Benefits of Tongkat Ali<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali is a herbal supplement used as an aphrodisiac and testosterone booster. Not only can it enhance sexual health and performance, but it may also be beneficial in male osteoporosis, diabetes, and anxiety. Read more below to learn about the health benefits of tongkat ali, dosage, reviews, and side effects.<\/p>\n
Eurycoma longifolia, commonly known as tongkat ali, long jack, or malaysian ginseng, is a plant found in the Malaysian rainforest.
\nIt is best known for its ability to enhance libido, testosterone levels, erectile function, sexual performance, and fertility in men, giving it the name \u201cMalaysia\u2019s home-grown Viagra\u201d.
\nHowever, this plant also has a variety of other benefits including:
\n\u2022 Promoting bone formation
\n\u2022 Increasing muscle strength and athletic performance
\n\u2022 Improving physical and mental energy levels and overall quality of life
\n\u2022 Reducing anxiety and stress
\n\u2022 Anticancer effects
\n\u2022 Antimicrobial and antifungal effects
\n\u2022 Antiulcer effects
\n\u2022 Antioxidant effects
\n\u2022 Lowering blood sugar<\/p>\n
The stem and root extracts of the Eurycoma longifolia plant contain:
\n\u2022 Quassinoids (e.g., eurycomaoside, eurycomanone, pasakbumin-B): These compounds have anticancer, antiparasitic, and antiulcer effects.
\n\u2022 Alkaloids, which have anticancer and antibacterial properties.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Stimulating the production of testosterone from pregnenolone and 17-OH-pregnenolone
\n\u2022 Blocking aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogens<\/p>\n
\u2022 Stimulating bone cell growth (via testosterone)
\n\u2022 Increasing the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that plays a role in development of bones and teeth
\n\u2022 Enhancing the deposition and mineralization of collagen<\/p>\n
\u2022 Inhibiting tumor growth and progression (by inhibiting NF-\u03baB)
\n\u2022 Promoting cancer cell death<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reducing excess stomach acid, which helps prevent ulcers<\/p>\n
A 5-week pilot study of 25 seniors found that tongkat ali increased testosterone levels and muscle strength in both men and women.
\nTongkat ali supplementation also increased testosterone levels in a 4-week study of 76 men with hypogonadism (an impaired function of the testes).
\nHowever, in a 15-week study (DB-RCT) of 13 recreational athletes, tongkat ali did not increase testosterone levels in the urine, prompting the researchers to conclude that it does not breach the International Olympic Committee doping policies .
\nTongkat ali significantly increased testosterone levels in rats.<\/p>\n
A 12-week study (DB-RCT) of 109 men (ages 30 to 55) found that tongkat ali increased sperm motility and semen volume compared to placebo.
\nIn another 9-month study of 75 males with infertility, tongkat ali supplements improved semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm quality, thereby enhancing fertility.
\nStudies in rats also showed that tongkat ali reversed the inhibitory effects of estrogen on testosterone production and increased sperm production, count, concentration, motility, and vitality.<\/p>\n
A 12-week study (DB-RCT) in 109 men found that tongkat ali increased libido and improved erectile function compared to placebo.
\nSimilarly, a 12-week study (DB-RCT) of 26 men found that a freeze-dried water tongkat ali supplement improved sexual performance and increased the hardness and duration of erection.
\nTongkat ali also enhanced libido, sexual arousal, and performance in healthy, impotent, castrated, and old male rats, and middle-aged mice.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali supplements increased muscle strength in both men and women in a 5-week pilot study of 25 seniors.
\nSimilarly, in a 5-week pilot study of 14 healthy men, tongkat ali increased muscle strength and size and improved athletic performance.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali reduced fat mass, waist circumference, and hip size compared to placebo in a 12-week study (DB-RCT) of 109 men.
\nAnother (pilot) study in 14 healthy men showed that tongkat ali supplements increased muscle strength and size while decreasing body fat after 5 weeks.
\nTongkat ali also reduced body weight and belly fat in mice. However, it did not affect the weight of the internal organs.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali strengthens bones by :
\n\u2022 Increasing testosterone levels
\n\u2022 Stimulating the production of osteoblasts, or bone-forming cells
\n\u2022 Triggering the death of cells that break down bone tissue (osteoclasts)
\n\u2022 Decreasing bone loss and preserving bone mass
\nThus, it may be used for male osteoporosis treatment.
\nIn the lab, tongkat ali activated the production of bone-building proteins (such as BMP-2, RUNX-2, and OCN), which increases bone formation.
\nTongkat ali also prevented calcium loss in the bones of castrated male rats with osteoporosis.
\nHowever, in another study, tongkat ali did not restore testosterone levels and bone volume in the castrated rats with osteoporosis.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali prevented the growth of subcutaneous (under the skin) tumors in mice.
\nLab studies found that Eurycoma longifolia (the plant that tongkat ali originates from) contains specific compounds (quassinoids) that prevent cancer cell growth and progression.
\nOther cell-based studies found that tongkat ali was effective against various types of cancers including leukemia, and lung and breast cancers. However, it only showed moderate effectiveness against gut cancer.<\/p>\n
A 4-week study on 63 moderately stressed people showed that tongkat ali root extract reduced stress hormone (cortisol) levels, tension, anger, and confusion.
\nTongkat ali also reduced the frequency of fighting episodes and increased exploratory behavior in mice.<\/p>\n
In a 4-week study (DB-RCT) of 83 subjects, tongkat ali supplements increased T cells, CD4+ T cells, and na\u00efve T cell numbers, which enhanced overall immune function.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic rats.<\/p>\n
In rats, tongkat ali widened blood vessels, which lowered blood pressure.<\/p>\n
In the lab, tongkat ali exhibited antioxidant (free radical scavenging) and anti-inflammatory properties.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria in the lab (such as Salmonella, E. coli, staph and typhoid-causing bacteria.<\/p>\n
In the lab, tongkat ali inhibited the growth of Blastocystis sp, a parasite that causes intestinal problems.
\nAnother lab study showed that tongkat ali inhibited the growth of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite causing toxoplasmosis.
\nThis is likely due to its content of quassinoids, compounds that exhibit anti-parasitic properties by inhibiting parasitic growth, movement, and reproduction.
\nThese compounds are also toxic to Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for malaria.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali contains quassinoids (eurycomanone and pasakbumin-B), which prevent ulcers by reducing excess stomach acid.
\nTongkat ali reduced the severity of alcohol-induced stomach injuries in rats.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali is reported to reduce fever, but there are no clinical or animal studies to support this.<\/p>\n
Tongkat ali may cause : <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Insomnia
\n\u2022 Restlessness
\n\u2022 Anxiety
\nOne clinical study showed that doses up to 600 mg\/kg of tongkat ali did not cause any adverse effects.
\nAnother clinical trial also showed that tongkat ali had no side effects.
\nHowever, in the lab, it was found that high doses (equal or higher than 2.5\u03bcg ml) of tongkat ali can harm the human sperm.
\nTongkat ali herbal coffee is associated with high blood pressure in pregnant women and fetal discomfort.
\nSource : selfhack<\/strong><\/p>\n