Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a popular herbal medicine that has been used for its aphrodisiac and testosterone-boosting effects.
Traditionally, tongkat ali was used to improve fertility and overall vitality and reduce fever and diarrhea.
Modern-day research shows that Eurycoma longifolia may indeed be beneficial for sexual health, strength, stress, fighting pathogens, and more.
This article will look in-depth at tongkat ali, its active constituents, possible benefits, and applications.
Table of Contents
What is Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat ali is a tall, shrubby tree that grows in sandy soil. It is native to Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
When translated, tongkat ali literally means “Ali’s walking stick”, which is in reference to its aphrodisiac properties. Other names for tongkat ali, depending on the country of origin, include Ali’s Umbrella, Malaysia Ginseng, Longjack, Pasak Bumi, and Tung Saw.
There are many different bioactive compounds in tongkat ali, which come from its leaves, roots, stem, and even bark.
Some of the main bioactive compounds of Eurycoma longifolia are listed below:
- Quassinoids
- Squalene derivatives
- Biphenyl neolignans
- Alkaloids
- Triterpenes
- Flavonoids
- Steroids
Among these compounds, quassinoids are thought to deliver most of the health benefits. There a few different types of quassionoids found in Eurycoma longifolia, including eurycomanone, eurycomaoside, and eurycolactone.
You can learn more about the health benefits of tongkat ali’s quassinoid Eurycomanone here.
Health Benefits of Tongkat Ali:
There are many potential health benefits of tongkat ali, due in large part to its vast number of bioactive compounds. In particular, listed below are the most well-researched tongkat ali benefits.
1. May Increase Testosterone
The majority of research on tongkat ali has been related to benefits on testosterone and sexual health. Specifically, various clinical studies have shown that tongkat ali is an herb, similar to Cistanche and Shilajit, that benefits testosterone, libido, and other aspects of sexual function.
One six-month, double-blind clinical trial in 45 men found that supplementing with 200mg of Eurycoma longifolia alongside daily exercise was associated with improvements in testosterone levels and sexual function compared to exercise alone or placebo.
In another clinical trial in 109 men aged 30-55, those who took tongkat ali (300mg) for 12 weeks had significant improvements in physical functioning, quality of life, erectile function, libido, and sperm health compared to the control group.
In another key clinical study conducted on 76 men with low testosterone, the researchers found that supplementing with 200mg of tongkat ali daily for one month was associated with significant improvements in testosterone levels and aging male symptoms. In fact, the percentage of men with normal testosterone levels increased from 35.5% before treatment to 90.8% after treatment.
Also, a double-blind clinical study involving 105 men between the ages of 50-70, those who took either 100 or 200mg of a standardized Eurycoma longifolia extract for 12 weeks had greater increases in total testosterone compared to placebo, with greater effects for the 200mg group. Moreover, both groups showed increases in free testosterone, DHEA, and muscle strength, alongside decreases in aging symptoms and fatigue, again with more pronounced effects in the 200mg group. Lastly, the 200mg group had significantly decreased cortisol levels.
Lastly, a double-blind clinical trial done on young men aged 19-29 showed that those who were supplemented with 600mg of tongkat ali for two weeks had significantly increased total and free testosterone levels compared to the placebo. However, no effects were seen for luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone.
Summary:
Clinical human research has found that Eurycoma longifolia may work to increase levels of testosterone.
2. May Boost Strength and Power
Research also shows that tongkat ali benefits exercise performance, particularly strength and power. This may be connected with the increases in testosterone seen above.
In one double-blind clinical trial in 45 men with low testosterone levels, Eurycoma longifolia supplementation plus regular exercise for six months was associated with significant improvements in peak force production, as well as significant decreases in androgen deficiency symptoms. Examples of such symptoms that were improved include lack of energy, low libido, poor strength, and feeling sad or irritable.
In another clinical trial done on young males, a combination of resistance training and tongkat ali (200mg daily) was associated with greater average and peak power compared to before the intervention. Granted, resistance training alone also led to improvements in strength and power, but tongkat ali still seemed to have a benefit.
Also, in a pilot study done on 25 physically active seniors aged 57-72 (both men and women), supplementation with 400mg of Eurycoma longifolia for five weeks was associated with significant increases in muscular strength and force, as well as enhanced total and free testosterone. All of these effects were seen in both men and women.
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