After I wrote about energy hacks I came across some information on Malaysian ginseng, called tongkat ali or Eurycoma longifolia .
Tongkat ali is widely known to boost testosterone, so it’s marketed towards men. But the research is pretty compelling that it does more than enhance sexual performance.
It can actually increase physical and mental energy, improve your mood, lower cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, build bone, build muscles, lower body fat and relieve bone pain.
And if that wasn’t enough … tongkat ali is also right up there with turmeric as an anti-cancer agent. Studies show that it has anti-tumor and anti-estrogen effects to fight against prostate and cervical cancer. It’s also toxic to leukemia cells.
Because of its anti-aging benefits, tongkat ali is actually in the class of herbs known as adaptogens.
Adaptogens are medicinal herbs that aid the body’s response to stress and helps resists fatigue.
Chronic stress can cause: adrenal fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, cancer, anxiety, depression, headaches, weight gain, sleep problems, thyroid conditions and hormone imbalances.
The ancient treatment of tongkat ali has appeal today for modern chronic stress. One study shows that, “Significant improvements were found in the TA (tongkat ali) group for Tension (−11%), Anger (−12%), and Confusion (−15%). Stress hormone profile (salivary cortisol and testosterone) was significantly improved by TA supplementation, with reduced cortisol exposure (−16%) and increased testosterone status (+37%).”
So to sum it up tongkat ali:
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Is an aphrodisiac
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Is an anti-cancer agent
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May help and prevent osteoporosis
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Helps manage stress
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Increases energy
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Is an after-workout recovery
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Is used as an infertility treatment in men
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May help erectile dysfunction
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Promotes weight loss
Because dosing is different for women and men, I reached out to my friends at Superman Herbs . They recommend dosing for men at 100mg, twice a day, and for women it would be 50mg twice a day. To try their powdered formula click here . It’s something I’ve recently added to my anti-aging arsenal.
To a healthy more beautiful you!
Sandy DeRose
References:
Shawn M Talbott, Et. al. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. May 2013.
Rehman SU, Et. al. Review on a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): Its Traditional Uses, Chemistry, Evidence-Based Pharmacology and Toxicology. Molecules. March 2016.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Chronic stress puts your health at risk. Healthy Lifestyle, Mayo Clinic.
Victoria Luine, Et. al. Repeated stress causes reversible impairments of spatial memory performance. Elsevier. December 1993.
Hajjouli S., Et. al. Eurycomanone and eurycomanol from Eurycoma longifolia Jack as regulators of signaling pathways involved in proliferation, cell death and inflammation. Molecules. September 2014.
Suratwadee Jiwajinda, Et. al. In vitro anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. September 2002.
Nurhanan, M. Y., Et. al. Cytotoxicity studies of Eurycoma longifolia extracts against a panel of human cancer cell lines., Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Towards modernisation of research and technology in herbal industries. Proceedings of the Seminar on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. July 2001.
