Tongkat Ali Uses and Side Effects

Written by Ben Bunting: BA, PGCert. (Sport & Exercise Nutrition) // British Army Physical Training Instructor // S&C Coach.

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Unlocking Tongkat Ali's potential: an all-natural powerhouse. From improving sexual libido to increasing sports performance, Tongkat Ali can do wonders - yet understanding its advantages and risks is crucial before embarking on any dietary supplement regimen.

Let's delve deeper into this revered botanical extract. As society becomes increasingly health conscious, demand for natural remedies continues to soar.

Eurycoma longifolia, commonly referred to as Tongkat Ali, has recently gained international attention due to its purported aphrodisiac properties and use in relieving stress.

Packed full of bioactive compounds that could aid stress relief, this herb has made a name for itself as a potential nutritional supplement with multiple uses.

Come with us as we uncover the mystery that surrounds Tongkat Ali, exploring its historical uses, modern applications and potential side effects.

Tongkat Ali Uses

Tongkat Ali has been shown to increase testosterone and libido in men. Additionally, its use has been found to lower cortisol levels while improving mood and stress management.

Studies have also demonstrated its ability to promote strength and lean body mass gains among healthy exercisers, and may help increase male fertility through improving sperm health and fertility.

The history of Tongkat Ali

studies have proven that tongkat ali, also known as Eurycoma longifolia, offers many health benefits.

These include its ability to restore hormonal balance (including cortisol and testosterone levels in men) as well as increase libido for male athletes, promote weight loss, enhance athletic performance and boost energy levels overall.

Furthermore, studies have also indicated it serves as an adaptogen and helps normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which controls metabolism as well as reactions to stress as reproductive functions.

Tonggat ali contains numerous compounds with powerful medicinal properties. For instance, its alkaloids and triterpenoids may help balance hormones within the body.

Furthermore, tongkat ali contains complex polypeptides known as eurypeptides which possess dynamic bioactive properties to support good health.

Studies have demonstrated the power of eurypeptides to prevent the buildup of triglycerides in the bloodstream, which can contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease.

According to one research study, participants who took tongkat ali supplements experienced significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with those taking placebo supplements.

Malaysian herbs like valerian are widely consumed for traditional medicine and wellness applications, and also consumed widely across Southeast Asian nations including Singapore.

Traditional Uses of Tongkat Ali

Eurycoma longifolia, more commonly referred to as tongkat ali, pasak bumi or cay ba binh in Malaysia and Southeast Asia for centuries has long been used for improving general vitality and balancing hormones in both women and men alike.

Studies have proven its efficacy at invigorating sexual vitality, increasing strength and muscle mass, improving mental clarity and stress tolerance as well as increasing energy levels.

Other research on Tongkat Ali has demonstrated its effectiveness at increasing both strength and muscle mass for healthy athletes while reducing fat accumulation. F

urthermore, Tongkat Ali can normalize stressed immune system functions as well as prevent damage to digestive tracts.

Understanding the benefits of Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali, commonly referred to as Eurycoma longifolia or tung saw, has been proven to offer numerous health advantages.

These include its ability to enhance mood, increase libido and enhance sexual performance among men as well as strong anti-ageing effects and promotion of fat loss.

Furthermore, Tongkat Ali acts as a natural appetite suppressant while improving strength, energy levels and overall well being.

Tongkat Ali can also help regulate cortisol levels in the body and has been proven to effectively decrease stress, anxiety, anger and sleep deprivation/confusion. 

Another advantage of this plant is its ability to stimulate testosterone release, helping men maintain a healthy testosterone level and improving libido, erectile function, sperm count and quality.

Research and studies on Tongkat Ali

Science has recently begun taking notice of this ancient herb, with various studies revealing potential health benefits.

Laboratory and animal feeding studies indicate that tongkat ali's eurycoma peptides increase testosterone, improve libido, balance hormone levels and enhance exercise performance.

Human supplementation trials have also demonstrated heightened energy, reduced fatigue and an improvement in mood.

A study conducted with 63 moderately stressed adults demonstrated that taking 200mg of Tongkat Ali daily reduced cortisol by 16% which resulted in decreased tension, stress and anger levels.

Participants taking a daily 200mg dose of Tongkat Ali saw their cortisol levels decrease while reporting less anger, tension, and anxiety. Furthermore, those taking this herbal remedy experienced an increase in testosterone levels.

Small studies indicate that tongkat ali may increase muscle strength and endurance, although more research needs to be conducted.

Tongkat Ali dosage and consumption

Tongkat Ali can be taken as a dietary supplement in capsule, root powder and extract form.

Health coaches and nutritionists typically recommend taking 200 to 400 mg daily - an amount considered safe and effective by health coaches and nutritionists. If possible, take it in cycles such as one week on, one week off to maximize its benefits.

Regular supplementation with tongkat ali has been shown to increase muscle strength, endurance, metabolism and reduce stress levels, leading to enhanced psychological and physical performance.

One clinical study demonstrated this by finding tongkat ali to reduce cortisol levels while improving mood state among moderately stressed participants.

Furthermore, tongkat ali may prevent bone loss while simultaneously aiding weight loss through increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing triglyceride levels.

Potential side effects of Tongkat Ali

Consuming Tongkat Ali supplements may provide numerous health benefits, including increased energy, sexual performance enhancement, and an increase in testosterone levels.

But as with any natural herb, Tongkat Ali may cause mild side effects.

One of the more prevalent Tongkat Ali side effects is nausea. Anyone experiencing this should stop using the supplement until their condition improves.

In addition, Tongkat Ali can cause dizziness; those experiencing it should refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery until their symptoms subside.

Atongkat Ali can cause irritability as its levels of dopamine increase - this neurotransmitter promotes motivation but too much dopamine can lead to anxiety and irritation.

Finally, Tongkat ali may also cause water retention or edema in certain individuals due to its diuretic effect.

If this side effect affects you regularly, take Tongkat ali with an adequate glass of water before taking this herbal remedy; doing so will prevent dehydration and help lessen its side effects.

It's also wise to consult your healthcare provider prior to beginning any herbal remedy such as Tongkat ali.

However, you should avoid tongkat ali while pregnant or breastfeeding; suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease; taking any prescription medication before beginning tongkat ali use, have bleeding disorders, take blood-thinning drugs or have stomach ulcers as it could aggravate their conditions.

Conclusion

In addition to helping those struggling with low testosterone levels, Tongkat ali can be an effective aid for weight loss and muscle building.

It does this through increasing testosterone and improving blood flow to muscles as well as aiding water retention which promotes lean muscle mass development and overall healthier weight maintenance.

Numerous rodent feeding studies and human supplementation trials demonstrate clearly evidence of reduced fatigue, increased energy and mood levels, improved stress resilience and an increase in sense of well-being among subjects who consume properly standardized tongkat ali root extracts.

This can be attributed to its constituent eurycoma peptides which stimulate release of free testosterone while simultaneously balancing overall hormone profiles.

Eurycoma longifolia could also prove useful for men suffering from erectile dysfunction, as eurycomanone found in Tongkat Ali may help to increase testosterone levels and blood flow - improving erections by providing extra testosterone levels and blood flow boost.

Studies have also indicated that taking Tongkat ali supplements results in larger and firmer erections for those taking supplement doses.

Tongkat Ali can also aid in strengthening bones and treating osteoporosis due to its ability to promote bone formation cells (osteoblasts) while simultaneously activating their death (osteoclasts).

Furthermore, Tongkat Ali's ability to support hormone balance and increase testosterone levels may help prevent age-related bone density loss while potentially providing protection for those at risk of osteoporosis.