Women are increasingly curious about how Tongkat Ali can benefit their health. As female athletes, working adults and housewives are now consuming Tongkat Ali, find out how it may benefit you.
Does Tongkat Ali benefit women?
Yes. Tongkat Ali benefits women in many ways; improved muscle mass, fat loss, improved mood, reduced stress, promote a healthy sexual libido and potentially looking younger too.
Tongkat Ali’s benefits are caused by hormone-inducing effects on the endocrine system, making it an ideal endocrine supplement for women.
This article focuses on the benefits of Tongkat Ali on women’s health based on scientific studies and clinical trials. We will also cover how Tongkat Ali may benefit key hormones in women and its relationship to overall vitality and health.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) has been reviewed extensively by medical professionals in recent years, with a wide range of scientifically proven health benefits, spanning from 20-30 years of clinical studies and research.
Whether you are in your 20s, 30s, or even 50s and beyond, most women consume Tongkat Ali as a dietary supplement to revitalize their health by restoring hormonal balance. Some use Tongkat Ali as a hormonal boosting supplement to enable them to overcome physically and emotionally demanding tasks.
For most women, having optimal testosterone, cortisol and estrogen is vital to staying healthy and fit, maintaining a good libido and weight, fighting aging and possibly looking younger.
Tongkat Ali affects key hormones in women including free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHT, and estradiol (i.e estrogen) and we shall deep-dive into it later in this article.
The race to defy age and dwindling sexual urges have prompted more women to consider clinically tested Tongkat Ali as a safer alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) or even DHEA treatment.
In the past, there are many celebrities who went through TRT treatment looking healthier and younger than their real age despite the risks of heart attacks and cardiovascular complications. However, female consumers now prefer scientific-backed natural supplements such as Tongkat Ali for long-term optimal hormonal balance.
In fact, studies showed that Tongkat Ali is not an exclusive supplement for men as it will not change your traits, personality or behavior.
Tongkat Ali affects a wide range of female hormones. These include:
The short answer is yes. One of the key Tongkat Ali benefits for women is the effect on reproduction female hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. Multiple studies have shown that Tongkat Ali may benefit women from 24 to 70 years of age by increasing muscular strength, boosting energy and reducing perimenopausal symptoms.
In other words, Tongkat Ali helps promote a healthy endocrine system for most healthy women as long as you are not hormone sensitive to supplements, or if you are diagnosed with a chronic hormonal imbalance.
✅ As an Anti-Aging supplement for overall revitalization
✅ Promoting Unwanted Weight Gains by reducing body fat
✅ Improved libido and sexual health
✅ Promotes Stronger Lean Muscle Mass
✅ More Energy and Stamina, Boosting Athletic Performance
✅ Promotes Better Mood & Reducing Stress, Tension and Anxiety
✅ Reduces hot flashes, joint pain and other menopausal symptoms
Tongkat Ali may work for most women, in particular, if you are in your 40s or 50s where your hormones require dietary supplementation to keep you revitalized. However, it is recommended to take Tongkat Ali in small doses, or in OFF/ON weekly intervals to gain the most benefit.
Growing clinical studies and research on Tongkat Ali involving female test participants between 25 to 65 years of age in the past decade showed a wide range of promising health benefits. In addition, there is sufficient clinical evidence to suggest the use of Tongkat Ali as a dietary supplement for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women based on the latest study in 2020.
Tongkat Ali works through the activation of the adrenal gland, pituitary gland, and ovary by producing hormones in the right amount that your body needs. This forms a vital part of promoting a healthy endocrine system in women.
When taken in the recommended dosage, Tongkat Ali’s natural adaptogenic properties do not suppress hormones, neurotransmitters, or vital organs in women. It restores hormonal balance due to premature aging, particularly in older women.
Tongkat Ali helps to restore hormonal balance in women, by working on Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and lowering Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) to release additional free testosterone, DHEA and estrogen.
The effect of Tongkat Ali in producing more free testosterone from your adrenal glands and ovary happens simultaneously with the effect of lowering SHBG in your body. This mechanism of action delivers benefits to women if they are exercising regularly and keeping a healthy diet.
