Eurycoma Longifolia Jack side effects, dosage, extract, aphrodisiac benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D.


Eurycoma longifolia jack is a small tree found in the jungles throughout Malaysia and Southeat Asia. It is commonly known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia and Singapore, Piak or Tung Saw in Thailand, and Pasak Bumi in Indonesia. The eurycoma longifolia tree can grow up to about 12 meters in height. Natives consider every part of the eurycoma longifolia tree as medicine. Eurycoma is used as a tonic, to treat malaria, and as an aphrodisiac.

 Tongkat Ali root powder
 LJ100 eurycoma longifolia extract
Passion Rx with eurycoma longifolia extract, Formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Eurycoma longifolia grows wild in the rainforests of the Southeast Asia. In Indo-China. In Malaysia, it is known for its energy, tonic, and sensual vitality properties. Traditionally this root is used to improve energy, reduce fatigue and enhance overall physical and sensual performance. This eurycoma product is pure raw material directly from Malaysia. The medicinal benefits of eurycoma are found primarily in the root. Physician Formulas eurycoma powder uses only THE HIGHEST QUALITY Malaysian root aged seven years or more. All root is wild crafted and sterilized.

Click here to buy Eurycoma powder and extract supplements, Passion Rx sexual enhancing formula, other sex improving herbs, or to see a complete list of products
 Note: Passion Rx and eurycoma longifolia supplements are best taken on separate days since taking them together may cause overstimulation and insomnia.

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take a eurycoma supplement capsule in the morning before breakfast or as recommended by your health care provider. For long term use, take 2 days on, 2 or more days off or take every other day or every third day. Results may vary depending on age and metabolism. Some may require half a capsule while others may do fine with one. It may be preferable to take lower doses of eurycoma supplements and have it work slowly in order to avoid the side effects mentioned below. The effects from eurycoma longifolia can sometimes last into the next day or even the third day.

Eurycoma longifolia side effects
I have read articles in health magazines promoting eurycoma supplements that they provide wonderful sexual benefits with no side effects. This is not my experience. Even though eurycoma root is useful as an herbal aphrodisiac, it does have shortcomings. One of the side effects of high dose eurycoma root is that it can cause insomnia. Lack of adequate sleep, when repeated over many days, can lower sex drive. So, it's better to take smaller amounts over several days rather than a very high amount for one day.
   I have personally tested various extracts of eurycoma longifolia in different doses and realized that it has additional side effects not often mentioned in articles or in research papers. Many of my friends and patients have given me feedback regarding their personal experiences with eurycoma supplements. I am convinced that high doses can cause increased body temperature, which is not a good thing during hot and steamy days without air conditioning, but a good thing if you live in Alaska or enjoy taking a walk outside in cool weather. Some people find that when they take a high dose, they become restless and impatient, perhaps easily angered. Therefore, you don't want to swallow several capsules of eurycoma pills if you expect to be driving in heavy traffic. So, be patient and taking lower doses.

Passion Rx--- For Men and Women
Medical Doctor Formulated with Eurycoma longifolia high potency extracts


Passion Rx provides results that are often are noticed within three to four days, and continue to improve with use. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 80% user satisfaction by the end of the first week, and 90 percent by the end of the second week.
   Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of dozens of herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dose and combination for optimal aphrodisiac properties with the fewest side effects. After years of trial and error, an effective proprietary blend with more than a dozen herbal extracts from the best raw material suppliers has been created. This UNIQUE aphrodisiac blend is a close kept secret. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx.

Passion Rx supports and enhances healthy:

The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Catuaba, Cnidium, Damiana, Eurycoma longifolia extract, horny goat weed, Maca, Mucuna pruriens, Muira puama, Passion flower, Rehmannia, Rhodiola, Tribulus, and Yohimbe.

Eurycoma Longifolia extract - LJ100 - 25 mg
 LJ100 is a high quality standardized eurycoma longifolia extract. It is prepared for improving energy, increasing stamina, physical endurance, and sensual performance.

LJ100 Eurycoma supplement facts
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Amount Per Serving:
Tongkat Ali LJ 100 (100:1 Extract) - 25 mg (Eurycoma Longifolia extract)

Suggested Use: For libido maintenance, take one eurycoma supplement LJ100 capsule every other day. For long term use, take only two days a week.
* Eurycoma supplement daily value not established.

Eurycoma products in Asia
 In the old days, the eurycoma longifolia roots had to be brewed for long hours to get a bitter extract. Now Tongkat Ali, which literally means Ali's cane, is conveniently packed in pill or "tea-bag" form and mixed with regular coffee or tea. Eurycoma coffee and tea are now sold in Malaysia's ubiquitous roadside hawker stalls, supermarkets and even at eateries in posh hotels.

Eurycoma research as an aphrodisiac
There have been quite a few studies with eurycoma longifolia. The effects of eurycoma supplement were studied on the libido of sexually experienced male rats after dosing them with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight twice daily for 10 days. Results showed that eurycoma longifolia produced a dose-dependent increase in mounting frequency of the treated animals. Further studies also showed that eurycoma promoted the growth of both ventral prostate and seminal vesicles.

