Tongkat Ali is an absolute monster of a supplement, highly underrated and infrequently used for benefits outside of natural male enhancement and sexual performance.
An ancient herb with many incredible benefits and minimal adverse side effects, Tongkat Ali is beginning to show immense promise as not only a front-running male enhancement supplement ingredient (its originally-intended purpose), but also in various other realms.
Here is a handful of the multitude of benefits Tongkat Ali has on the body.
1. TESTOSTERONE LEVEL INCREASES
One of the largest determining factors in the use of Tongkat Ali extract is its innate ability to increase levels of testosterone in the body. While it is true that Tongkat Ali will provide a great testosterone boost in the overwhelming majority of males, it does not work in the same way other testosterone enhancers work.
Most of the synthetic testosterone boosting supplements on the market increase testosterone production inside individual Leydig cells. These cells stop production of this hormone altogether.
Tongkat Ali extract takes a separate approach, boosting the number of Leydig cells.
This assists the body in utilizing its natural hormones in a far more practical fashion. The result of this is a lack of rebound effect seen with synthetic alternatives, and a far higher boost in testosterone.
Additionally, Tongkat Ali releases the bind between SHGB (sex hormone binding globulin) and testosterone, preventing the hormone from being useless in the body. Releasing this bind lowers the SHGB levels, and allows the body to use more of its free testosterone.
To conclude this win-win concept: Synthetic testosterone boosters exert a small benefit when consumed, and cause the body to produce fewer sex hormones over time. Tongkat Ali extract has a far greater benefit on consumption, is natural, and boosts free testosterone when taken.
SEE RESEARCH ANALYSIS ON EXAMINER.COM
2. SPERM COUNT/QUALITY INCREASES
Sharp increases in sperm count and quality are another one of the many benefits of Tongkat Ali extract. We exist in a world where most modern-day materials work to prevent increases in sperm counts (think about cell phones, GMO’s, heat from laptops, etc.).
Tongkat Ali works to reverse the damage done by these products and devices to improve sperm count and increase the quality of sperm.
There was recently a study performed on over 75 different men. They consumed reasonable quantities of Tongkat Ali extract daily, and were compared against two control groups: one receiving placebos, and another receiving nothing at all.
The results of the study showed that the men receiving the actual Tongkat Ali extract experienced significant improvements in both sperm quality and sperm count. These results continued for months after the study and Tongkat Ali consumption had ceased.
A follow-up analysis of semen from these 75 subjects was taken several months after the conclusion of the study when the benefits of Tongkat Ali consumption should have worn off.
These men had not consumed any of the supplement between the end of the study and the follow-up analysis. The results still showed significant improvements in all semen parameters examined.
SEE RESEARCH ANALYSIS ON EXAMINER.COM
3. INCREASES IN EJACULATORY POWER
In addition to the sperm-related benefits mentioned above, the use and consumption of Tongkat Ali extract in measured and extended quantities also have an incredible impact on the power of ejaculation.
What does this mean for you, the user? Stronger, further ejaculations.
While not an amazing achievement, it is a bonus of Tongkat Ali usage that is not touched upon in reviews and explanations. One user of Tongkat Ali extract was surprised at the quickness of results between Tongkat Ali extract consumption and ejaculatory force benefits.
He is quoted as saying:
“I was surprised when I found out that on one gram of 1:50 Tongkat Ali extract obtained from Sumatra Pasak Bumi, I was able to produce shooting ejaculations.”
“The EL group showed higher scores in the overall Erectile Function domain in IIEF (P < 0.001), sexual libido (14% by week 12), SFA- with sperm motility at 44.4%, and semen volume at 18.2% at the end of treatment. Subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 significantly improved in fat mass lost (P = 0.008). All safety parameters were comparable to placebo.”
Ismail, S.B., et. al. (2012). “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“, in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
4. A STRONGER SEX LIFE
While it should be noted that Tongkat Ali extract alone will not turn you into a bedroom superstar, the positive benefits show a noticeable and measurable improvement. Persistent Tongkat Ali usage shows user commonality in experiencing reduced refractory periods (the amount of time between sexual activity, in which sustained erections are achieved).
There have been cases where Tongkat Ali extract consumption has led to the complete disappearance of refractory periods during sexual encounters, leading to a rare phenomenon in men of multiple orgasms.
Between harder erections, higher libido, larger quantities of sperm presence, and ejaculatory power increases, Tongkat Ali might be the magical potion men have been searching for since the beginning of time.
