Eurycoma longifolia / Tongkat ali
Eurycoma longifolia is an herbal medicinal plant found in South East Asia (Malaysia, Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, Thailand). In Malaysia, it is commonly called tongkat ali and has a range of medicinal properties as a general health tonic, including improvement in physical and mental energy levels and overall quality of life. The roots of tongkat ali, often called "Malaysian ginseng", are used as an adaptogen and as a traditional "anti-aging" remedy to help older individuals adapt to the reduced energy, mood, and libido that often comes with age. In modern dietary supplements, tongkat ali can be found in a variety of products intended to improve libido and energy, restore hormonal balance (cortisol/testosterone levels) and enhance both sports performance and weight loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tongkat ali extract on stress hormone balance (cortisol/testosterone) and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects.
In both men and women, testosterone levels peak between 25 to 30 years of age - and thereafter drop approximately 1-2 percent annually . At the age of 60, testosterone levels are typically only 40-50 percent of youthful levels and may be lower due to stress and related lifestyle issues such as diet, exercise, and sleep patterns . The benefits of maintaining a youthful testosterone levels are many, including increased muscle mass and reduced body fat, high psychological vigor (mental/physical energy), and improved general well-being .
Eurycoma contains a group of small peptides referred to as "eurypeptides" that are known to have effects in improving energy status and sex drive in studies of rodents . The effects of tongkat ali in restoring normal testosterone levels appears to be less due to actually "stimulating" testosterone synthesis, but rather by increasing the release rate of "free" testosterone from its binding hormone, sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) 17,18. In this way, eurycoma may be considered not so much a testosterone "booster" (such as an anabolic steroid), but rather a "maintainer" of normal testosterone levels and a "restorer" of normal testosterone levels (from "low" back "up" to normal ranges) . This would make eurycoma particularly beneficial for individuals with sub-normal testosterone levels, including those who are dieting for weight loss, middle-aged individuals suffering with fatigue or depression, and intensely training athletes who may be at risk for overtraining.