You may read more on Tongkat Ali’s mechanism of action to understand the science behind it, but for now, let’s find out which situation women can benefit the most from Tongkat Ali.
As estrogen and progesterone levels drop after 30, the optimal age for women to take Tongkat Ali is between 35 to 65, as it helps restore estrogen levels in women above 40 as they enter premenopause and menopause stages.
You may still reap some benefits from Tongkat Ali even if you are below 30, but it is best to consult your doctor if you have breast cancer, chronic endocrine conditions or any hormonal imbalance conditions.
Apart from estrogen levels, women in their 30s may experience a rapid decline in testosterone levels which causes symptoms such as premature fatigue, constant mood swings due to mental stress, lack of energy to complete house chores or lack of sexual desire in some extreme cases.
In this situation, Tongkat Ali may help to restore testosterone levels when taken at the right dosage, in particular women in their 30s to 60s who may experience low testosterone symptoms due to aging hormones.
Learn how to use Tongkat Ali optimally with our free user guide. Our in-depth guide helps women of all ages to bring the best hassle-free Tongkat Ali experience.
Note: (n= 28 females) with study participants between 20 – 60 years consuming 50mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) with Multi-Vitamins. Clinical trial registration NCT02865863.
Whether you choose to take Tongkat Ali supplements or Tongkat Ali coffee, women can realize the most benefits by consuming Tongkat Ali products that have high bioactive ingredients.
Tongkat Ali products containining eurycomanone (1-3%), eurypeptides (22%), glycosaponin (30%) are considered optimal that enable effective production of testosterone, cortisol and estrogen in your body.
Generally, most women in their 40s reported having more energy, stamina and some reported libido improvements after consuming Tongkat Ali. This was primarily driven by optimal testosterone and estrogen.
According to the leading natural bodybuilders & fitness community in Australia, co-founder Andric Lim of YNF Australia said Tongkat Ali is used for women over 50s to aid body transformation and to keep a healthy BMI.
He added that AKARALI Tongkat Ali is a natural testosterone supplement that is used widely by female natural bodybuilders for toning, fat loss, and lean muscle development.
Whether you choose TRT or Tongkat Ali supplements, restoring your testosterone has many added benefits such as weight loss, energy, mood and fat-burn. Here is what the late legendary Jane Fonda has to say after discovering testosterone boost, which made her feel energized at the age of 78.
"I discovered testosterone about three years ago, which makes a huge difference if you want to remain sexual and your libido has dropped"
Many nutritionists and wellness experts believe the “Jane Fonda effect” was a result of having healthy testosterone levels coupled with a healthy lifestyle, exercise and a good set of supplements.
As more women are staying away from HRT/TRT due to safety concerns, Tongkat Ali could be the best natural supplement for women due to growing clinical evidence and human studies, with increasing reviews by medical experts, nutritionists and professionals in recent years.
Certified nutritionist and specialist in hormone optimization Dr. Amie Hornaman recently reported in her video that Tongkat Ali supplement is a “Rock Star” due to its testosterone effects and other benefits on women.
“Tongkat Ali is a Rock Star supplement!”
In her video, Dr. Amie explained how Tongkat Ali may benefit hormones and added that Tongkat Ali is a standout supplement amongst all (growth hormone supplements) due to the tremendous results it has shown from decades of research studies.
“Tongkat Ali has a host of beneficial health effects on the body including its benefits of increasing testosterone”
Research showed only few herbal supplements such as Tongkat Ali had sufficient scientific evidence of improvement in health benefits – particularly in aging women.
Much of Tongkat Ali’s benefits for women are centered on restoring the hormonal balance, which includes increasing free testosterone, DHEA and estrogen, reducing cortisol and lowering SHBG at the same time. This makes Tongkat Ali suitable for healthy women or those who are not diagnosed with hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, or ovarian cancer.
Before you decide if Tongkat Ali is right for you, please check if you are experiencing any symptoms associated with low testosterone or low estrogen, and consult your nearest doctor before consuming one.