“12 weeks supplementation of 300mg of a water extract of Eurycoma noted a general improvement of well-being in otherwise healthy men. Persons with a BMI above 25 noted minor weight loss, and erectile and libido increased in the 8.4-8.7% range. Seminal parameters improved with more efficacy in those with poorer baseline parameters, although hormonal parameters in serum were unaffected.“ Quote was taken from Examiner.com
Ismail, S.H., et al. (2012). “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“, in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
5. BOUNDLESS FERTILITY INCREASES
In tandem with the above improvements in testosterone, sperm count, sperm quality, ejaculatory power, and sex drive, it should be inferred that an extra benefit to consumption of Tongkat Ali extract is increased fertility chances.
While most men are not purchasing and consuming Tongkat Ali in the hopes to impregnate their partner, this side effect can be pleasant or unpleasant depending on your family planning routine. The same study performed to determine increases in semen volume and quality tracked new pregnancies coming to fruition in the time spent during and after the study.
The results showed an incredible 15% increase in new pregnancies by members of the study who had ingested Tongkat Ali.
SEE RESEARCH ANALYSIS ON EXAMINER.COM
6. NATURAL MALE ENHANCEMENT
Claims have long been made stating that Tongkat Ali is the only natural supplement that can increase the size of the penis and testicles.
While it is true (and scientifically proven many times) that Tongkat Ali usage can and will increase libido, improve sperm volume, and increase ejaculatory power and fertility, there is no scientific evidence that the supplement can increase penis length and girth or testicle size.
The reality of the situation is that increased stimulation of Leydig cells in boys going through puberty sparks the initial growth of the penis and testicles. As mentioned in the testosterone increase section above, Tongkat Ali extract activates these Leydig cells to increase hormone production.
So while there is no direct correlation between Tongkat Ali usage and natural penis growth, there is shown promise that the substance is an excellent addition to penis enlargement routines in males attempting to experience permanent growth.
“Eurycomanone enhanced testosterone steroidogenesis at the Leydig cells by inhibiting aromatase conversion of testosterone to oestrogen, and at a high concentration may also involve phosphodiesterase inhibition. The quassinoid may be worthy for further development as a phytomedicine to treat testosterone-deficient idiopathic male infertility and sterility.“
Low, B. S., et al. (2013). “Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increases spermatogenesis by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase and aromatase in steroidogenesis“, in Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol. 149(1). Pp. 201-7.
7. ENHANCEMENTS IN MOOD AND WELL-BEING
Switching gears away from sexual benefits of Tongkat Ali usage, the herb has also been shown to boost positive mood levels and enhance feelings of well-being.
A study of Tongkat Ali’s effects on hormones induced by stress and psychological mood states was performed on test subjects who indicated a moderate level of regular stress. The group ingesting Tongkat Ali showed the following:
- An over 15% decrease in mood-related tension
- A 12% reduction in feelings of anger and rage
- A 15% reduction in persistent states of confusion
More things noted from the study in those who took Tongkat Ali compared to those who did not: a 16% reduction in cortisol exposure, and a 37% increase in raw testosterone production.
“In conclusion, tongkat ali, used for centuries in traditional medicine systems of Southeast Asia for treating lethargy, low libido, depression, and fatigue, appears to have significant potential for restoring hormone balance (cortisol/testosterone) and improving psychological mood state in humans exposed to various modern stressors, including aging, dieting, and exercise stress.“
Talbott, S.M., et al. (2013). “Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects“, in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
8. INCREASES IN MUSCLE MASS & FAT LOSS
Athletes uninterested in the sexual or mood-based benefits of Tongkat Ali extract should still take note, as Tongkat Ali can also show high evidence-based increases in muscle mass and decreases in body fat percentages.
It should be inferred that when Tongkat Ali causes drops in cortisol and increases in testosterone, the result is increased muscle mass and decreased body fat.
Ingesting this supplement puts your body in ideal muscular homeostasis and keeps it there for an extended period. This testosterone increase and cortisol decrease also serve to benefit those experiencing intense stress levels in physical training.
A study performed by the British Journal of Sports Medicine on Tongkat Ali usage in athletes was conducted as a double-blind clinical trial controlled by placebo. The results of the study showed that the Tongkat Ali usage enhanced group experienced a 5% increase in lean body mass in comparison to the placebo group.
“In conclusion, tongkat ali, used for centuries in traditional medicine systems of Southeast Asia for treating lethargy, low libido, depression, and fatigue, appears to have significant potential for restoring hormone balance (cortisol/testosterone) and improving psychological mood state in humans exposed to various modern stressors, including aging, dieting, and exercise stress.“
Hamzah, S., & A. Yusof. (2003). “THE ERGOGENIC EFFECTS OF EURYCOMA LONGIFOLIA JACK: A PILOT STUDY“, in British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 37. Pp.
