Tongkat Ali (b. Eurycoma longifolia) is a shrub-like herb native to Malaysia and Indonesia that has been used for centuries as a natural aphrodisiac. It is also acclaimed as an anti-malarial and anti-bacterial agent in these regions, but in recent years has become increasingly popular here in the West because of its libido-enhancing properties.
Experiments on male rats have shown that consumption of the herb increases their sexual arousal and behavior, as well as increasing their testosterone levels and raising their sperm count.
Because of Tongkat Ali’s known effect upon testosterone production, extracts of the herb have been used in some natural body building supplements. More recently, however, it has been effectively marketed as a natural libido enhancer and aphrodisiac, helping many middle aged men to regain their more youthful appetites.
Tongkat Ali is thought to have two distinct effects upon testosterone levels. Firstly, it raises the body’s natural production of the hormone, increasing its levels. Secondly, it reduces the rate at which the hormone is metabolized by blocking the enzyme responsible for this. As men approach middle age and beyond, their testosterone levels naturally decrease as their bodies produce less of the hormone, and more of the enzyme responsible for metabolizing it. This leads to the natural decline in sexual desire and performance that most men experience as they reach this period in their lives, and which of course should not be viewed as a problem. However, for those men who wish to continue an active sex life, Tongkat Ali can provide a safe, natural and relatively cheap solution.
Increasing the levels of testosterone improves both libido and stamina, and anecdotal evidence even suggests that it can increase penis size by stimulating blood flow to the erectile tissue. It should however be stressed that no peer-reviewed studies have been performed upon the reported effects of Tongkat Ali upon penis size.
It is vitally important that you only buy quality Tongkat Ali extract, as at low concentrations it will have little or no effect. Many herbalists and Chinese medicine shops sell the product as a powder, but in this form you have little idea of its concentration, not to mention its provenance. It is worth noting that Tongkat Ali is now a protected plant in Malaysia, and harvesting and production there is now illegal. Any supplier who therefore tells you that their Tongkat comes from Malaysia is either being less than honest or obtaining their product from an illegal – and thus unregulated – source and should be avoided. Legal Tongkat Ali will be harvested from Indonesian plantations or grown by horticulturists in Western countries. Most suppliers use the latter.
Most providers sell an extract in tablet form that is made in ratios of between 20:1 (I.E. 20kg of plant used to produce 1kg of extract) and 100:1. Much higher concentrations than this are considered both unnecessary and unadvisable – after all, many of the unpleasant effects of male adolescence (irritability and mood-swings, etc) are attributed to an excess of testosterone sloshing about one’s system.
For best results, Tongkat Ali should be taken between around one to two hours before sex
We provide a wide range of Herbal Remedies for general health, wellbeing, fitness and vitality, and specialise in providing products to help you achieve and maintain a full and satisfying sex life. Many of our products are formulated using the most powerfully effective aphrodisiacs, pleasure and performance enhancers provided by nature. For more details, visit our Herbal Remedies online store.