Women with low testosterone may exhibit the following symptoms:
Women with low estrogen may exhibit the following symptoms:
Tongkat Ali may benefit women by restoring reproductive hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It may also help reduce cortisol levels when you need it the most (eg: when you are feeling stressed, anxious or when you are out drinking too much alcohol that cause a spike in cortisol)
A recent study in 2021 showed that testosterone and estradiol (the strongest estrogen hormone) were elevated by 34% and 30% respectively after consuming 600mg of Tongkat Ali daily.
To gain maximum benefits from Tongkat Ali, you need to understand your hormone profile and how it changes during your menstrual cycle. For example, as estrogen levels rise and fall twice during a menstrual cycle, women may benefit by taking Tongkat Ali when the estrogen level has dropped too low.
Tongkat Ali is known for its androgenic effects on Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) which may be beneficial during your menstrual cycle, provided you are diagnosed with hormonal imbalance conditions.
Facts on Estrogen and Testosterone:
Estrogen is a sex hormone and a reproductive hormone in women. Estrogen in women is responsible for the stimulation of secondary female characteristics (body composition, breast development, menstrual cycle,). It can also impact other aspects of health such as mood stability, complexion, bone health, and cholesterol levels. Many organ systems, including the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and the brain are affected by estrogen.
Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/estrogens-effects-on-the-female-body
Testosterone and other androgens in women play important promoting a healthy bones, breast health, women’s fertility, libido (sex drive), skin, fat loss, menstrual health and vaginal health. Testosterone in women exists in smaller quantity than men and decreases rapidly more than men as they age.
Source: Do Women Have Testosterone? What It Does, Normal Levels, More (healthline.com)
Most women may benefit from Tongkat Ali supplementation as it works by boosting your testosterone and estrogen at the same time. Dr. Steven Hotze from the US-based Hotze Health & Wellness Center states that testosterone is vital to women’s sexual health.
Statements made by testosterone TRT experts indicate that testosterone-boosting supplements such as Tongkat Ali may be beneficial to increasing sexual health for women approaching 40s or even below 40.
In addition to being a natural female libido enhancer, testosterone improves the tone of the vagina and bladder, decreases body fat, improves muscle strength and bone density.
The benefits of testosterone-boosting Tongkat Ali supplements for women are similar to the effects for men – promoting muscle development, enhancing libido, increasing skin collagen production, stimulating red blood circulation, promoting reproductive health and many others.
Find out the effects of testosterone on women should you decide to take Tongkat Ali as a dietary supplement to elevate your testosterone or estrogen.
In this section, we shall focus on the key scientifically proven benefits of Tongkat Ali on women. Tongkat Ali has been clinically tested to work on young female adults and women going through pre-menopausal and post-menopausal phases.
Depending on your age and health condition, women taking Tongkat Ali in moderate doses may experience better mood and a noticeable increase in energy.
A Tongkat Ali study on women between 50-72 years showed improvements in muscular grip after taking 400mg Tongkat Ali for 5 weeks. Anecdotal feedback from UK consumers showed that elderly women reported significant strength gains in less than 2 weeks after consuming 200mg of Tongkat Ali daily, coupled with a minimum of 3-day a week of exercise.
Women using Tongkat Ali regularly as a sports supplement with frequent weight training exercises may benefit from gradual fat loss as Tongkat Ali promotes higher metabolism and lean muscle.
Tongkat Ali is shown to increase metabolism due to its fat-burning activities (i.e thermogenic properties) when paired with regular high-intensity or weight-training exercises. Prolonged use of Tongkat Ali may aid weight loss and reduce BMI.
You may still gain additional benefits from Tongkat Ali such as added energy even if you are not a professional athlete nor actively involved in sports.
As testosterone levels fluctuate and deplete as women age, Tongkat Ali supplementation is shown to restore testosterone levels to their optimal levels.
You may want to check your testosterone levels and advice from your healthcare professional before consuming Tongkat Ali.
“The data is really clear. If you give testosterone to female athletes, you improve their performance.”
Semi-professional female athletes may gain real-world anaerobic performance from taking Tongkat Ali too, attributed to the release of more free testosterone in the body, which helps post-training muscle recovery from overtraining.
