Herbs could be one of the most advantageous natural supplements with numerous health benefits. You could consume a few herbs regularly to keep yourself fit and healthy.
One such herb is Tongkat Ali or Longjack, which may offer various health benefits to the consumers.
Many researchers believe Tongkat Ali to be a promising medicinal herb with several unknown health benefits.
But, to date, the flowering plant is considered a potential medicinal supplement. In this article, you will know the identified benefits and side effects of Tongkat Ali.
What Is Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat Ali or Longjack[1] is a famous traditional Southeast Asian medicine that has been used for centuries. It is used as a herbal remedy that cures several irregularities in the human body.
The flowering plant could be beneficial for treating several health issues, including fever, bacterial infections, etc.
But, it could also be a solid contributor to treating sexual health problems in humans.
The herbal plant could potentially treat erectile dysfunction, boost male fertility, relieve stress, etc.
Every part of a medicinal herb could be beneficial for treatment, including stem, roots, leaves, bark, flower, etc.
In Tongkat Ali, roots could be the highest source of several essential bioactive compounds.
Moreover, the herbal plant could also contain valuable phytochemicals like quassinoids, alkaloids, and other bioactive steroids.
Currently, Tongkat Ali is available in dietary supplements, teas, energy drinks, etc. But, the most commonly consumed form is Tongkat Ali pills.
Tongkat Ali Benefits
Tongkat Ali could be a potential treatment for some health conditions. It offers many health benefits to both men and women.
Tongkat Ali Benefits For Men
May Treat Erectile Dysfunction
One could say that ED is becoming one of the primary concerns for several men worldwide. Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which men may not be able to achieve a firm erection for sexual activities.
Tongkat Ali may enhance the low testosterone level in men, improving their sexual desires.
Moreover, the increased testosterone could positively impact men struggling with erectile dysfunction, according to the observational studies[2] conducted.May Boost Male Fertility
Testosterone levels in men could dip with age, exposure to radiation, medications, injuries, etc. But, the dipping level could be controlled and improved[3] by taking Tongkat Ali.
The increased testosterone would restore normal libido, orgasm, and sexual activity. Moreover, the Tongkat Ali supplement could enhance the sperm volume, count, motility, and viability to boost a male’s fertility.
May Improve Skeletal Health
Tongkat Ali could be beneficial in restoring the loss of bone mass. It could also play a vital role in preventing osteoporosis in older men.
Moreover, with a balanced hormone level, you could stabilize the level of essential components of the skeletal mass of the human body like calcium, magnesium, and vitamins like Vitamin D.
Here is a discussion[4] on vitamin D in regards to skeletal and non-skeletal health.
May Enhance Body Composition
The Tongkat Ali acts as an ergogenic aid[5] for athletes. Hence, they prefer consuming supplements to improve their performance.
It could help maintain balanced body composition and increase muscle mass to stay fit and healthy.
Tongkat Ali contains some compounds like eurycomaoside, eurycomanone, and eurycolactone that could help to use energy efficiently.
Moreover, these compounds could relieve fatigue and enhance endurance to keep active all day.
May Be Effective Against Cancer
Tongkat Ali plant could be helpful to counter growing cancer cells. Several scientists are looking forward to discovering the cancer-fighting properties[6] of the herbal plant.
You could also say that some unknown quassinoids in the Longjack may be effective against the lung and cervical cancer cells.
Another experiment suggests that the Longjack’s quassinoids could fight human prostate cancer.
But, due to lack of evidence, clinical usage isn’t advisable.
May Have Anti-Inflammatory And Anti-Bacterial Properties
Tongkat Ali extract contains some anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants that could stop inflammation in the body.
It could be effective against bacteria[7] like Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi.
TONGKAT ALI BENEFITS FOR WOMEN
May Restrict Unwanted Weight Gain
Immediate weight gain is never good for health, and it might have some underlying health conditions. Due to the exposure to several environmental toxins, the human body’s hormonal balance gets disturbed.
The disturbed hormonal balance and metabolism lead to unwanted weight gains. Tongkat Ali could be beneficial in stabilizing the hormonal imbalances[8] in females and restricting weight gain effectively.
