What is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is one of the most widely studied natural medicinal plants in recent years. It is mainly distributed in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and mainly grows in beach forests, primary or secondary forests at an altitude of less than 700 meters. It has rather strict requirements for its growing environment and prefers moist, acidic sandy soil.

Other names: Eurycoma longifolia, Ali’s walking stick, Long Jack, Cay Ba Binh (Vietnam), Piak Saw (Thailand), Natural Viagra, Malaysian Ginseng.

There is a legend about Tongkat Ali

It is said to be circulating among the people in Southeast Asia. Among the local indigenous people, there was an elder named Muhammad Ali. At the age of 90, Ali went hunting in the primeval forest. Due to getting lost and trapped, he occasionally ate Tongkat Ali, which greatly increased his strength. Eventually, after much hardship, he returned to the tribe with the aid of Tongkat Ali. To the locals' surprise, Ali, who hadn't been seen for several months, looked much younger and his previous illness had left him. Later, Ali informed his fellow countrymen of this matter and led them to dig up and eat the Tongkat Ali.

Dr. Mohamad Ismai (Director of Population and Family Development Malaysia) described that Viagra can only solve the sexual problems faced by men, but it cannot be like Tongkat Ali, which is known as the "ginseng of Malaysia", in addition to treating impotence, it also has various health care effects and makes a considerable contribution to the physical health of both men and women.

The wide application of Tongkat Ali in various countries

This plant is used in traditional medicine in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the roots of plants are boiled in water, which is used as a health tonic for postpartum recovery, as an stimulant, and to relieve fever, intestinal worms, dysentery, diarrhea, indigestion and jaundice. In Vietnam, the flowers and fruits are used to treat dysentery, and the roots are used for malaria and fever. In Malaysia, the paste of this plant can be applied locally to relieve headaches and stomachaches. The traditional view holds that Tongkat Ali is an aphrodisiac. Other health benefits of this plant include anti-malaria, anti-diabetic, antibacterial and antipyretic activities. In Indonesia and Malaysia, Tongkat Ali has been widely commercialized. Its roots are extremely bitter and have been used as the basis for supplements as well as food and beverage additives. In the United States, Tongkat Ali extract, as a natural plant ingredient, is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) status.

 As a supplement, it has been promoted for the so-called benefits of improving sexual health, as an energy and endurance booster, for improving blood circulation and reducing fat. In the beverage market, it is a common ingredient in coffee and beverages sold as energy drinks.

Four major benefits and functions

1. Lowering uric acid and improving gout:

Tongkat Ali is rich in plant components, which can effectively regulate the endocrine system of the human body, inhibit the synthesis of uric acid, and at the same time facilitate the excretion of uric acid, dissolve uric acid salt crystals, and make them excreted with urine, thereby playing a role in lowering uric acid and improving gout.

2. Tonifying and Strengthening the Kidneys:

Tongkat Ali has the effect of strengthening and tonifying the kidneys. It can dilate blood vessels, accelerate blood circulation, promote the secretion of testosterone, enhance kidney motility, and increase the conception rate.

3. Treatment of prostatitis:

The components contained in Tongkat Ali can destroy the environment in which prostatitis exists, achieving the elimination of prostatitis. It can also fundamentally solve the sexual dysfunction problems of some men and play a very good regulatory role for men.

4. Daily health care:

Tongkat Ali can also enhance the human immune system, prevent the occurrence of diseases, promote metabolism, and regulate human body functions, etc.

The main value of Tongkat Ali

The roots, stems and branches of Tongkat Ali contain alkaloid components.

The cultivation of Tongkat Ali has relatively high environmental requirements, which also contributes to its precious medicinal value. The whole plant can be used as medicine, but the medicinal part mainly comes from its roots.

Tongkat Ali Extract has multiple benefits, including enhancing physical strength, reducing fatigue and having antibacterial effects, etc. It is one of the most precious applied plants in Southeast Asia. In the folk traditional medicine of Southeast Asia, Tongkat Ali has been used as a traditional medicinal material and tonic for hundreds of years. It can be used alone and is also an important ingredient in some prescriptions. Among them, the improvement of male sexual function has attracted widespread attention from the scientific community.

 International pharmaceutical professionals believe that Tongkat Ali is one of the natural plant resources with the best anti-ED effect discovered so far, and its effect is superior to that of Yuhenbin and others. Many plant-based health care products in the United States and Europe also contain Tongkat Ali components.

The clinical manifestations of Tongkat Ali

Clinical trials conducted by the University of Malaysia have demonstrated that Tongkat Ali has multiple functions. The extract of Tongkat Ali also has the effects of enhancing physical strength and vitality, reducing fatigue, killing bacteria, preventing ulcers, and reducing fever. It can also improve various conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao in 2002, Tongkat Ali was also found to contain some chemical components that could fight cancer.

Referrences

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 1.Eurycoma longifolia information from NPGS/GRIN. www.ars-grin.gov. [2008-03-14]. （The original content is archived at 2015-09-24）.

2.Eurycoma longifolia. WebMD. [2013-10-17]. （The original content is archived at 2017-11-23）.

3.Tongkat Ali - a national treasure of Malaysia. Yumtrade.com. 2024-08-30 [2024-08-30]. （The original content is archived at 2024-12-12)

4．Zhang Weiming - Economic Plants of the Belt and Road Initiative - Southeast University Press. 170.

5．Zhang Rongping, Zhao Ronghua - Chinese Journal of Southern Medicine - Shanghai Science and Technology Press. 120.

6．Li Pengsheng, He Chunmei, Wang Hongfeng - Research on the Introduction and Seedling Raising Technology of Tongkat Ali - Tropical Forestry. 0.

7．Li Ying1, Dong Yanping1, Wang Hengyu2 - New Research Progress on the Medicinal Plant Tongkat Ali - Journal of Baoshan University. 0.