In fact, researchers found they could improve young women athletes’ abilities by having them smear a cream containing testosterone on their thighs for 10 weeks, according to the results published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Tongkat Ali supplement is used as a libido booster by premenopausal and postmenopausal women and those diagnosed with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSSD) due to its proven ability to boost testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
DHEA is now recognized by scientists as one of the most important markers of aging and is closely related to sexual desire and mood.
Dr. Susan Richards, currently serving as the ordained Minister at Stanford University said that DHEA is regarded as a fountain of youth hormone and Tongkat Ali’s ability to increase testosterone and DHEA may be the best plant-based elixir.
DHEA: Your fountain of youth hormone.
Yes, Tongkat Ali’s boost sex hormones in women. For instance, testosterone, DHEA, progesterone and estrogen are key sex hormones in women and Tongkat Ali has been shown to increase free testosterone in women by up to 122%, increase dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by 11% and increase estradiol (i.e estrogen) by 31%.
Tongkat Ali may increase women’s libido particularly aging women or young females who have low testosterone symptoms or experiencing androgen deficiencies.
Tongkat Ali is regarded as a natural libido supplement for women due to its testosterone-boosting effects that has direct correlation to sexual function and desire, especially women who are androgen-deficient. According to many health experts, testosterone influences sexual desire in women and those opting for herbal remedy to increase libido may find Tongkat Ali a preferred dietary supplement when consumed in low dosages of 100mg to 200mg daily.
Whilst the science behind the libido-boosting mechanism for females has not been well established, Tongkat Ali is amongst the top natural libido supplements for women as an alternative to Maca, Ashwagandha, Fenugreek, Arginine and Gingko Biloba.
As current research studies are limited, anecdotal evidence from female users who took Tongkat Ali as a libido supplement showed promising results. Alisa Roberts, a 34-year-old California mom told ABCNews that her sexual desire improved after taking Tongkat Ali for five days. “I just felt like I had more desire for him,” said Alisa as she noticed some improvements after taking Tongkat Ali.
Our further analysis showed that DHEA has a direct correlation to women’s sexual desire. Tongkat Ali’s effect on increasing DHEA is beneficial to women who are diagnosed with low libido by elevating better hormonal responses when aroused or subjected to external stimuli during or before sex.
A clinical trial by the Tel-Aviv Medical Center in Israel showed that DHEA treatment can increase sexual desire in women diagnosed with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD).
DHEA has a dramatic sexual awakening effect with increased frequency of sexual thoughts, sexual interest, and satisfaction.
For women seeking natural remedies to boost DHEA, Tongkat Ali could be an effective natural supplement that helps with sexual desire as evidenced in various DHEA-related studies. A clinical study on Tongkat Ali showed a statistically significant increase in DHEA after consuming 200mg of Tongkat Ali daily for 12 weeks.
Note: DHEA results from test participants between 50 – 70 years consuming 200mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) for 12 weeks.
So if you seeking a natural anti-aging sex enhancement supplement for women, Tongkat Ali may be a good addition which can be taken together with Omega 3, Cod Liver Oil and Primrose Oil.
It is no surprise that Jane Fonda told the Telegraph that she started taking the testosterone hormone at the late age of 70 and she reported testosterone may have helped her fight the ageing process and lifted her sex life.
Limited studies showed natural DHEA-inducing supplements such as Tongkat Ali and other DHEA treatments are known to benefit menopausal women by helping them to increase their sexual desire, libido and overall sexual health.
Tongkat Ali benefits busy female professionals or working mothers who are constantly exposed to work stress that causes random fluctuation of hormones. Tongkat Ali benefits women in stressful situations that affect your mood profile (i.e anxiety, depression, stress, etc). Tongkat Ali works by reducing the cortisol (stress hormone) and releasing more dopamine (i.e the feel-good hormone).
This is backed by a study published in the Journal of International Society & Sports Nutrition showing significant improvement in women’s mood, from lower tension, depression, anger and confusion after consuming Tongkat Ali. Researchers found lower cortisol levels in female test participants after consuming Tongkat Ali, indicating a positive response to mood and stress.
In the real world, many women have reported having a “better mood” after consuming Tongkat Ali in doses of between 50 to 200mg per day.
