Availability of Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali is sold as a powder, and in capsules, sometimes mixed with other herbs. There are a number of tongkat ali extracts available in various potencies, and since each company has a different way of extracting, and since there are no established standards, it is difficult to give dosage recommendations that would be consistently effective. In addition to tongkat ali being available as a raw powder, it is sold as a 4:1, 5:1, 20:1 and a 100:1 concentration. At the higher concentrations it becomes difficult to dose appropriately since the margin of error in terms of effectiveness versus side effects becomes more challenging.

Tongkat Ali Side Effects
One of the shortcomings of tongkat Ali is that it can easily cause insomnia, and lack of sleep can lower sex drive. Therefore it is somewhat difficult to find the right dose that works without causing this insomnia, and that's where an experienced herbalist who has wide knowledge with this plant is crucial in terms of formulating the right product with the right amount and extract potency of tongkat ali. High doses can also cause increased body temperature. Some people find that when they take a high dose, they become restless and impatient, perhaps easily angered. Long term effects of tongkat ali on human consumption are not known. It is best, until we learn more, to not take tongkat ali continuously without breaks.

Tongkat Ali Questions
Q. I find tongka ali herb way too stimulating to be of any use. It also gives me a bad headache and palpitations. By the time that I reduce the quantity to the point where I'm not a nervous mess, it seems totally ineffective. I'm using the basic tongkat ali herb, not one of the concentrates, but I do have a better orgasm.
   A. Lower amounts of tongkat ali may work better, you may consider using a portion of a capsule.

Q. I'm interested in purchasing tongkat ali, but have two concerns - heavy metal contamination and potency. I've looked at an Indonesian site tongkatali.org and they suggest that the potency of cheaper American versions of tongkat ali are insufficient.
   A. The tongkat ali made by Physician Formulas is from the raw material imported from Asia, not from the USA since tongkat ali tree does not grow in the US. Physician Formulas has a 400 mg tongkat ali and most people think the dose is too high and they prefer taking half a capsule, so we don't know what the people at tongkatali.org are talking about.
      Q. Thanks very much for your response. I may have misrepresented tongkatali.org. They said that the (imported from Malaysia) tongkat ali ued in the American versions may have lead and heavy metal contamination. Is this true?
         A. The regulatory agencies require raw material suppliers to check for lead and heavy metals and the certificate of analysis that is done shows the raw material purchased by Physician Formulas does not have this contamination. Furthermore, the dosages used of tongkat ali are so small, and the herb need only be taken 2 or 3 days a week, that even if lead were present, the amount would be insignificant. Therefore this is an issue that is being raised by tongkatali.org making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Q. I am a long time natural health aficianado. I was researching tongkat ali products and was looking for a good source of Tongkat Ali and came across a comparison of Physician Formulas tongkat ali product at http://www.lj200x.com/compare.html. He states there is no comparison with Physician Formulas tongkat ali product stating the following: Comparing LJ-200x to the Most Popular Alternatives. Example One: Tongkat ali Root Powder Product. Tongkat Ali powder, 400 mg 30 Capsules Physician Formulas Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Amount Per Capsule: Tongkat Ali powder - 400 mg * (Eurycoma Longifolia Jack)
   Comparison: There is none really. Since the formula above uses root powder it offers very little potency. In fact just one capsule of LJ-200x containing 185mg of 200:1 extract potency would equate to 37,000mg of root powder potency. That's right! One capsule of LJ-200x contains more of the active ingredients found in Tongkat Ali than a whole bottle of the formula above. Of course you get what you pay for. But if you do a price comparison based on potency you will find that LJ-200x is the better value. The Tongkat Ali found in LJ-200x is 200 Times more potent than the same amount of root powder. Physician Formulas 400mg times 30 Capsules = 12,000mg root powder
or 12 Grams of Root Powder. LJ-200x 185mg times 30 Capsules = 5,550mg 200:1 Extract 5,500mg 200:1 Extract = 1,110,000mg Powder or 1,110 Grams of Root Powder. Using simple math we can determine it would take 92.5 bottles of the root powder formula to match the potency of one bottle of LJ-200x. Buying 92.5 bottles of " Physician Formulas " would cost you $920! Or you can buy 1 Bottle of LJ-200x for only $37.45 including the Priority Mail shipping charges!
*** PLUS you receive the benefits of an additional 315mg per capsule of 8 Additional Prosexual Herbal Extracts not found in any other Tongkat Ali Formula! Avoid any product using Tongkat Ali root powder in the formula. It is impossible to provide an effective dose of root powder in any single capsule formula. Unless you want to swallow dozens of capsules per day! If a product claims to contain Tongkat Ali but does not specify an extract ratio you can be fairly certain they are using root powder. Whether you are looking for the most potent Tongkat Ali formula, or the best value the choice is clear! LJ-200x is the Clear Winner. To learn more about LJ-200x CLICK HERE! Ready to put LJ-200x to work for you? Order now and you can be experiencing the power of LJ-200x for yourself in a matter of days!
   A. There are several inaccuracies with the statements above and the person or people who wrote this are either purposely misinforming or do not have a good understanding of tongkat ali. They claim one capsule of LJ-200x contains more of the active ingredients found in Tongkat Ali than a whole bottle of the 30 capsule 400 mg tongkat ali powder. If that were the case, we suggest that whoever wrote this take a whole bottle of the 400 mg tongkat ali and see how they feel. If a person takes 12,000 mg of tongkat ali, they are likely to either end up in the emergency room. We find even 400 mg of tongkat ali powder to be quite a hefty dose that can cause side effects such as overstimulation and insomnia and increased body temperature. Anyone who makes this comparison apparently does not fully understand the tongkat ali herb and how the extracts are made. LJ200x is certainly not 200 times as potent as tongkat ali powder, it is just a marketing gimmick and many of the active compounds could be lost while preparing a concentrated extract. We question the reliability of the information by whoever makes such statements. Often, tongkat ali works better in low doses than it does in high doses since tongkat ali side effects are common and quite unpleasant. Therefore, if you do buy LJ200x, begin with a portion of a capsule. Better yet, just try LJ100, there is much more research done with LJ100 than a lesser known and untested extract LJ200x.

