Have you tried Tongkat Ali but failed miserably to meet or exceed your expectations in achieving your health goals?
If Tongkat Ali didn’t work, then this article is for you.
But, before you go on, have you tried cycling Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat Ali cycling is the practice of taking Tongkat Ali in a start-stop manner at regular intervals. It is believed that cycling Tongkat Ali consumption will optimize Tongkat Ali’s bioactive efficacy and hormonal responses.
As a result, many reported better gains from cycling Tongkat Ali compared to continuous long-term consumption without breaks.
If you tried cycling Tongkat Ali and did not work, there may be other reasons why Tongkat Ali didn’t work, or may not work on you.
Perhaps you are one of the few unlucky Tongkat Ali users who did not get the full benefits of Tongkat Ali. Maybe because you unknowingly bought a China-made cheap low-quality Tongkat Ali product, or generic Tongkat Ali extract that is commonly sold in the US.
Tongkat Ali will work on most people provided you bought a highly potent Tongkat Ali. And there are situations and moments when you can get the best results from Tongkat Ali.
This article provides insights as to why Tongkat Ali did not work on you, including some tips on how you can maximize your results from Tongkat Ali.
Let’s find out more!
Possible reasons why Tongkat Ali did not or may not work on you
If you are not exercising enough, then chance are no herbal supplement can help you to achieve your health goals. Tongkat Ali works more effectively if you perform regular exercise as it elevates your hormonal glands in your endocrine system.
A randomized placebo-controlled study in 2020 on a group consuming 200mg of Tongkat Ali daily with 3-times a week exercise showed the most libido improvement and the highest testosterone increase.
Tongkat Ali works wonderfully in optimizing your testosterone and other hormone production when your body is subjected to the right exercises.
For instance, if you are looking at improving your ED or libido, try taking Tongkat Ali 400mg daily with Kegel exercises. This will improve your libido or ED significantly after four weeks.
In order to maximize Tongkat Ali effects, perform any of the following exercises that may boost your libido or testosterone when consuming Tongkat Ali:
Low-quality Tongkat Ali products have undeniably low bioactive ingredients due to poor herbal extraction protocols or are filled with impurities. And you may have accidentally bought one.
Unprecedented demand of Tongkat Ali enabled China to continue producing cheap quality Tongkat Ali for US consumers. Unfortunately, almost all China Tongkat Ali extracts are not clinically tested on humans.
As a result, generic or poor Tongkat Ali extracts may not bring the desired results or noticeable difference to your health due to unbelievably low potency and efficacy
Key purchasing guide to avoid buying low quality Tongkat Ali:
Studies have showed that smoking increases the levels of carbon monoxide in a person’s body. This in turn may reduce the production of testosterone and affects libido.
On this note, smokers taking Tongkat Ali may experience reduced effects from libido or testosterone.
"Cigarette smoke is known to be a risk factor when it comes to erectile dysfunction because nicotine causes the blood vessels in your body to narrow"
Yes, you can take Tongkat Ali if you are smoking and there are no reported side-effects of taking Tongkat Ali on smokers (includes vaping).
However, you may not get the best results from Tongkat Ali if you are seeking to improve your libido or testosterone significantly.
Tongkat Ali can be taken with alcohol, but it may take longer time to get the desired results. So its best to avoid alcohol if you want the best effects of Tongkat Ali on your libido.
Excessive alcohol affects the messengers (i.e neurotransmitters) in the brain that controls the blood flow to the penis. In a 2018 study, results showed that it led to decreased sensitivity of the penis.
On top of that, alcohol cause lower production of testosterone. Some study reported a 6.8% drop in testosterone even with moderate alcohol consumption.
As excessive alcohol is one of the risk factors of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men, you may want to revisit your alcohol consumption habits.
Tongkat Ali is scientifically proven to reduce anger, tension and improve overall mood and it is tested to work well on moderately stressed individuals.
However, if you are constantly and highly stressed, this can cause cortisol (i.e stress hormone) to suppress the testosterone production in the hypothalamus and Leydig cells found in the testicles.
A quick fix to that is to increase Tongkat Ali dosage from 200mg to 400mg per day.
However, if your libido or testosterone does not improve after taking Tongkat Ali at prescribed doses, you may need to find ways to reduce your stress prior to, or when consuming Tongkat Ali.
Tongkat Ali may not work as effectively as someone who is within the recommended BMI.
So, if you are obese or overweight, Tongkat Ali may not work on you.
Studies showed moderate obesity predominantly decreases total testosterone due to insulin resistance-associated reductions in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
If you are obese, you may need to supplement Tongkat Ali consumption with plenty of exercises to restore your hormonal balance, including testosterone.
The truth is, obesity is associated with low androgen levels in men and causes adverse alterations in your endocrine system. The result of lower testosterone affects your libido or ED due to hypogonadism.
The good news is that Tongkat Ali is tested on hypogonadism and low level of androgens in men. But there are some tips to maximize Tongkat Ali’s effect if you are obese.
Some people may not be sensitive enough to detect any physiological and/or psychological changes that happens in their body after taking Tongkat Ali.
Physiological and psychological changes due to Tongkat Ali consumption include but not limited to muscle strength, lost of weight, changes in sexual desire / libido, changes in mood, and others.
Assuming you have taken the effort to perform tips described in #1 to #6, there are ways to detect the changes after consuming Tongkat Ali for few weeks.
The best way is to ask yourself the following questions after consuming 200mg-400mg daily of Tongkat Ali for a minimum of 7 days.
Lack of sleep, or sleep deprivation is associated with lower testosterone. If you are not sleeping well, or less than 7 hours a day, it is time to get your body to rest before consuming Tongkat Ali.
Adequate sleep is the most basic resting protocol that is effective to restore hormonal balance. And consuming Tongkat Ali may be the best supplement to enhance the positive impact to the endocrine system.
You may need to change your eating habit if you want maximum benefits from Tongkat Ali. Most people don’t follow this rule, thinking that Tongkat Ali will work magically without even having to change your diet.
Food containing soy, vegetable oil, and corns are filled with polyunsaturated fatty acids and may lower, or even suppress testosterone production.
And that said, Tongkat Ali’s effectiveness hinges on its testosterone-boosting ability by activating your hormonal / adrenal glands to produce more testosterone.
In short, Tongkat Ali works well with a set of a good and balanced diet.
Here are 8 foods that lower your testosterone levels which you need to avoid to get the best from Tongkat Ali.
For those who are on a strict diet, eating excessive processed foods may negate the positive benefits from Tongkat Ali as it contains trans fat that is linked to inflammation, heart disease and others.
A well known MRNA vaccine is 95% effective in preventing COVID19. And data from Pfizer showed 43% to 83% patients reported improved erections after taking Viagra.
In our parting thoughts, this brings home an important point.
Like every medicinal drug produced by the best pharmaceutical companies, not everyone is positively affected by it. Some experience more noticeable improvements than others.
The same can be said for Tongkat Ali.
Whilst the strongest and most potent Tongkat Ali may work for most people, it may not work if you fall in any of the abovesaid reasons.
But with the right tips and change of lifestyle, it may maximize your benefits from Tongkat Ali.
That’s the beauty of natural supplements. Tongkat Ali works wonderfully when you couple it together with a healthy lifestyle.
And don’t forget to check out our comprehensive dosage guide to get the best from Tongkat Ali too.
Give it a try, let us know what you think and leave your comments below!
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 .
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 doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
