life and sexual well-being in men. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012; 2012: 429268. doi: 10.1155/2012/429268.
  4. Effendy N.M., Mohamed N., Muhammad N., Mohamad I.N., Shuid A.N. Eurycoma longifolia: medicinal plant in the prevention and treatment of male osteoporosis due to androgen deficiency. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2012:125761.
  5. Talbott et al.: Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013 10:28
  6. Husen R, Pihie AH, Nallappan M. Screening for antihyperglycaemic activity in several local herbs of Malaysia. J Ethnopharmacol 2004; 95(2–3): 205–8. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.004
  7. George A, Suzuki N, Abas AB, Mohri K, Utsuyama M, Hirokawa K, et al. Immunomodulation in middle-aged humans via the ingestion of Physta®standardized root water extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack-a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Phytother Res 2016; 30(4): 627–35. doi:10.1002/ptr.5571.
  8. Jiwajinda S1, Santisopasri V, Murakami A, Sugiyama H, Gasquet M, Riad E, Balansard G, Ohigashi H. (2002) In vitro anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. J Ethnopharmacol. Sep;82(1):55-8.
  9. Girish, S., Kumar, S., & Aminudin, N. (2015). Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia): a possible therapeutic candidate against Blastocystis sp. Parasites & vectors, 8, 332. doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0942-y.

Related Posts