Tongkat Ali FAQ's

Medical Herbalist Benjamin Drewe (MNHAA) has been researching, formulating and prescribing Tongkat Ali to his patients for the past 13 years in Malaysia. With considerable practical experience in his field, he here answers the more common questions and concerns from his clients:

I heard that Tongkat Ali can cause sleeplessness, is that true?

Not at all, from my experience good quality Tongkat Ali actually improves sleep as it reduces stress and anxiety. Generally I see this complaint only from those taking excess Tongkat Ali coffee as they are reacting to the caffeine in the coffee, not the Tongkat Ali itself.

What dosage should I take to obtain the best results with Tongkat Ali?

While I cannot speak for other products as each may be using their own extraction ratios or technology, through our trials with patients and customers over the past 13 years we have developed products that can be taken both on a daily basis or the high strength TONEX Tongkat Ali that should be cycled over shorter periods when a stronger effect is required. Tongkat Ali should always be taken after meals, as on an empty stomach it may increase appetite or cause some nausea at high dosages.
The following are our recommendations for the Rainforest Herbs range of Tongkat Ali products. Each product is mentioned in order of strength:
1) EUROS Tongkat Ali 100% capsules. This product contains 300 mg of the pure ground Tongkat Ali root and as such has not been changed in any way nor has anything been added. Recommended dosage is 2 capsules twice daily. This product is the preferred product for those trying Tongkat Ali for the first time as it is very well accepted by the body and safe for daily use.
2) Tongkat Ali Plus capsules. This product contains 160 mg of Tongkat Ali extract (10:1) per capsule, in combination with 3 additional herbal extracts, Centella asiatica, Tinospora cordifolia and Glycerrhiza glabra. This powerful synergistic formulation is based on the principles of supporting all the systems involved in energy and hormonal health and yin / yang balance (Tongkat Ali alone is yang) and is recommended in dosages of 1-2 capsules twice daily. Comes in a box of 30 capsules or bottle of 60 capsules. Safe for daily use.
3) TONEX High Potency Tongkat Ali Extract capsules. This is our most concentrated formula using our highest potency proprietary extract at a dosage of 300 mg per capsule. This product was previously only available through our Herbal Clinic but is now available to the general public through Malaysian pharmacies. Recommended dosage is 1-2 capsules in the morning. This can be followed by 1 or 2 capsules in the evening if required. Take for 1 week then rest one week.

What’s the difference between raw powder, water extract and water/alcoholic extract of Tongkat Ali?

In terms of efficacy we have seen no significant difference between the water extract, water ethanol extract or the raw herb powder, the main difference is only in convenience of dosage. Animal studies have also confirmed similar positive effects between all forms. Extracts are generally more acceptable in that the processing has improved the quality and shelf life (but not efficacy) of the finished goods. However, if the extraction and drying process is incorrectly performed then the end product may "burn" or "oxidize" the active ingredients and may be worthless in terms of efficacy.

If Tongkat Ali increases my testosterone, won't that make me aggressive?

On the contrary, Tongkat Ali actually reduces aggressiveness and promotes a sense of calm and confidence. This anxiety relieving effect was also demonstrated in animal studies in that the test rats exhibited a reduced tendency to fight and performed better (improved motor skills) in tests designed to create stress and anxiety. Tongkat Ali does not contain any testosterone in itself as it acts only as a precursor to prompt the body to supply more of its own testosterone and this also includes improving the useable “good” testosterone. Conversely certain body builders who inject large doses of synthetic testosterone hormone actually reduce their own bodies production and may experience increased aggression as well as hair loss, reduction in testicular size, outbreaks of acne and heart problems amongst others.

Does Tongkat Ali have any side effects?

Our Tongkat Ali products, taken at their recommended dosage are very well tolerated and free of toxicity. However, one may experience a slight sense of increased body heat after taking Tongkat Ali and it is recommended to increase water intake. In my experience each individual reacts slightly differently when taking Tongkat Ali, so the product dosage that works for you may be different for another. Low end dosages are preferred by some, while others enjoy the higher dosage ranges. High dosages may give more dramatic effects on libido within a shorter time frame of around 1-2 days, while lower dosages may take 1 week or more to show effect.

Can I just boil the root and drink as a herbal tea?

Certainly you may, however the herb is very bitter so generally most people cannot consume it this way regularly. The bitter taste will also increase appetite and may lower blood sugar, which does not occur when the herb is taken in capsule form. Large doses of the boiled herb may induce nausea if taken on an empty stomach.

Is Tongkat Ali with coffee effective?

While Tongkat Ali may certainly be consumed mixed with other beverages and coffee is a good mask for the bitter taste, generally most forms of Tongkat Ali coffee in the market do not contain enough actual Tongkat Ali to get any of its health benefits. Excess caffeine should most definitely be avoided in those suffering from chronic insomnia, nervousness, anxiety or stress.

Can Tongkat Ali be taken by women?

Feedback from women customers reports positively at only 1 or 2 capsules of EUROS Tongkat Ali powder capsules per day. I have observed that the native women in Borneo prepare Tongkat Ali when they require energy in times of convalescence. Physiologically a woman’s libido is also dependant on the presence of testosterone and women are more sensitive to testosterone than men and even a slight increase can have marked improvements in sexual arousal. Until more research is made available, do not take if wanting to become pregnant and as with most herbal medicines, avoid during pregnancy. Most of the research to date on Tongkat Ali has been on men, so more studies are required to understand the effects on women fully.

I have heard that Tongkat Ali can be high in lead content, is this true?

No, this is not true. Tongkat Ali contains no lead. Lead found in herbal products is almost always a result of soil contamination on the herbs surface. Lead contamination finds its way into the soils of the world mainly as a result of leaded petrol exhaust contamination and heavy industry. As such farms in industrialized areas have a higher lead contamination; areas far from industry such as the rain forest have negligible levels. All root herb or vegetables must be thoroughly cleansed of surface contamination after collection. All batches of health products manufactured under GMP standards (Malaysia strictly enforces GMP) must undergo a heavy metal test to determine whether lead and other heavy metals are present. Generally, well-prepared extracts are a further protection from any soil borne lead or microbial contamination. The downside is that most vegetables we consume on a daily basis are seldom, if ever tested.