Q. I purchased tongkat ali 400 mg to increase my libido but has bad side effects. I was walking stumbling all over like I was drunk and had the most terrible headaches as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning. I went to my regular doctor and he prescribed medication ,but it did not work . Until I realized that my symptoms had started when I started taking tongkat ali. I was taking a 400 mg capsule daily with occasional days off for 3 weeks. I stopped taking them and I am getting better.
   A. Tongkat ali is very potent and we suggest using a lower amount less frequently, it works better that way with fewer side effects.

Q. How fast acting is the tongkat ali herb after consumption? Can a consumption of 2 ~ 3 tongkat ali capsule 15 minutes or 30 minutes before a sexual encounter do any good? Which is better – consuming pure tongkat ali powder capsule with or LJ100 Tongkat Ali or a mixed product with other herbs?
   A. Tongkat ali can work within a few hours if a high dose is taken but then the side effects are quite unpleasant. I ti preferable to take tongkat ali in a lower dose and expect the benefits the second or third day. We prefer a combination product that has tongkat ali with several other herbs in order to take advantage of tongkat ali benefits while minimizing its side effects, and also getting the benefits from other herbs. Passion Rx is a great combination of tongkat ali with other herbs.

Q. I understand that tongat ali actually works with the male body to cause the body to produce more testosterone naturally. Is this true? Taken as you suggest on your web page, will it have this effect on older men in good health? It seems that natural production from your own body would be superior to the testosterone injections or gel being offered to be by my Doctor.
   A. Not enough human studies have been done to determine exactly how tongkat ali works in the body to improve sexuality. It could be through testosterone production or release, or it could be through other mechanisms. Tongkat ali is very potent and older people would do best at first only taking a third or half a capsule. Tongkt ali has side effects of increased body temperature and heart rate.

Q. I have been using Physician Formulas Tongkat Ali. It does help improve my desire. I wish it helped increase size too, but I guess nothing does that. However, I wanted to let you know that since I have been taking this tongkat ali pill, I have hair growth return in the areas on my head that were bare. I was very surprised. At first I thought it was the "Emu Oil" pills that I have been taking for joint pain, but when I stopped taking Physician Formulas Tongkat Ali product, the hair growth stopped. When I started taking it again, the bare areas continued to fill in. Evidence of that means that it is Physician Formulas Tongkat Ali that is causing it. The oil maybe helping, but it is not the cause.
   A. This is the first we have heard of tongkat ali influencing hair growth, we are skeptical at this time until more people email us independently that this happened to them too.