Sexual arousal in sexually sluggish old male rats after oral administration of eurycoma longifolia Jack.
 J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2004;15(3-4):303-9. Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Eurycoma longifolia Jack commonly known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, has been used in Malaysia to increase male virility and sexual prowess. The objective of this study is to evaluate sexual arousal in sexually sluggish old male rats, 24 months old and retired breeders, receiving 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg of various fractions of eurycoma longifolia Jack, twice daily, for 10 days. The aphrodisiac effect was monitored by the act of yawning and stretching because yawning, either alone or associated with stretching, is considered an ancestral vestige surviving throughout evolution that promotes sexual arousal. The results showed that 800 mg/kg of eurycoma longifolia increased yawning and stretching, We conclude that the results of this study support the folk use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.

Eurycoma longifolia Jack enhances sexual motivation in middle-aged male mice.
 J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2003;14(3):301-8. Ang HH, Lee KL. University Science Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Eurycoma longifolia Jack was investigated for sexual motivation activity in adult, middle-aged male mice and in retired breeders. Each mouse received 500 mg/kg of one of 4 fractions of Eurycoma longifolia Jack, viz. chloroform, methanol, butanol, and water, whereas the mice in the control and yohimbine groups received 3 ml/kg of normal saline and 30 mg/kg of yohimbine daily respectively for 10 days. The results show a transient increase in the percentage of male mice responding to the right choice after chronic consumption of the fractions with 50 percent of the adult middle-aged male mice treated with eurycoma longifolia and yohimbine scoring the right choice after 8 and 5 days post-treatment respectively. This study has shown that eurycoma longifolia continues to enhance sexual motivation in adult, middle-aged male mice and in retired breeders.

Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on sexual qualities in middle aged male rats.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):590-3.
The effects of eurycoma longifolia were studied on the sexual qualities of middle aged male rats after dosing them with 0.5 g/kg of various fractions of eurycoma longifolia. Results showed than eurycoma longifolia enhanced the sexual qualities of the middle aged male rats by decreasing their hesitation time as compared to controls. Our study shows that eurycoma longifolia enhanced the sexual qualities of the middle aged male rats, further supports the folk use of eurycoma longifolia as an aphrodisiac.

Eurycopma longifolia jack mechanism of action
Little is known regarding the mechanisms of action of eurycoma longifolia. Recent studies indicate that the root contains several compounds including beta-carboline alkaloids and quassinoid-type glycosides. How these compounds and many others in eurycoma influence the human sexual response is not clearly understood. I have read promotional material by some vitamin companies regarding eurycoma that it enhances testosterone production, however I have not been able to definitively confirm this claim through a Medline search.

Availability of eurycoma longifolia supplements
Eurycoma longifolia is sold as a powder and in capsules, sometimes mixed with other herbs. There are a number of eurycoma longifolia extracts available in various potencies, and since each company will have a different way of extracting, it is difficult to give dosage recommendations that would be consistently effective.

Eurycoma longifolia side effects
One of the shortcomings of eurycoma longifolia  is that it can cause insomnia, and lack of sleep can lower sex drive. Therefore it is somewhat difficult to find the right dose that works without causing this insomnia. High dose can also cause increased body temperature. Some people find that they become restless and impatient. Long term effects of eurycoma on human consumption are not known. It is best, until we learn more, to not take eurycoma continuously.

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 Eurycoma longifolia and cancer
Induction of apoptosis by Eurycoma longifolia jack extracts.
Anticancer Res. 2005 May-Jun;25(3B):2205-13.
Extracts of the plant eurycoma longifolia have been shown to possess cytotoxic, antimalarial, anti-ulcer, antipyretic and plant growth inhibition activities. The present study investigated the effects of extracts and their chromatographic fractions from the root of Eurycoma longifolia on the growth of a human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. These results, therefore, suggest that eurycoma has antiproliferative effects on MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis through the modulation of Bcl-2 protein levels.

Eurycoma longifolia and malaria
Antiplasmodial studies of Eurycoma longifolia using the lactate dehydrogenase assay of Plasmodium falciparum.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jun;92(2-3):223-7.
The roots of Eurycoma longifolia have been used as traditional medicine to treat malaria. Four quassinoids from eurycoma longifolia, eurycomanone, 13,21-dihydroeurycomanone, 13 alpha(21)-epoxyeurycomanone, eurycomalactone and an alkaloid, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, displayed higher antiplasmodial activity against Gombak A isolate but were less active against the D10 strain when compared with chloroquine.

Additional aphrodisiac studies with eurycoma
Effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on orientation activities in middle-aged male rats.
Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Dec;16(6):479-83.
The effects of various fractions of eurycoma longifolia Jack were studied on the orientation activities of the inbred, adult middle-aged Sprague-Dawley rats, 9 months old and retired breeders towards the receptive females (anogenital sniffing, licking, mounting), the environment (climbing, raring, exploration), themselves (nongenital grooming, genital grooming) and mobility (restricted, unrestricted) after treating these subjects twice daily for 10 days. Results showed that subjects treated with 800 mg/kg of eurcyoma longifolia Jack increased orientation activities towards the receptive females (anogenital sniffing, licking and mounting), increased genital grooming towards themselves and restricted movements to a particular area of the cage but decreased interest in the external environment (climbing, raring, exploration) as compared with the controls during the investigation period. In conclusion, this study gives further evidences that different fractions of eurycoma longifolia Jack modified the orientation activities of the middle-aged male rats.

