Please note that none of the diet or dose info below has been confirmed by any official medical body in the western world such as the FDA etc as further testing on the herb is needed, and therefore the below is for informational purposes only.
Diet
One producer of Tongkat Ali in Indonesia advises their customers not to eat chocolate as theobromine found in chocolate may interfere with Tongkat Ali.
It is said that seafood can cause an allergic reaction when taking Tongkat Ali for some people, I have never experienced this myself and do not know anyone else that has either, but again, worth mentioning. I have only found one seller advising against sea food.
Dosage
For Tongkat Ali extract, dosages vary wildly between manufacturers. It can be anything from 25mg to 1.6 grams depending on the brand and what it is used for. Studies also vary wildly. There is no official dose.
My advice would be to follow whatever is written on the bottle and up the dose at your own risk if you feel the need, after asking the manufacturer first what the highest they would recommend is. NEVER start off with a higher dose than the label recommends.
For optimal results, it is said Tongkat Ali should be cycled on a 2-1 basis, e.g. 2 weeks on and 1 week off (best for beginners), or 1 month on, 2 weeks off. This is to avoid building up a tolerance.
The below information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).
Tongkat Ali side effects, interactions and things to note.
Allergies
- Avoid if allergic or sensitive to Eurycoma longifolia, its parts, or members of the Simaroubaceae family
Side Effects and Warnings
- Eurycoma longifolia is considered safe when used at commonly suggested levels. There is little information available on side effects.
- Avoid if allergic or sensitive to Eurycoma longifolia, its parts, or members of the Simaroubaceae family.
- Eurycoma longifolia may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in people with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Blood glucose levels may need to be monitored by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, and medication adjustments may be necessary.
- Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
- Eurycoma longifolia may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. People using any medications should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
- Use cautiously in people who have weakened immune systems.
- Use cautiously in people taking propranolol.
- Avoid in men who have breast cancer or prostate cancer, as well as people who have diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or sleep apnea.
- Avoid in children and in pregnant or breastfeeding women, due to a lack of safety data.
- Eurycoma longifolia may also cause anxiety, restlessness, and sleep problems.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Avoid in pregnant or breastfeeding women. There is currently a lack of scientific evidence on the use of Eurycoma longifolia during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Children (under 18 years old)
- There is no proven safe or effective dose for Eurycoma longifolia in children.
Interactions with Drugs
- Eurycoma longifolia may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking insulin or drugs for diabetes by mouth should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
- Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
- Eurycoma longifolia may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. People using any medications should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
- Eurycoma longifolia may also interact with agents that affect the immune system, agents that block nerve impulses, agents that block nervous system activity, agents that increase energy, agents that promote fertility, antianxiety agents, antibiotics, anticancer agents, antimalarial agents, antiobesity agents, beta-blockers, heart health agents, heart rate-regulating agents, hormonal agents, osteoporosis agents, and propranolol.
Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements
- Eurycoma longifolia may interfere with the way the body processes certain herbs or supplements using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of other herbs or supplements may become too high in the blood. It may also alter the effects that other herbs or supplements possibly have on the cytochrome P450 system.
- Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking herbs or supplements that lower blood pressure.
- Eurycoma longifolia may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using herbs or supplements that may also lower blood sugar. Blood glucose levels may require monitoring, and doses may need adjustment.
- Eurycoma longifolia may also interact with antibacterials, anticancer herbs and supplements, antimalarials, antiobesity herbs and supplements, herbs and supplements that affect the immune system, herbs and supplements that block nerve impulses, herbs and supplements that increase energy, herbs and supplements that promote fertility, herbs and supplements that promote heart health, herbs and supplements that treat abnormal heartbeat, hormonal herbs and supplements, and osteoporosis herbs and supplements.
