There are many things to look out for when buying Tongkat Ali as it can be overwhelming for inexperienced users.
This article will guide you on the best buying tips and what to look out for when buying Tongkat Ali.
By using our guide, you will get the best Tongkat Ali specifications and advice before buying any Tongkat Ali products or supplements.
Choose products that contain a standardized extract of Tongkat Ali. Standardized extract protocol ensures a consistent and effective dose for every batch of production.
Standardized extract is reported to be the gold standard of any herbal extraction method. And Malaysia is the only country in the world with quality standards for Tongkat Ali extraction.
The Malaysian Standard MS2409 prescribes the Tongkat Ali standardized extract protocol using freeze-dried water extract from the dried root of Tongkat Ali (i.e Eurycoma Longifolia).
The Malaysian Standard (MS) 2409 for Tongkat Ali was published by the Malaysian Department of Standards in 2019 to fulfill the needs of the herbal industry to adhere to a set of quality standards. The MS2409 was first drafted in 2011 with years of refinements based on inputs from the multiple Ministries, Government agencies, medical experts, scientists and private sectors.
Authenticity, safety, quality and efficacy parameters and details for the production of the standardised extracts and limits of indicative substances were also included.
The MS2409 serves as the basis for the technical specifications used for regulatory and trade purposes in compliance with international practices.
The best standardized Tongkat Ali extract is currently held by the US-patented AKARALI Physta®, which is reported as more potent and safer than generic or non-standardized Tongkat Ali extract.
On the other hand, non-standardized extracts are mainly produced by low quality Tongkat Ali manufacturers in Indonesia or China due to cheap production costs.
The most preferred extraction method for Tongkat Ali is considered to be water-based extraction. Hot-water extract is highly regarded by doctors and reported to be more potent and safer to be used at high dosages.
The water extract method is considered to be more effective at preserving the active compounds in the root, as it uses heat and pressure to extract the compounds, rather than solvents or chemicals.
Additionally, water-based Tongkat Ali extract is considered to be a more sustainable method, as it uses less resources and produces less waste than other methods.
AKARALI Physta® Tongkat Ali is a patented hot water extract technology (US Patent : 7132117 and US Patent : 11166998) that was highly sought after in the US and UK. It is formulated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) back in 2003, backed by 20 years on clinical studies and research to date.
Physta® is reported to be the world’s first clinically tested Tongkat Ali formulation using water extract with more than 26 clinical tests on humans.
This water extract technology pioneered the global growth of Tongkat Ali in the USA, UK and Europe and sold in more than 32 countries to date.
It’s important to note that the water extraction method should be done carefully and by skilled professionals to ensure that the end product is of good quality and contains the desired active compounds.
Make sure the product contains the appropriate dosage for your needs. The general dosage guide falls in the range between 200-400mg of a standardized extract and taken daily, with or without Tongkat Ali cycle.
Avoid taking high Tongkat Ali dosage 500mg or even 1,000 mg per capsule which are offered by many Tongkat Ali brands out there.
Start with lower dosage (from 100mg onwards) to allow your body to adjust and responds to the bioactive ingredients from Tongkat Ali.
You may increase your dosage depending on your health objectives, but dosage-optimized Tongkat Ali products usually works better.
AKARALI are few Tongkat Ali products in the market that are carefully formulated from years of clinical studies.
This results in an optimized daily dosage of 200mg per capsule that appeals to a wide range of demographics (eg: from 24 to 75 years of age). Such formulation is clinically tested to be optimal, i.e delivering quantifiable and noticeable health benefits at a minimum of 200mg per day.
One should be careful not to consume higher than required dosage in order to gain more benefits. As herbal supplement is unregulated, it is recommended to seek for professional advice or by referring to our daily dosage guide for optimal results.
Higher dosages may not translate to better results. Please check our daily dosage guide for various Tongkat Ali applications to achieve your health goals.
Look for products that have been certified by a third-party organizations, such as EUROFINS, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, or ConsumerLab, which indicates that the product has been tested for purity, potency, and safety.
AKARALI Tongkat Ali products are third party tested by EUROFINS and free from contaminants or illegal substances (such as sildenafil or tadalafil).
Other certifications to look out for includes GMP certification, Halal Certification and Kosher certifications.
Whilst lab-tested certificates are the normal standards in any herbal supplement industry, some premium Tongkat Ali products go beyond that.
Clinically tested Tongkat Ali products are certified and recognized by many scientists and medical doctors to be more superior, potent and safer.
Always go after Tongkat Ali brands that are certified and allow users to download the certifications.
Look for Tongkat Ali reviews from other consumers who have used the product to get an idea of the effectiveness and their experiences.
Each of us may respond differently after taking Tongkat Ali supplements, Tongkat Ali coffee or even Tongkat Ali effervescent.
