Tongkat Ali stimulates sexual arousal and improves sperm volume and erectile dysfunction in men

Tongkat ali is an herbal remedy that has been part of traditional Southeast Asian medicine for centuries. It is also known as longjack, as it comes from the roots of the green shrub tree Eurycoma longifolia, which is native to Southeast Asia.

In Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other Asian countries, it is used to treat malaria, infections, fevers, male infertility, and erectile dysfunction (Bhat and Karim, 2010 ).

It has many compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and others that act as antioxidants. It’s often used to treat a variety of ailments, including fevers, erectile dysfunction, and bacterial infections.

Some studies(Tambi and Imran, 2010; Talbott et al. 2013; Khanijo and Jiraungkoorskul, 2016) found that tongkat ali could boost male fertility, relieve stress, and improve body composition.

This notwithstanding, in 2021, The European Food Safety Authority warned the public against tongkat ali because it could induce DNA damage. In this article, I explore the science of tongkat ali on wellness.

Science

Enhance testosterone and improve male fertility

One human study(Tambi et al. 2012) A 1-month study in 76 older men with low testosterone found that taking 200 mg of tongkat ali extract per day significantly increased levels of this hormone to normal values in over 90% of participants.

Also, studies in both animals and humans(Ang et al. 2000; 2004; Kotirum et al. 2015; Ismail et al. 2012) found that taking tongkat ali stimulates sexual arousal and may improve erectile dysfunction in men.

Others(Tambi and Imran, 2010; Ismail et al. 2012; Solomon et al. 2014; Wahab et al. 2010) found that tongkat ali could enhance sperm motility and concentration, boosting male fertility.

For instance, (Tambi and Imran, 2010) a human study of 75 male partners of couples with infertility found that taking 200 mg of tongkat ali extract per day significantly improved sperm concentration and motility after 3 months. The treatment helped over 14% of couples become pregnant.

In another human study(Ismail et al. 2012), the researchers studied 108 men in 12-week ages 30–55, and found that taking 300 mg of tongkat ali extract daily increased sperm volume and motility by an average of 18% and 44%, respectively.

Relieve stress

One older study(Ang and Cheang, 1999), found this plant to deal with mood issues and reported that tongkat ali extract was comparable to a common anti-anxiety medication in reducing symptoms of anxiety in mice.

A human study(Talbott et al. 2013) in 1 month in 63 adults with moderate stress found that supplementing with 200 mg of tongkat ali extract per day decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva by 16%, compared to those who received a placebo. Others also reported significantly less stress, anger, and tension after taking tongkat ali.

Improve body composition

Khanijo and Jiraungkoorskul(2016) study also found that Tongkat Ali boosts athletic performance and increases muscle mass. This is because it has compounds such as quassinoids, eurycomaoside, eurycolactone, and eurycomanone, which could help the body use energy more efficiently, reduce fatigue, and improve endurance.

Others(Shawn M. Talbott, 2019; Khanijo and Jiraungkoorskul. 2016) reported that the supplement could be an ergogenic aid, a substance that can enhance physical performance and improve body composition.

A small study(Henkel et al. 2014) on cyclists found that consuming a drink with tongkat ali during exercise does not affect performance or strength any more than plain water. However, others reported effects in conference proceedings.

These conflicting results suggest that tongkat ali may exhibit some ergogenic effects, depending on the dose and length of treatment, but more research is needed.

Warnings

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2021) Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods, and Food Allergens found that a high dose (2,000 mg/kg body weight) of the water-based extract from dried ground tongkat ali may lead to DNA damage to the stomach and duodenum tissues.

Because tongkat ali has the potential to cause DNA damage, the panel concluded that the safety of any condition of its use has not been established.

Though, studies on the use of tongkat ali in humans, did not report any side effects. However, Rehman et al.(2016) review that involved toxicology studies found that mice did not experience changes in their liver or kidney function when they were orally given 200 mg/kg body weight of tongkat ali in an alcohol-based extract or 300 mg/kg in a water-based extract.

The same study found the lethal oral dose for mice was from 1,500-2,000 mg/kg for alcohol-based Tongkat Ali extract, and over 3,000 mg/kg for the water-based extract.

A previous human study(Ismail et al. 2012) of 109 men between the ages of 30 and 55 found that consuming 300 mg of tongkat ali extract daily over 12 weeks was as safe as taking a placebo.

A more recent study(Natural Wellness Egypt, 2022) reported that a 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction to examine the safety of Tongkat ali when combined with maca root, a natural remedy for low sex drive. The results of this clinical trial are yet to be published.

Other studies(Rehman et al. 2016; Li et al. 2013) reported that consuming 1.2 grams of tongkat ali extract per day is safe for adults, but this amount is yet to be studied.

Also, an older(Ang and Lee, 2006) study examining the mercury content of 100 tongkat ali supplements from Malaysia found that 26% had levels of mercury higher than the recommended limit.

Furthermore, Bernhoft RA(2012) study reported that taking too much mercury can result in mercury poisoning, which leads to mood changes, memory problems, and motor skill issues.

Furthermore, the effects of tongkat ali in children or pregnant and breastfeeding women have not been researched. Therefore, it’s unknown whether the remedy is safe for these populations.

Dosages

While tongkat ali does not appear to have adverse effects in doses up to 400 mg per day, research is limited, and available studies focus on short-term use.

Take Home

Tongkat ali appears to be safe in doses of 200–400 mg per day for most healthy adults. However, high dosages have the potential to damage gastrointestinal DNA. It’s unknown whether tongkat ali is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Some supplements may also contain mercury.

Finally, Tongkat Ali, or longjack, is an herbal supplement found to improve low testosterone, male fertility, anxiety, athletic performance, and muscle mass.

The author is a Professor of Naturopathy, a Gambian trained Lawyer and Chartered Health Economist . e-mail: [email protected]