May Boost Energy
Several hidden causes lead to hormonal imbalance in your body, which could significantly lower energy and metabolism.
Tongkat Ali could bring the hormones under control and keep them at a balanced level that increases the energy and metabolism to perform tasks.
Moreover, it works as a supplement to support endurance[9] during exercise.
May Provide Libido Support
Irrespective of gender, a testosterone boost could be helpful to induce sexual needs and desires in a person.
Tongkat Ali could be great herbal medicine to increase sensations in the sensitive zones and boost libido[10] in females.
Hence, with Tongkat Ali, females could boost or bring their sexual life on track again.
May Improve Mood
Tongkat Ali could be a great option to deal with stress[11], mood swings, and varying emotions in females. Tongkat Ali is believed to reduce the effect of cortisol, which is the most crucial stress hormone in the human body.
Cortisol is produced due to excessive stress or anxiety that could lead to weight gain, sleeplessness, distorted diet plans, etc.
Hence, Tongkat Ali supplements could keep the cortisol level normal to improve mood. Moreover, regular intake of Tongkat Ali could also improve memory in females.
Having said all that, there are a few other methods to reduce cortisol apart from consuming Tongkat Ali.May Keep Blood Sugar Level In Control
Type II diabetes is getting more attention with each day passing. However, you could control diabetes by taking medicines and maintaining a proper lifestyle.
Tongkat Ali could help females cut down their blood sugar levels to normal[12].
The herbal supplement reduces the refined carbohydrate intake, boosts energy to do exercises, and helps in getting high-quality sleep, positively impacting blood sugar levels.
Tongkat Ali For Testosterone
Testosterone is a primary and vital sex hormone in men that aids in keeping their sexual life healthy.
The sex hormone could have a definite role as it could help regular sex drive, increase bone mass, cut down fat, maintain muscle mass, and produce red blood cells and sperm in men.
As testosterone performs several essential functions for both men and women, a drop in the hormone level could impact sexual life and health.
Here, Tongkat Ali could help improve the testosterone level in both males and females. Studies show that it could help ease the management[13] of hypogonadism in men.
Men taking Tongkat Ali regularly in prescribed doses could experience a difference in their sexual life.
The improved testosterone level could lead to a better erection firmness, libido, good sperm concentration, and health in men.
Moreover, the Longjack supplement could boost an individual’s stamina, energy, and strength.
Like men, women could face a dip in health and sexual drive due to low testosterone.
Testosterone in females, along with estrogen (the primary female sex hormone), could help women grow and maintain their sexual needs.
Moreover, a good testosterone level in women could positively impact human behavior and bone mass.
Hence, Tongkat Ali would help keep the testosterone level well-maintained in females to avoid such problems.
Tongkat Ali Side Effects
Tongkat Ali could be beneficial in the majority of the cases, but it could show some side effects in some special conditions.
- Tongkat Ali could be toxic if consumed in high doses regularly. Hence, it is advised to take Tongkat Ali in prescribed doses to avoid health problems.
- People who are struggling with hormonal cancers should avoid taking Tongkat Ali. As the herbal plant supplement could increase the testosterone level in the body, it could be harmful to the hormonal cancer patient.
- People struggling with high blood glucose levels should take advice from doctors to consume Tongkat Ali along with prescribed medicines.
In some cases, the Tongkat Ali supplement boosts the effect of medications on the human body, which could be harmful. - Tongkat Ali could be harmful to people with weak immune systems or struggling with heart, kidney, or lung diseases.
Some other common side effects of consuming Tongkat Ali regularly could be insomnia, irritability, and restlessness.
In case these side effects persist, immediately consult your healthcare specialist to get the best advice.
Tongkat Ali Dosage
The dosage of Tongkat Ali varies depending on the supplement and manufacturer.
Hence, before consuming any dietary supplement with Tongkat Ali content, you should check the manufacturer’s instructions for dosage.
The standard dosage for Tongkat Ali extract should be 25 mg orally every 2-3 days. But, you could take 200-300 mg of Tongkat Ali full-spectrum power orally per day.