Tongkat Ali product reviews provide a greater learning experience on how each person’s responses after taking Tongkat Ali.
Find out detailed tongkat ali reviews on men and women who used Tongkat Ali for bodybuilding, body transformation and to improve general health.
If you are unsure, you may check other global consumer reviews and how they have benefitted from Tongkat Ali.
Tongkat Ali is a plant that is native to Southeast Asia, so it is recommended to look for products that are sourced from countries within that region.
Check if you are buying Malaysian Tongkat Ali or Indonesian Tongkat Ali. Malaysia produce better quality Tongkat Ali plants as the soil quality and harvesting techniques are better than those harvested in Indonesia.
Quality Tongkat Ali products are sourced from Malaysia. Find out why Malaysian Tongkat Ali is considered the best Tongkat Ali that you should buy.
Look for Tongkat Ali products that have a certificate of authenticity to ensure that you are getting an authentic Tongkat Ali.
Before you buy, always check whether you are buying an authentic Tongkat Ali root extract and most of these are not cheap. Cheap Tongkat Ali products are generally less authentic and you can buy it at low prices from China.
Check for authentic Tongkat Ali supplements that are clinically tested to validate it’s efficacy and health benefits. Most Tongkat Ali sold in the USA are lab tested, but not clinically tested.
Most Tongkat Ali products in the USA are less authentic than buying directly from the country of origin (where Tongkat Ali is sourced).
USA are highly dependent on China imports. This opens up to further exploitation amongst herbal manufacturers to obtain the cheapest Tongkat Ali which is less authentic, and prone to abuse.
Avoid Tongkat Ali products which are excessively marketed by influencers or third parties. These are tell-tale signs that it is not authentic products, but merely driven by highly paid marketers, or brand ambassadors.
Look for products that have been lab-tested for purity and are free from contaminants. Independent laboratories such as EUROFINS, SGS and others provides checks on purity of Tongkat Ali.
Best selling Tongkat Ali brands in the USA such as AKARALI contains pure Tongkat Ali root extract that are harvested in the wild rainforests of Malaysia.
Pure unadulterated Tongkat Ali products should comply to the Malaysian Standard MS 2409. This ensures purity from the Tongkat Ali extract that may deliver higher potency.
Make sure the product is not expired or near its expiration date, which can affect its effectiveness and efficacy.
Most Tongkat Ali products can last up to 24 months (or 2 years) if it is stored in room temperature between 20 – 25C.
Some Tongkat Ali products may have longer expiration date of more than 2 years, however it is best to consume within less than 20 months. If you are buying larger amounts to stock up for longer periods and live in a warm climate, don’t keep it longer than 12 months.
After you have bought one, please ensure Tongkat Ali is stored in a warehouse away from sunlight. More so if you are buying Tongkat Ali powder.
Exposure to sunlight may have affect on the expiry date. Pure yellow Tongkat Ali may change colour more significantly compared Black or Red Tongkat Ali due to humidity and sensitive to temperature changes.
Before purchasing Tongkat Ali supplement, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you are taking other medications or have pre-existing medical conditions.
Many medical professionals and experts have strong views on Tongkat Ali. Here top medical views on Tongkat Ali by professionals (including general doctors, urologists, andrologists and specialists).
Dr. Andrew Huberman (Stanford University), Dr. Rena Malik (urologist from the University of Maryland School of Medicine), Dr. Andrea Millitelo (Top Doctor and Urologist from Rome, Italy) and Dr. Ismail Tambi (Clinical Consultant Andrologist, Pantai Hospital Malaysia) are amongst top doctors who have covered in great details on the merits of Tongkat Ali.
Whilst their views on Tongkat Ali are based on clinical and scientific evidence, consulting your respective GP or specialists on Tongkat Ali is the best medical advice to suit your needs. Tongkat Ali does not require any doctor’s prescription as it is considered as a dietary supplement, and not to be used to treat any diseases or illnesses.
We recommend that those undergoing treatment, pregnant woman or those having underlying medical conditions to consult your doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali.
Those are the top 10 things to look out for before you purchase any Tongkat Ali products.
Buying premium and quality Tongkat Ali comes at a price and it may exhausting to ensure you tick all the right boxes.
But if you want the best Tongkat Ali, focus on the top two criteria, i.e look for standardized extract and hot-water extract. And you will never go wrong.
AKARALI is a time-tested Tongkat Ali product that went through decades of scientifically-backed studies by independent research centers and medically reviewed by some of the top doctors.
So it is worthwhile product to try once in your life time.
At least, it checks all the boxes.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist specializing in nutrition and natural wellness, 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 .
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts, scientists and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctor before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contains Tongkat Ali. We will not be responsible if the prescribed daily dose is suitable for you, your health, or if it cause any severe side effects that may jeopardize your existing or future state of health. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
