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.
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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.