Tongkat Ali is a plant that has been used for its medicinal value for centuries already. It has been used to treat malaria, the leaves are used for washing itch and fruits are used for curing dysentery, the bark root is used for the treatment of diarrhea and fever. The real value of this plant lies in its root extract. As a folk medicine, it has shown to assist in sexual dysfunction, aging, cancer, diabetes, anxiety, aches, constipation, exercise recovery, fever, increased energy, increased strength, osteoporosis and stress.
The most popular use of tongkat ali is to help improve testosterone levels. A study showed that taking a 200mg dose of Tongkat Ali. extract everyday for 12-weeks can boost testosterone levels by an average of 28%. To understand the importance of improving low testosterone levels, it is important to know what the symptoms of low testosterone are and what the cause of it is. Along with the common reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction, less common symptoms in men include loss of body hair, less beard growth, loss of lean muscle mass, fatigue, obesity and symptoms of depression.
Testosterone is generally just associated with males, but it has an essential role in the health of females as well. This manifests as low sex drive, lack of strength and energy leading to feeling tired. Infertility or trouble conceiving and irregular menstrual an cycle, as well as depression or anxiety and thinning of hair. Aging, obesity and medication use can all lead to decreased testosterone levels.
The exact mechanism of action of tongkat ali root extract is unknown but research suggests that free testosterone is released from its binding hormone, which is the sex-hormone-binding-globulin. In simple terms, the testosterone is now available for the body to use. Thus, it is fair to say that Tongkat Ali is not a testosterone booster but rather a restorer. Simply restoring testosterone levels to normal may already show a huge improvement in your health.
Cortisol is the hormone that regulates your stress response. Cortisol levels rise in stressful situations and when you have a bad night’s sleep. This in turn can cause increased appetite, leading to weight gain and influencing blood pressure. Tongkat Ali has shown the potential to decrease cortisol levels in both subjects who are moderately exposed to stress as well as those who are not exposed to stress at all. A study showed that a 200mg Tongkat Ali extract per day can reduce cortisol levels in saliva by 16%. This was compared to a placebo.
Tongkat Ali has a lot of benefits and should be seen as a supplement for everybody and not just for males.
When the root of the problem is addressed, the issue will be resolved much faster than treating the symptoms. Get your testosterone and cortisol checked and improve it with Tongkat Ali.