9. STRONGER ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
By the above increases in muscle mass and decreases in fat storage in the human body, as well as the extra increase in testosterone and a general boost of energy, it is safe to assume that Tongkat Ali extract will have serious positive effects on athletic performance.
It should be noted, though, that this comes with the tradeoff of increasing core body temperature and heart rate.
This being the case, Tongkat Ali supplementation for athletic performance increases should not be utilized by those participating in an intense aerobic activity on a sunny summer day. Here’s looking at you, sprinters.
“Treatment resulted in significant increases in total and free testosterone concentrations and muscular force in men and women. The increase in free testosterone in women is thought to be due to the significant decline in sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations. The study affirms the ergogenic benefit of TA [Tongkat Ali] through enhanced muscle strength.“
Henkel, R.R., et al. (2014). “Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors–a pilot study“, in Phytotherapy Research. Vol. 28(4). Pp. 544-50.
SIDE EFFECTS OF TONGKAT ALI & ITS EXTRACTS
An incredible number of positive benefits of Tongkat Ali and Tongkat Ali extracts have been detailed in the section above. As expected, these benefits do not come without their potentially-negative side effects.
These side effects, while milder than the benefits, are precautionary, and should be taken into strong consideration when dosing Tongkat Ali as part of your enhancement or training regimen.
Rumors have circulated about Tongkat Ali having extended adverse effects to the productivity of the liver and renal function.
Please note that these stories are insubstantial and not based on fact.
The National Institute of Health has shown that there is no evidence linking liver function to Tongkat Ali supplementation. That being said, here are two of the most common potential side effects of prolonged Tongkat Ali supplementation.
1. INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE
This was mentioned above in the “stronger athletic performance” benefit subsection. As stated:
“Tongkat Ali supplementation for athletic performance increases should not be utilized by those participating in an intense aerobic activity on a sunny summer day.“
To counter this side effect when not engaging in these activities, increase daily water intake to 120% to 140% of reasonable per-day levels.
2. INSOMNIA & SLEEPLESSNESS
Supplementation of Tongkat Ali in high quantities has been scientifically shown to potentially cause insomnia as the male body begins to adjust to the effects of the substance.
As with other similar materials, the counteraction to this is to ramp up dosages of Tongkat Ali extract, metering daily doses for the first two weeks and then taking the full dose from day fourteen onwards. This assists to acclimate the body to the substance and can avoid insomnia altogether.
ADDITIONAL SIDE EFFECTS OF TONGKAT ALI
If Tongkat Ali causes testosterone to increase to abnormally high levels in your body, there is the possibility of greater impatience, irritability, and restlessness. This is referred to in the anabolic community as “roid rage” when anabolic steroid usage causes massive spikes in testosterone levels.
As with any other medication or supplementation, going past the recommended daily dosage of Tongkat Ali can be dangerous to your health.
Publications by the National Institute of Health in regards to Tongkat Ali extracts recommend supplementing daily with between 50mg and 200mg of water extracted Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolio root).
A final note, Tongkat Ali has a bitter taste. That is fact.
This bitter taste is not an adverse side effect and should be taken as an active notification. Per the same recommendations from the NIH mentioned above, Tongkat Ali extracts that are not bitter are likely either sub standard in potency or completely fake.
USER REVIEWS OF TONGKAT ALI & ITS EXTRACTS
All these user testimonials and feedback are collected from other online websites. Therefore, I can not ensure their validity. Please take these with a grain of salt.
Here are excerpts from five different user reviews on Tongkat Ali based products, modified for grammatical errors:
“If I feel the effects of higher Testosterone? YES! I’m pretty much more aggressive, dedicated, with an “if you push me I’ll throw you on the wall” attitude. I drive my car faster, fuck my GF faster and harder when I get angry, I feel manly, I look at women directly, much more bold, etc.”
“I get higher libido, longer flaccid hanging penis (pretty much all the time), maybe bigger balls, but since they change size all the time, it’s pretty hard to see “real” results. When erect, dick is oversized (not bigger, just attaining maximum penis erection enlargement), veins protruding and very visible, good sensations, larger loads, …”
– User feedback from FantomeInfernal left on website MattersOfSize.com (last seen September 20, 2017)
“I tried LJ100 Tongkat Ali extract. It made me feel sick. Apparently, Tongkat Ali suppresses the hormone prolactin. Sometimes this can cause nausea. I threw away the unused pills.”
– User feedback from John Dough left on website PEGym.com (last seen September 20, 2017)
“I ordered Tongkat Ali extract from Indonesia a couple of times, and though I am a huge skeptic, I feel its effect, which includes elevated mood (could be placebo), better workouts (could be placebo), but what cannot be placebo is that my balls double in size and my penis is bigger than usual (like a half chub all day). I was taking 2000mg/day of 1:50 extract.”