Effect of Eurycoma longifolia on libido in middle-aged male rats.
J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2002;13(3):249-54. Ang HH, Lee KL.University Science Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
The effect of increasing doses of various fractions of eurycoma longifolia extracts on libido was examined in middle-aged male rats. The results showed that a high dose (800 mg/kg) of all eurycoma longifolia extracts significantly increased mount frequency over that of untreated controls, but had no effect on the frequency of intromission or ejaculation. The results of this study show that eurycoma longifolia extracts can increase libido in middle-aged male rats.
Effects of Eurycoma longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats.
Arch Pharm Res. 2001 Oct;24(5):437-40. Ang HH, Cheang HS. University Science Malaysia, Minden, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
It has been reported that eurycoma longifolia commonly known as Tongkat Ali has gained notoriety as a symbol of man's ego and strength by the Malaysian men because it increases male virility and sexual prowess during sexual activities. As such, the effects of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of eurycoma longifolia were studied on the laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats after dosing them for 12 consecutive weeks. Results showed that 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of eurycoma longifolia significantly increased the leavator ani muscle when compared with the control (untreated) in the uncastrated intact male rats and when compared to control (untreated) in the testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats. Hence, the pro-androgenic effect as shown by this study further supported the traditional use of eurycoma longifolia as an aphrodisiac.

Eurycoma longifolia increases sexual motivation in sexually naive male rats.
Ang HH, Sim MK. University of Science, Malaysia, Minden, Singapore.
Arch Pharm Res. 1998 Dec;21(6):779-81.
The aim of this study is to provide evidence on the aphrodisiac property of eurycoma longifolia. An electric grid was used as an obstruction in the electrical copulation cage in order to determine how much an aversive stimulus the sexually naive male rat for both the treated with eurycoma longifolia and control groups were willing to overcome to reach the estrous receptive female in the goal cage. The intensity of the grid current was maintained at 0.12 mA and this was the intensity in which the male rats in the control group failed to crossover to reach the goal cage. Results showed that eurycoma longifolia continued to enhance and also maintain a high level of both the total number of successful crossovers, mountings, intromissions and ejaculations during the 9-12th week observation period. In conclusion, these results further enhanced and strengthened the aphrodisiac property of eurycoma longifolia.

The eurycoma tree
Unlike most trees which have a horizontal root system, the root of eurycoma longifolia tree grows as much as one meter straight into the ground. This tough fibrous root penetrates deep into the earth to obtain its nutrients. The eurycoma longifolia root takes at least five years to mature. Of an older tree (15-20 years), the root itself can grow to a size that is taller than many people. The medicinal benefits of Eurycoma longifolia are found primarily in the root. Herbal Powers eurycoma longifolia uses only Malaysian root aged seven years or more. All root is wild crafted and sterilized.

Eurycoma longifolia herbal supplement emails
 Q. I've tried a eurycoma longifolia product I recently bought from a health food store and even though it helped with erections the next day, I couldn't sleep all night. Is there a way I can still get the pro-sexual benefits of this herb and not toss and turn all night.
   A. You don't mention the eurycoma longifolia product you bought or the dosage, but a general suggestion would be next time to take a quarter of the capsule or pill, and then gradually increase the dose subsequent days till you find the amount of eurycoma longifolia that helps without causing the insomnia.

Q. Can eurycoma longifolia be combined with other herbs such as yohimbe or horny goat weed?
   A. I can only speak from my personal and professional experience. Thus far I have combined eurycoma longifolia with several herbs and have found that when high doses are taken with other herbs that have stimulating properties, such as ginseng or muira puama, there is the potential for insomnia.

Q. Does eurycoma longifolia give more energy?
   A. This plant is a powerful energy booster. I find that after 2 or 3 days of taking eurycoma longifolia, there is a general sense of enhanced energy that occurs. However, if I take a high dose of eurycoma longifolia, the resulting shallow sleep from the overstimulation can lower my energy levels. I also find that high doses of this herb make me feel restless. For instance, I find that I am less patient and more irritable, particularly if I have taken eurycoma longifolia supplement in the morning and I am stuck in traffic.

Q. Can I take eurycoma longifolia regularly for many months?
   A. As with most herbs, I recommend taking breaks from use. In the case of eurycoma longifolia, you could take it for 2 or 3 days and take a few days off.

Q. Is Longjack same as Longjax?
   A. LonJax is a trademark of a company called AIDP.

Q. Would you say a eurycoma supplement is the best sexual aphrodisiac?
   A. Each herb has its benefits and side effects. I prefer an intelligent mix of several herbs including eurycoma extract in order to benefit from the various herbs that have affects on different parts of the human sexual response.

This page was last updated January 2009