• Dr. Bill Rawls

    ABOUT BILL RAWLS, M.D.

    Dr. Rawls' groundbreaking approach to wellness comes from decades of practicing medicine, extensive research in alternative therapies, and firsthand experience helping thousands find their path to wellness. Dr. Rawls is a best-selling author, Medical Director and Co-Founder of Vital Plan, a holistic health company and Certified B Corporation.
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  • Tongkat Ali
    By Vital Plan
    Reviewed by Bill Rawls, MD
    Medical Director of Vital Plan

    Eurycoma longifolia is a shrub native to Southeast Asia. It goes by many names: in Indonesia it is known as pasak bumi; in Malaysia, tongkat ali; and Thailand, cay ba binh. Tongkat ali and longjack are the most commonly used names for the herb in the Western world.

    Tongkat Ali is probably best known for enhancing sexual vitality, but this remarkable herb provides broad adaptogenic and balancing properties for both women and men. The list of traditional uses is long and includes promoting general vitality with aging, invigorating sexual vitality, enhancing strength, muscle mass and bone mass, supporting balanced mood, strengthening stress tolerance, and supporting energy and general health.

    Benefits of Tongkat Ali:*

    Adaptogens like tongkat ali send feedback to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that governs many of your body’s key processes including metabolism and energy (thyroid), stress response (adrenals), and reproductive functions (testes/ovaries).

    Research has shown that Tongkat Ali helps:

    • Promote sexual drive and desire in men and women
    • Support male sexual performance
    • Improve energy and stress tolerance
    • Promote normal muscle mass and strength
    • Support optimal bone density
    • Improve physical stamina and performance
    • Elevate mood
    • Balance blood sugar and normalize insulin
    • Modulate immunity
    • Balance the microbiome

    Tongkat Ali for Sexual Health*

    The research on tongkat ali’s ability to support sexual energy focuses primarily on men, but evidence suggests the herb can help support hormonal balance for women, as well.

    In men, various studies have shown that tongkat ali can support indicators of sexual function. For instance, last year the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines published a systematic review of the clinical significance and therapeutic feasibility of tongkat ali. The researchers investigated the data supporting tongkat ali for a variety of indicators of male health and concluded that there is convincing evidence for the use of tongkat ali in supporting male sexual health.

    Less research exists on the benefits of tongkat ali for female sexual health. However, a 2012 study shows that an extract of tongkat ali helps support sexual health in female animals.

    Tongkat Ali for Metabolism & More*

    One of the hallmarks of modern aging is decreased tolerance of carbohydrates, insulin insensitivity, and obesity. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity, enhanced glucose uptake by cells, and reduced lipid accumulation in adipose tissue with regular use of tongkat ali extracts.

    Other studies have shown direct support of bone density by reducing bone resorption, protecting the stomach lining, normalizing stressed immune system functions, and suppressing various types of microbes that threaten the balance of the gut microbiome.

    How Tongkat Ali Works*

    Over the past several years, the worldwide scientific community has taken great notice of tongkat ali. Scientific studies in both laboratory animals and humans have defined biochemical components of the herb and validated all of its traditional uses.

    Tongkat Ali is a rich source of a variety of bioactive compounds including alkaloids, triterpenoids, and complex polypeptides called eurypeptides that may help normalize hormone levels. Quassinoids, the dominant group of chemical compounds in tongkat ali, provide dynamic bioactive properties that promote good health. Because these chemical substances are distinctly bitter, tongkat ali is best taken as an herbal extract in capsules.

    Like other adaptogenic and restorative herbs, tongkat ali works to balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

    The hypothalamus is a walnut-sized structure at the base of the brain that controls metabolism and energy (thyroid), reaction to stress (adrenals), and reproductive functions (testes/ovaries). In short, anything and everything that happens in the body goes through the HPA axis.

    Chronic stress of any sort disrupts the HPA axis, with the end result of low energy, stress intolerance, and loss of sexual vitality.

    Because tongkat ali works primarily by balancing the HPA axis, the effect in men and women, from a reproductive hormone production point of view, is slightly different. The end result is enhanced athletic performance, stamina, stress tolerance, muscle mass, bone density, and sexual energy in both sexes—but without potential for masculinization in women.

    Side effects: Though reports of side effects are mild and few, the potential side effects include nausea and upset stomach; therefore, tongkat ali should be taken with food. Because tongkat ali is an energizing adaptogen, it should be used with caution by individuals with sleep issues or who are overcoming health adversity. Like many herbs, tongkat ali has mild blood thinning properties; if you are taking prescription blood thinners, consult your healthcare provider before taking tongkat ali.

    Ingredients similar to Tongkat Ali:

    Epimedium

    *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider before beginning any diet or program.
    The Cellular Wellness Solution

    Discover more in Dr. Bill Rawls’ new #1 Bestselling book: The Cellular Wellness Solution: Tap Into Your Full Health Potential with the Science-Backed Power of Herbs.

    An eye-opening and empowering book that the world needs right now: The Cellular Wellness Solution will fundamentally change how you think about herbs and the powerful role they play in cultivating wellness at the cellular level.”

    Mark Hyman5 stars
    Mark Hyman, MD
    Fourteen-time #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

    References
    1. Abdulghani M et al. The ameliorative effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on testosterone-induced reproductive disorders in female rats. Reprod Biol. 2012 Jul;12(2):247-55.
    2. Tung NH et al. Quassinoids from the Root of Eurycoma longifolia and Their Antiproliferative Activity on Human Cancer Cell Lines. Pharmacogn Mag. 2017 Jul-Sep;13(51):459-462.
    3. Bhat R, Karim AA. Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance. Fitoterapia. 2010 Oct;81(7):669-79.
    4. Miyake K et al. Quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia. J Nat Prod. 2009 Dec;72(12):2135-40.
    5. Low BS, Das PK, Chan KL. Standardized quassinoid-rich Eurycoma longifolia extract improved spermatogenesis and fertility in male rats via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Feb 13;145(3):706-14.
    6. Tran TV et al. NF-κB inhibitors from Eurycoma longifolia. J Nat Prod. 2014 Mar 28;77(3):483-8.
    7. Meng D et al. Four new quassinoids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. Fitoterapia. 2014 Jan;92:105-10.
    8. Lahrita L et al. Isolation and lipolytic activity of eurycomanone and its epoxy derivative from Eurycoma longifolia. Bioorg Med Chem. 2017 Sep 1;25(17):4829-4834.
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    18. Hajjouli S et al. Eurycomanone and eurycomanol from Eurycoma longifolia Jack as regulators of signaling pathways involved in proliferation, cell death and inflammation. Molecules. 2014 Sep 16;19(9):14649-66.
    19. Udani JK et al. Effects of a Proprietary Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta) and Polygonum minus on Sexual Performance and Well-Being in Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:179529.
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    24. FFTC Agricultural Policy Articles. Review of Policies and Issues in the Malaysian Herbal Industry. Mohd Hafizudin bin Zakaria. Economic and Technology Management Research Centre, MARDI. Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

    About the Medical Director
    Dr. Bill Rawls
    Dr. Rawls is a licensed medical doctor in North Carolina and a leading expert in integrative health. He has extensive training in alternative therapies, and is the Medical Director of Vital Plan, a holistic health and herbal supplement company in Raleigh, NC.

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