Tongkat Diet, Dose, & Side effects.
Please note that none of the diet or dose info below is medical advice and has not been confirmed by any official western medical body such as the FDA. Never take any herb or supplement without speaking to a medical professional first.
Diet
It is said that theobromine found in chocolate may interfere with Tongkat Ali .
Coffee can also reduce the effectiveness of Tongkat Ali in some people.
Seafood may cause an allergic reaction when taking Tongkat Ali for some people.
I cannot find any other sellers mentioning any of the above and I haven't experienced any reaction to seafood myself, but it is worth mentioning.
If you find Tongkat is not working for you it could be due to one of the above factors.
Dosage
For Tongkat Ali extract, recommended dosages vary wildly between manufacturers and studies, and can be anything from 25mg to 1.6 grams per day depending on the brand or advertised use case. There is no official dose so experimentation is needed.
My advice would be to start with one capsule to be safe, slowly raise the dose and then follow whatever is written on the bottle and up the dose at your own risk if you feel the need. 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. 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off. This is to avoid building up a tolerance.
FAQ
How long does it take for Tongkat Ali to work?
If the desired effect isn't felt after 8 weeks then Tongkat is probably not for you, assuming you have tried avoiding coffee and chocolate, which may interfere with Tongkat as stated above.
Will Tongkat Ali / Long Jack work for ED?
It may slowly raise libido over time, and a side effect of a higher libido is more frequent and perhaps harder erections. It isn't going to work in 20 mins or cure any medical conditions though.
Tongkat Ali side effects, interactions and things to note.
The below information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.
Allergies
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Avoid if allergic or sensitive to Eurycoma longifolia, its parts, or members of the Simaroubaceae family
Side Effects and Warnings
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Eurycoma longifolia is considered safe when used at commonly suggested levels. There is little information available on side effects.
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Avoid if allergic or sensitive to Eurycoma longifolia, its parts, or members of the Simaroubaceae family.
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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.
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Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
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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.
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Use cautiously in people who have weakened immune systems.
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Use cautiously in people taking propranolol.
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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.
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Avoid in children and in pregnant or breastfeeding women, due to a lack of safety data.
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Eurycoma longifolia may also cause anxiety, restlessness, and sleep problems.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
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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)
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There is no proven safe or effective dose for Eurycoma longifolia in children.
Interactions with Drugs
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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.
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Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
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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.
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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, anti anxiety agents, antibiotics, anticancer agents, antimalarial agents, anti obesity agents, beta-blockers, heart health agents, heart rate-regulating agents, hormonal agents, osteoporosis agents, and propranolol.
Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements
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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.
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Eurycoma longifolia may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking herbs or supplements that lower blood pressure.
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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.
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Eurycoma longifolia may also interact with antibacterials, anticancer herbs and supplements, antimalarials, anti obesity 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.
Side effects users have reported.
Some people have reported that TKA 1:200 can make them feel dizzy or nauseous. If this happens, try lowering the dose and/or taking the capsules with or after a meal instead of on an empty stomach.
Some people say Tongkat Ali gives them energy, while others say it helps them sleep or feel lethargic. This is a prime example of how herbs can effect people differently and why you should not rely on user reviews to judge how a product will work for you.
If it helps you sleep or makes you lethargic then it is a good idea take it around 1 hour or so before bed. If it gives you energy, take it in the morning, afternoon, or before a gym session etc, and avoid taking it close to bedtime.