Q. I've seen product ads for Tongkat Ali that claim it does not aromatize into estrogen. Is that true? I understand that there is no solid evidence that Tongkat increases testosterone, but if it does, wouldn't it have the potential to convert to estrogen? Should aromatase inhibitors be taken along with Tongkat? Thank you for reading my question and thanks again for the great site. I recently placed an order for Tongkat (400mg and the LJ100) for issues I've been having relating to hypogonadism. If I have any success I'll let you know.
   A. Not enough human research is available to know for sure how tongkat ali influences various hormone levels including testosterone and estrogen. For the time being, it is best not to mix other medicines when taking tongkat ali, and using the herb every other day may work better once it starts being effective.

Q. Do you offer a trial or sample size that can be purchased of Passion-Rx Yohimbe? I wanted to make sure I wasn't sensitive to the Yohimbe before ordering a whole bottle.
   A. Sorry, Physician Formulas only carries the full bottles. Some people prefer to go slower and they take half a capsule every other day or 2 days on, one or two days off. The capsules can be easily opened by pulling on each side.

Q. I am 33 now. Taking Propecia for hair loss and topical Minoxidil. I have side effects from Propecia. Can taking tongkat ali eliminate the side effects from Propecia which is low libido. Does taking Tongkat ali increase testosterone in the body. Does this mean that it would increase hair loss as well. What dose of tongkat ali should i start on and what should be the regimen?
   A. Propecia use does lead to side effects including low libido. Tongkat ali does improve libido. Not enough human studies are available to determine the influence of tongkat ali on testosterone and whether or not it has an effect on hair loss or growth. We cannot give specific advice as to which dosage of any supplements a person should use. We can only provide general research information. Another option is Passion Rx which many people report enhances libido in those who have taken or taking Propecia. Some people who are sensitive to supplements use a low dosage of half a capsule for the first 2 or 3 days to see how they respond. Others prefer to take a capsule 2 days on, one or more days off. Still others like to take Passion Rx every other day.  

Q. I have taken herbs off and on such as tribulus, yohimbine, tonkat ali, avena sativa, hoarny goat weed, and some
others. These herbs used to work well for me but recently my libido is shot. Tonkat ali I've found probably worked the best for my libido but i also found when not on it my libido was bad. getting tonkat ali is a problem for me because i can not order it online but rather have to find it in stores. Hoarny goat weed sometimes works well, but it doesn't seem to have the effect I'm looking for.
 A. Sex herbs work well to enhance libido, but when used too often they lose their effectiveness. It is a good idea to take at least a full week off each month. Eating fish, taking fish oil capsules, eating ginger herb and lots of healthy food with good exercise and plenty of deep sleep are quite helpful.

Q. I would like to know if there is any difference when a tongkat ali herb says it contains a 1:200 pure extract each capsule containing 300 mg.; As apposed to it being written 20:1 extract 400 mg?
   A. Tongkat ali herb is available in a number of extract potencies, from regular powder up to 100 to 1 or 200 to 1 extract. Different companies promote their products as being highly concentrated and claiming that they have a 200 to 1 extract but we suspect many of these companies are not honest in their promotion. Therefore it is nearly impossible to compare these various products since it is difficult to know whether the concentration of the extract they promote is true. Even if it is true, one needs to keep in mind the quality of the original herb that was used, the storage and processing methods, and the actual chemical and laboratory methods in making the extract which can alter the chemical composition within the herb.

The herbs in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Catuaba, Cnidium, Muira Puama, Tribulus, Tongkat ali, and Yohimbe. For more yohimbe information. 

Q. I understand different extracts of tongkat ali 100: 1 is more powerful than 20:1. but what does it mean if a product has 25 mg of 100:1 compared to 200 mg of 20:1?
   A. It is very difficult to compare these products since there are various companies that make tongkat ali in different potencies and one company's 100:1 extract may be weaker or stronger than another company's 100 to 1 extract. Also, a 100 to 1 extract may not necessarily be exactly 5 times more potent as a 20 to 1 extract since different extraction processes are used and the quality of the herbs can vary among raw material suppliers. With tongkat ali, it is best to try and learn how each product works on you at different dosages, always starting with low amounts since this herb is quite potent and does have side effects when high amounts are taken.

Article on tongkat ali
Tongkat Ali is a tree native to the jungles of Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It is commonly known as tongkat ali in Malaysia and Singapore, Tung Saw in Thailand, and Pasak Bumi in Indonesia. The tongkat ali tree can grow up to about 12 meters in height. Natives consider every part of the tree as medicine. The tongkat ali root has been used as traditional medicine and promoted as a tonic, energy enhancer, and as an aphrodisiac. Before you buy tongkat ali, read the possible tongkat ali side effects discussed later.

