This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Amy Bobinger has been a writer and editor at wikiHow since 2017. She especially enjoys writing articles that help people overcome interpersonal hurdles but frequently covers a variety of subjects, including health and wellness, spirituality, gardening, and more. Amy graduated with a B.A. in English Lit from Mississippi College in 2011 and now lives in her hometown with her husband and two young sons.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 93% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 69,806 times.
Learn more...
Tongkat ali, also known as Eurycoma longifolia or Malaysian ginseng, is a plant from Southeast Asia which is used to increase libido. Tongkat ali is also said to raise testosterone levels, but scientific evidence supporting this is limited. If you want to try tongkat ali, you can find commercial preparations, or you can create an extract from the root yourself.
Steps
Taking Commercially Prepared Tongkat Ali
-
1Purchase your tongkat ali from a trusted manufacturer. It’s important to research your sources thoroughly before you take this supplement. Some preparations of tongkat ali have been found to contain dangerous amounts of mercury, while other supplements claiming to contain tongkat ali have been shown to actually be spiked with prescription erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and Levitra.[1]
- If you already purchase supplements from a store or online shop, ask them if they carry tongkat ali.
- To find a reliable supplement provider, ask your family and friends for recommendations, reach out on social media, and read customer reviews online.
-
2Look for a 100:1-strength extract. This means that 100 kg of the root was used to obtain 1 kg of extract. Manufacturers of tongkat ali extract can use very different concentrations in their preparation of this supplement, ranging from 20:1 to 200:1. However, a ratio 100:1 is considered standard.[2]
- If you do opt to take a stronger concentration, lower your dose accordingly. For instance, if you choose a 200:1 concentration, you would take half the dose recommended for 100:1 concentrations.
- If you take a lower dose, you can increase your dosage as well, but you may not get the full effect of the supplement.
Advertisement -
3Look for a supplement that was extracted with water rather than ethanol. Ethanol extract of tongkat ali has been shown to be toxic at high doses, but extracts made with hot water have been shown to be safe in high doses as well as for long-term use.[3]
- You should be able to find the extraction method listed on the packaging or on the manufacturer's website.
-
4Taste the extract to make sure it tastes bitter. Tongkat ali extract contains quassinoids, which are extremely bitter. If your extract doesn’t taste bitter, it may not be made of true tongkat ali, or it may not be a sufficient strength to produce an effect.[4]
- Quassinoids are among the bitterest compounds which are found in nature, so the bitter taste in your tongkat ali supplement should be immediately obvious.[5]
-
5Take no more than 200-300mg of tongkat ali per day. Tongkat ali supplements typically come in 100-200mg capsules. Since there is little research supporting the optimal dose of tongkat ali, you should stick to a dosage which is considered safe yet effective.[6]
- You can take 200-300mg of tongkat ali in one dose, or you can split it into 2 doses throughout the day if you prefer.
-
6Take tongkat ali capsules between meals. Although there is little evidence to indicate the best time of day to take tongkat ali, herbal supplements should usually be taken between meals. This is because fiber from foods can slow the absorption of the supplement into your body.[7]
- You will probably want a glass of water to help you swallow the capsule, since it's bitter.
- Avoid taking herbal supplements with juice, as the acidity can affect the way the extract is absorbed into your body.[8]
Boiling Tongkat Ali Roots
-
1Choose a mature plant that is flowering or bearing fruit. If live in Southeast Asia and you want to harvest your own tongkat ali plant, you need to find one which is mature. Tongkat ali plants usually bear fruit when they are 2-3 years old, and you should harvest the plant when it is no more than 4 years old.[9]
- When a Tongkat ali plant is ready to harvest, it may have small red or pink flowers, or it may have fruit which starts out green and darkens to red.
-
2Pull up the whole tongkat ali plant to access the root. You may have to dig a hole in order to get the whole root without it breaking, since tongkat ali roots usually grow straight down into the ground.[10]
- If you want to make your own extract but you don’t live in an area where tongkat ali grows naturally, you can order whole roots online.
-
3Wash the roots thoroughly. Even if you order your plants online, it’s a good idea to wash the root in cool water before you use it, just as with any other vegetable or herb you intend to consume.[11]
- Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables can cause severe diarrhea and other illnesses, especially if you are visiting from another country.[12]
-
4Dry your tongkat ali roots by placing them in a 100–120 °F (38–49 °C) oven. Traditionally, tongkat ali roots are dried in the sun for several days. However, you can get the same effect by drying the roots in an oven set to 100–120 °F (38–49 °C) for about 72 hours.[13]
- To dry your tongkat ali in the sun, lay it flat in a warm, dry place that receives at least 5-6 hours of full sun a day. It may take 3-5 days for the root to dry, or a week or more if you live in a place with high humidity.
-
5Slice the tongkat ali root thinly then boil it. Once the root is thoroughly dried, slice it into rounds as thinly as possible. Place several slices into 2–3 cups (470–710 mL) of water, then boil the mixture for about 20 minutes.[14]
- Although you can slice your tongkat ali before the drying process, it's easier to cut evenly once it has been dried.
-
6Drink the mixture as soon as it has cooled. Discard whatever you don't drink. You can repeat this up to 4 times a week.
- Traditionally, the same tongkat ali root may be boiled up to 3 times.
References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16567029
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/
- ↑ https://www.betternutrition.com/features-dept/how-to-take-supplements
- ↑ https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/new-reasons-to-avoid-mixing-juice-and-medicine/
- ↑ http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79359:tongkat-ali&catid=807:t
- ↑ http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79359:tongkat-ali&catid=807:t
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/homehygiene/Pages/How-to-wash-fruit-and-vegetables.aspx
- ↑ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/malaysia
- ↑ http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79359:tongkat-ali&catid=807:t
- ↑ http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/36/1/012062/pdf
About This Article
If you want to take tongkat ali, make sure you purchase your supplement from a trusted supplier, as some preparations may contain mercury or may not be made from tongkat ali root at all. Choose a 100:1 strength extract that is made with water rather than ethanol, as ethanol extracts may be toxic, and taste it to make sure that it is bitter, which is a sign of true tongkat ali. Take your tongkat ali capsules between meals, and avoid taking more than 300 mg a day. Keep reading to learn how to make tongkat ali extract from the root of the plant!