Other studies concluded that Tongkat Ali may benefit women who are experiencing moderate stress, which may help in reducing mood swings, reduce brain fog and is taken usually in the morning to moderate stress naturally
A clinical trial involving 28 females showed a reduction in cognitive stress, physical stress, and behavioral stress after taking 50mg of Tongkat Ali with multivitamins for 12 weeks.
Whilst higher dose of Tongkat Ali may benefit women more, the average Tongkat Ali dose for mood swings is between 50mg to 200mg per day.
The above charts showed reduction in cognitive and behavioural stress after consuming Tongkat Ali. Clinical trial was conducted using randomized placebo-controlled test group based on 50mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) taken with multivitamins (n=47 participants, 19 males and 28 females)
Taking Tongkat Ali supplements may prevent vaginal yeast infections against candida albicans, lactobacillus and streptococcus which are commonly found in women. Women may use Tongkat Ali as a candida supplement at the recommended dosage if you have symptoms related to vaginal candidiasis such as abnormal discharge, thrush, vaginal itching or pain during sexual intercourse.
Multiple research studies published in 2016, 2019 and 2021 showed that Tongkat Ali exhibits anti-fungal properties against candida albicans, a type of fungi that causes vaginal candidiasis.
Test results from in-vitro studies showed the inhibitory effects of Tongkat Ali in reducing the growth of candida albicans based on 25mg/ml to 31mg/ml of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) extract. Our analysis of 17 published research studies suggests that Tongkat Ali may be used as a vaginal supplement that benefit women’s health due to its anti-fungal properties.
Tongkat Ali may reduce the risks of breast cancer as recent studies showed antiproliferative cytotoxic activity against two most common types of breast cancer (i.e MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) found in women under the age of 40.
Tongkat Ali contains DHOK (14,15β-dihydroxyklaineanone), a bioactive compound that is reported to exhibit strong anti-cancer activities; which suppresses the proliferation of breast cancer cells and induces apoptosis (i.e programmed cell death of cancer cells) without affecting healthy breast cells. If your family has a history of hereditary cancer cases, Tongkat Ali supplement may reduce the risks of breast cancer or cervical cancer whilst promoting a healthier immune system by increasing T-cells, CD4+ cells in the long term.
In fact, Tongkat Ali is touted as an anti-cancer supplement for women due to its anti-cancer properties against various types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon and rectum cancers based on growing studies from 2005 to 2022, with more than 48 research studies published to date.
Whilst ongoing development of these studies suggests the potential use of Tongkat Ali as a dietary supplement to reduce the risks of cancer, Tongkat Ali does not cure or treat cancer.
More women prefer taking Tongkat Ali in recent years as it provides long-lasting results with fewer long-term side effects compared to conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).
Whilst TRT is a targeted remedy to improve your testosterone for women, you may miss out on other benefits if you are taking Tongkat Ali supplements. Here are the pros and cons that you should consider before taking the supplementation route.
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
With growing interest, many women are benefitting from Tongkat Ali in recent years. Here is a real-life female review of Tongkat Ali that reaffirms the results from decades of clinical tests on women.
Discerning female consumers are searching for top Tongkat Ali brands that are clinically tested, knowing the fact that not all Tongkat Ali products are created equal.
Clinically-tested Tongkat Ali supplements are highly potent Tongkat Ali products made with pharmaceutical-grade quality standards that bring superior benefits to women compared to generic Tongkat Ali extract.
With the right daily dosage, you are assured of gaining sustainable and long-term benefits from Tongkat Ali.
Additional Info:
Your body may produce excess androgen (testosterone) for your baby during pregnancy or if you are diagnosed with PCOS. If you have higher-than-normal testosterone levels, please avoid taking Tongkat Ali. Kindly consult your nearest doctor for advice before consuming Tongkat Ali supplements.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
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4 Responses
The phytochemicals inside tongkat ali can reduce cancer risk by up to 40%.
Yes, in-vitro studies show that Tongkat Ali has strong anti-cancer properties. Most women take Tongkat Ali as a long-term preventive measure against cancer.
Can Tungkat Ali be taken alongside HRT which I am currently taking?
Is it safe to take Tungkat Ali if I have Hashimoto?