Discover More About Tongkat Ali

By Sam Lee Harrison

Although used extensively throughout Asia and specifically in Southeast Asia for centuries, the Tongkat Ali herb has remained a mystery to western cultures. Like many of today's alternative therapies, medicine derived from the Tongkat Ali tree roots has recently become widely accepted in Europe and the United States. This has led to a much wider market for the testosterone booster.

About Tongkat Ali

Eurycoma Longifolia is the shrub-like tree that is more commonly known as Tongkat Ali or Longjack. The tree features distinctive pinnate evergreen leaves and large clusters of small flowers. At full maturity, the tree realizes a height of about ten feet. Both the male and female Tongkat Ali trees have the same medicinal value. The deforestation of many Southeast Asian countries has limited the availability of mature trees, leaving Indonesia as the primary source for today's Tongkat Ali roots.

A Labor Intensive Effort

Harvesting the Tongkat Ali roots is no easy task. The process takes patience and manpower. Each of the mature two-meter roots must be manually uncovered and clipped for treatment. Only the Eurycoma Longifolia roots have pharmaceutical value. The best roots are attached to mature trees aging 20 to 30 years. As the popularity of the alternative medicine has surged, some manufacturers have begun to use younger trees.

Malaysian Experience

The Malaysians have been the foremost proponents of the Tongkat Ali health products. Even today, most manufacturing of the products originates in Malaysia. The herb has been used to treat a broad spectrum of health issues. Western cultures appear most interested in the herb's ability to increase the testosterone level. This happy result was first verified in a report from ZRT Laboratories in 2005. Malaysians have long used the herbal remedy to treat overall health issues as well as Malaria and certain cancers.

Safe to Use

Tongkat Ali is easy and safe to use. As an all-natural medicine, there are few side effects, which are usually the result of improper dosage. Lowering the dosage can easily reduce effects like insomnia, restlessness and irritability. Users of the Tongkat Ali powder or Tongkat Ali extract will find the herb is non-habit forming.

Tongkat Ali Products

Tongkat Ali supplements are manufactured as a powder in capsules, in tablet form or as a liquid extract. The product has a distinct bitter taste and is often diluted with tea or coffee. The Tongkat Ali extract is the strongest form of the herb. Only the roots are used for medicinal purposes. Some manufacturers use light doses of alcohol to preserve the herb and free up the medicinal qualities. Tongkat Ali has a long track record of success in the east and is rapidly establishing a positive reputation in the west. - 29929

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