Tongkat ali has a biological name of Eurycoma longifolia. It is a native plant to Indonesia and Malaysia and is found in small quantities in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Some of the studies done with Tongkat Ali have proven there are medicinal qualities as an anti-diabetic and anti-malarial and can also be used as an aphrodisiac.
Increase of Sexual Prowess
Interestingly enough, in its native land it is used mostly for its impact on sexual conduct. In Malaysia, the natives refer to tongkat ali as the “home-grown Viagra.” With testing that has been done, it has even been known to increase sperm count and plasma testosterone level.
Bodybuilders
Because of the quality of tongkat ali to increase the levels of testosterone, bodybuilders have started using it as a supplement. This helps them increase their strength and their muscle mass. Tongkat ali is a favorite among bodybuilders because it can be used long term and is an effective testosterone stimulant, whereas other stimulants lose their effectiveness over time.
Tongkat becomes more useful to the bodybuilder over time and doctors sometimes refer to it as “herbal HCG.” Supposedly, it stimulates the Leydig cells in the testicles to be more efficient in producing testosterone. This is different than other products that increase testosterone.
Tongkat Ali for Women
Tongkat ali has a long list of benefits for women as well. Their main hormone is not testosterone. However, they do produce it and it is directly related to their sexual desire. The other benefits include an increase in energy and metabolism to help with weight loss. Tongkat ali can also provide high blood pressure treatment and increases a women’s overall health. Blood sugar is an issue with many men and women for that matter, but tongkat ali reduces it and helps build stronger bones, decreases stress and improves brain function.
Safety and Side Effects
There are some individuals who should not take the supplements that contain tongkat ali. If a female is pregnant of nursing, she should not take the supplement. Because of the way it increases testosterone, men who have had breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney or liver disease, sleep apnea or diabetes mellitus should not take tongkat ali. If for whatever reason individuals have a weakened immune system, it is detrimental for them to take the supplement because some studies show it has the potential to weaken the immune system.