The different tongkat ali supplement options available to the consumer
Tongkat Ali root is sold as a powder in capsules by itself, and it is also combined with other herbs in libido products. There are also concentrated forms of tongkat ali, which I will refer to as tongkat ali extracts. One well known and potent tongkat ali extract is LJ100. You can find tongkat ali as 4:1, 5:1, 20:1, 50:1, 100:1 and 200:1 extract concentrations. A 100:1 extract is much more potent than a 4:1 extract, which is more potent than the regular tongkat ali powder. To make things a little more complicated, each raw material supplier and manufacturer has a different way of preparing and extracting the tongkat ali root active ingredients. This means that, let's say, a 50:1 extract sold by one company may have a different effect than a 50:1 extract from another company.

Tongkat Ali side effects
We have read articles in health magazines or on the internet that this herb has wonderful benefits with absolutely no side effects. This has not been my personal or professional experience. Even though tongkat ali is potent as an herbal aphrodisiac, it does have shortcomings. One of the side effects of high dose tongkat ali herb use is insomnia. Lack of adequate sleep, when repeated over many days, can lower sex drive. So it's better to take smaller amounts over several days than a very high amount in one day.
I have personally tested various extracts of tongkat ali in different doses and realized that it has additional side effects not often mentioned in articles or in research papers. High doses can cause increased body temperature. Some people find that when they take a high dose, they become restless and impatient, perhaps easily angered. There could also be heart related side effects. High doses of tongkat ali can increase heart rate which is not acceptable to those who have heart disease.

Tongkat Ali research
Over the past few years, there have been quite a number of studies (particularly in rodents) that have tested tongkat ali in relation to sexual effects. The results have been quite positive. Almost all the studies have shown that providing tongkat ali to animals increases mounting frequency and sexual stamina.

Bottom line
Tongkat ali works very well as an aphrodisiac but side effects are common on high dosages. Passion Rx with tongkat ali is an excellent formula that combines this herb with several other sexual enhancing herbs to provide wonderful results in men and women.

More tongkat ali extract questions
Q. I have read that tongkat ali extract needs to be combined with a strict diet of specific foods on off cycles and a different diet on the on cycles, or you do not get noticeable results. Can you give me any info on the role of diet and food and tongkat ali extract use?
   A. Diet has no significant influence on the effectiveness or use of tongkat ali extract.

Q. i started taking tongkat ali 50:1 extract about 2 weeks ago, from 800 mg to 1.6 g a day as thats what it said to do on the bottle. At first i noticed insane amounts of hunger, increased body tone, testicular size increase and better sexual function except when i woke up in the morning my testicles would seem smaller until i took more tongkat ali. Then after about a week I noticed that my testicles were not getting bigger but seemed to get smaller after taking tongkat ali extract. after 2 weeks they are about the size of grapes and i can not achieve an erection. I don't think that tongkat ali is crap by any means, I just think that at my age(22), i should have been taking much smaller doses. probably 200 mg to 400mg with breaks every couple days. i honestly feel like someone who has just taken steroids and their body has shut down their own testosterone production thus shrinking the testicles.
   A. Excess tongkat ali has side effects. We always recommend using low dosages of this potent herbal aphrodisiac.

I wanted to ask you about the tonkat ali extract, where can i find it to purchase it? I live in New York could it be found in a regular Rx Pharmacy? I also wanted to ask you about how affective this extract is?
   This extract is quite potent and we are not sure what stores in New York carry it. Pharmacies do not have it, as a general rule.

Suppliers
Please allow us to introduce ourselves as an Indonesian herbal extract manufacturer and contract manufacturer of herbal formulation products, specializing in Indonesian medicinal plants for various industries. GMP certified for production processes of herbal extracts and herbal formulation products. We see that you are interested in Tongkat Ali or Eurycoma Longifolia, it's a native Indonesian plant and can be found in Kalimantan. We manufacture the extract and can sell it to you cheap, since you get it directly from us. Eurycoma Longifolia Dry Extract 5% we can give you USD$ 26/kg (FOB Jakarta) In the case that you wanted higher %, we have 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. I don't think that you wanted any higher than that, but, if you want it, we can make it. And about the tongkat Ali herbal formulation that I mentioned before, it's called VITOREX and the composition is as following: Tribulus Terrrestris Eurycoma Longifolia Pimpinella Pruatjan Curcuma Domestica
Panax Ginseng. We can play around with the formulation by adding or decreasing the composition, that's no problem. Please contact us if you're interested. Best Regards, Greg Kalona, Marketing Manager, phytochemindo dot com.