“Has anyone tried this and can compare to other T boosters? Any blood tests regarding this or other T boosters?“
– User feedback from mcr left on website AnabolicMinds.com (last seen September 20, 2017)
“I am currently using the LJ100 version of longjack (made by Herbal Powers, but sold by several different brands) and I just have to say that this stuff is unbelievable. only been using it for 9 days, but my balls have pretty much doubled in size, actually ache, and I feel horny as all get out. more intense and confident as well, classic hallmarks of increased t levels. I’m taking ~400-500 mg per day of LJ100 in divided doses (3x).“
– User feedback from GreekMuscle left on website Forum.BodyBuilding.com (last seen September 20, 2017)
“I would be very careful with this one if you have anxiety or a bad temper. I was taking the suggested does, and this didn’t agree with me in this regard, and I am pretty mild mannered. It doesn’t really seem to help as intended, but it is too soon to tell. I read somewhere that it is best to take one-half a pill every other day. I have started doing this, and am reacting better.“
– User feedback from iHerb Customer left on website iHerb.com (last seen September 20, 2017)
TOP 3 TONGKAT ALI EXTRACTS ON THE MARKET
- TONGKAT ALI
- MADE BY
SOLARAY - 60 CAPSULES
- 400MG PER SERVING
- TONGKAT ALI 200:1 EXTRACT
- MADE BY
LOGIC NUTRA - 60 CAPSULES
- 500MG PER SERVING
- PURE LONGJACK 200:1 EXTRACT
- MADE BY
MICROINGREDIENTS - 100 GRAMS
- 350MG PER SERVING
TONGKAT ALI ROOT BY SOLARAY
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Product name: Tongkat Ali
Producing company: SOLARAY
Form: Capsules (400mg)
Official price: $10.79
Official website: http://nutraceutical.com
3rd party offers: Amazon (see here), GNC (not available)
Tongkat Ali is referred to as Eurycoma longifolia. This is a flowering plant native to both Malaysia and Indonesia. Solaray’s option contains 400 mg of Tongkat Ali per capsule. Utilizing the whole
Utilizing the whole root lets Solaray’s option provide a broader spectrum of benefits. Current reviews on Amazon have the Solaray Tongkat Ali Root 400mg V Capsules at 4.3 out of 5 stars [last checked September 20, 2017].
The products official price is $10.79, which is $0.17 per capsule, or $0.02 per milligram.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON
TONGKAT ALI 200:1 EXTRACT BY LOGIC NUTRA
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Product name: Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract
Producing company: Logic Nutra
Form: Capsules (500mg)
Official price: $24.77
Official website: Unknown
3rd party offers: Amazon (see here), GNC (not available)
Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract by Logic Nutra is a Natural Testosterone Booster that works in several ways to increase your body’s natural production of testosterone. This increase in testosterone can have many positive results, such as boosting libido, burning stomach fat, and supporting the building of lean muscle tissue.
The main draw to Logic Nutra’s Longjack product is its purity, and they claim the following:
“At Logic Nutra, no product is released until verified by our QA team for purity and safety. Our Tongkat Ali is sourced from the jungles of Malaysia, the only part of the world where it grows in the wild. Each batch of Tongkat Ali is tested to meet quality specifications and exceed customer expectations and manufactured in the USA!”
Current reviews on Amazon have the Tongkat Ali 500mg Maximum Strength Longjack 200:1 Testosterone Capsules at 4 out of 5 stars [last checked September 20, 2017].
The product is currently going for $24.77, which is $0.41 per capsule, or $0.04 per milligram.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON
PURE LONGJACK 200:1 EXTRACT BY MICROINGREDIENTS
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Product name: Pure Longjack 200:1 Extract
Producing company: Micro Ingredients
Form: Powder
Official price: $23.75
Official website: http://microingredients.com
3rd party offers: Amazon (see here), GNC (not available)
Micro Ingredients 200:1 Longjack powder is completely pure, with no additives, fillers or preservatives. It is vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and has no artificial flavors or colors. The product assists in alleviating low blood pressure, enhances libido, supports liver and kidney health, and improves memory retention.
It also boosts athletic performance and can reduce body fat and build muscle mass.
Unlike the two products above, Micro Ingredients Tongkat Ali is a powder, allowing for a higher concentration, faster absorption, ease of digestion, and more options (such as adding to smoothies and recipes).
Current reviews on Amazon have the Micro Ingredients Extra Strength Pure Longjack 200:1 Tongkat Ali Powder at 4.3 out of 5 stars [last checked September 20, 2017].
The product is currently going for $23.75, which is $0.23 per gram, or $0.0002 per milligram.