Some studies[14] have mentioned that an adult could safely take up to 1.2 grams of Tongkat Ali per day.
Conclusion
Tongkat Ali is a promising supplement that could offer tremendous health benefits in the future. It may be an effective supplement for cancer patients, but more research is still warranted.
Tongkat Ali could be a great supplement to consume to treat low testosterone levels and other health conditions.
But, the search and experiments aren’t over yet for Tongkat Ali, hence, you should consume it after consulting with healthcare specialists.
References/Sources
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed researches, academic and medical institution studies.
- Shaheed Ur Rehman, Kevin Choe, Hye Hyun Yoo. Review on a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): Its Traditional Uses, Chemistry, Evidence-Based Pharmacology and Toxicology. Molecules. 2016 Mar 10;21(3):331. doi: 10.3390/molecules21030331.
- Surachai Kotirum, Shaiful Bahari Ismail, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk. Efficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Oct;23(5):693-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.07.009. Epub 2015 Jul 31. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26365449/.
- Hnin Ei Thu, Isa Naina Mohamed, Zahid Hussain, Putri Ayu Jayusman, Ahmad Nazrun Shuid. Eurycoma Longifolia as a potential adoptogen of male sexual health: a systematic review on clinical studies. Chin J Nat Med. 2017 Jan;15(1):71-80. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(17)30010-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28259255/.
- Nipith Charoenngam,∗ Arash Shirvani, Michael F. Holick. Vitamin D for skeletal and non-skeletal health: What we should know. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2019 Nov-Dec; 10(6): 1082–1093. Published online 2019 Jul 13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2019.07.004.
- Thasanee Khanijo, Wannee Jiraungkoorskul. Review Ergogenic Effect of Long Jack, Eurycoma Longifolia. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec; 10(20): 139–142. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194041.
- Hnin Ei Thu, Zahid Hussain, Isa Naina Mohamed, et. al. Eurycoma longifolia, A Potential Phytomedicine for the Treatment of Cancer: Evidence of p53-mediated Apoptosis in Cancerous Cells. Curr Drug Targets. 2018;19(10):1109-1126. doi: 10.2174/1389450118666170718151913. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28721818/
- Mohd Qayyum Ab Latip, Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor, Hafandi Ahmad, et. al. A Systematic Review on Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali). Volume 2022 |Article ID 4999797 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4999797. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2022/4999797/
- Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, et. al. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013; 10: 28. Published online 2013 May 26. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-28.
- Thasanee Khanijo and Wannee Jiraungkoorskul. Review Ergogenic Effect of Long Jack, Eurycoma Longifolia. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec; 10(20): 139–142. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194041.
- Bin-Seng Low, Prashanta Kumar Das, Kit-Lam Chan. Standardized quassinoid-rich Eurycoma longifolia extract improved spermatogenesis and fertility in male rats via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Feb 13;145(3):706-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.013. Epub 2012 Dec 20. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23261482/
- Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, Mike Pugh. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013; 10: 28. Published online 2013 May 26. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-28.
- Chi-Hao Tsai,† Te-Chao Fang,† Po-Lin Liao, et al. The Powdered Root of Eurycoma longifolia Jack Improves Beta-Cell Number and Pancreatic Islet Performance through PDX1 Induction and Shows Antihyperglycemic Activity in db/db Mice. Nutrients. 2020 Jul; 12(7): 2111. Published online 2020 Jul 16. doi: 10.3390/nu12072111.
- M I B M Tambi, M K Imran, R R Henkel. Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism? Andrologia. 2012 May;44 Suppl 1:226-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01168.x. Epub 2011 Jun 15. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21671978/.
- Ralf R Henkel, Ruxiang Wang, Susan H Bassett, et al. Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors–a pilot study. Phytother Res. 2014 Apr;28(4):544-50. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5017. Epub 2013 Jun 11. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23754792/.
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Louise Rodriguez is a full-time health and fitness writer. She considers herself a gym rat and takes pride in showing her biceps. She dedicates most of her time to her health. With the time left, she spreads information regarding health and fitness among the masses. Harry Potter is her first love.