Ashwagandha VS Tongkat Ali

 

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 

Ashwagandha and Tongkat Ali are two supportive herbs that are great for the human health. Ashwagandha root is used in Ayurvedic medicine to help with stress, anxiety, and fatigue. It's also an adaptogen that helps your body cope with stress without causing it to overreact or under-react. Tongkat Ali is a tree root with similar effects, but it's considered more effective than Ashwagandha because it increases testosterone production.

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant native to India and parts of Africa. It's closely related to other edible plants in the nightshade family, like tomatoes and potatoes. Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic for the body and mind, especially for its anti-inflammatory properties. Ashwagandha is a herb from the Indian Ayurvedic tradition and has long been used as a natural sleep aid. It contains the compound withanolides, which helps reduce anxiety and improve mood. The root of this plant is what is used medicinally. It's bitter-tasting, so it isn't often eaten raw (although some people do). Instead, Ashwagandha is most commonly found in capsules or powder form.

Ashwagandha benefits

Helping the body adapt to stress

The best way to help your body adapt to stress is with Ashwagandha. This herb is also known as Indian ginseng. It contains several compounds that help the body manage stress. With included antioxidants, Ashwagandha can help reduce oxidative damage by free radicals.

Supporting liver function

This herb also supports liver function because it helps flush out toxins and improves digestion. Ashwagandha has been shown to also help reduce symptoms of PMS and other hormonal imbalances in women and reduce inflammation in the body caused by free radicals (which cause damage to cells).

Reducing insomnia

Insomnia is a common problem. Many different things can cause it, but stress is one of the most common causes. Ashwagandha is a herb that is used to help reduce insomnia and promote relaxation. Studies have also shown it can also help to promote healthy sleep patterns.

Improving cognitive function

Ashwagandha helps support cognitive function by increasing focus and concentration. It improved memory retention among older adults. Another study has shown that Ashwagandha helps support and reduce symptoms of depression.

Increase athletic performance

Ashwagandha can increase testosterone levels and improve muscle strength in men, which could be the perfect support for athletes who want to see their performance improve while they stay healthy.

Balancing hormones

It's also great for supporting your thyroid function—it produces and regulates hormones throughout the body. Many people who struggle with thyroid problems also experience low energy levels and low sex drive; Ashwagandha can help improve these symptoms by balancing your hormones.

What is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali (also known as Longjack) is a plant that is known to grow in Southeast Asia but is grown in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Tongkat Ali has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including male sexual dysfunction and low libido, diabetes, and cancer.

The main ingredient in Tongkat Ali is Eurycoma Longfolia Jack, which contains compounds called phytochemicals. These compounds are responsible for some of the health benefits associated with Tongkat Ali.

Benefits of Tongkat Ali

Increase Testosterone level

Tongkat Ali increases testosterone levels by inhibiting an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair loss and acne. By inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, Tongkat Ali prevents your body from creating too much DHT, so your body can use more testosterone for things like muscle growth and sex drive.

Increase mobility in men

The Tongkat Ali has numerous benefits, including increased sperm count, motility, and testosterone levels. The Tongkat Ali increases sperm count by up to 42% while improving its quality. One study found that men who took 1 gram of Tongkat Ali daily over six months had significantly improved sperm counts and motility, with a mean increase of nearly 60% in both categories.

Helps in erectile dysfunction

Tongkat Ali also helps with erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with low libido or erectile dysfunction caused by other factors such as stress or fatigue. In one study, researchers found that men who took 150 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks experienced improvements in their erections, including more frequent morning erections and better quality sleep after taking the herb for just two weeks.

Improves sleep               

Tongkat Ali contains compounds called quassinoids, which increase the amount of time your body spends in sleep by as much as 68%. The longer you stay in REM sleep, the more vital power it has.

Improve mood states in women

Women suffering from mood disorders like depression and anxiety have been found to have an imbalance of certain hormones. As a result, these hormones cannot perform their functions adequately, causing these conditions. The hormone cortisol is one of them. Cortisol is the main stress hormone. It helps regulate your body's response to stress, but when it gets out of balance, it can lead to chronic health issues like insomnia, weight gain, and anxiety—all signs of depression in women.

Tongkat Ali has been shown effective in improving mood states in women with mild depression or anxiety by balancing out cortisol levels and restoring hormonal balance. This can also help with low libido and other sexual problems caused by hormonal imbalances.

Contain nutrients

It contains several nutrients, including zinc, which is important for metabolism and energy production. Zinc also helps with wound healing and the production of red blood cells.

Conclusion/ bottom line

There are a lot of similarities between Ashwagandha and Tongkat Ali. Both are used as aphrodisiacs, which can increase sexual desire in both men and women. They also have a similar chemical makeup, primarily comprising steroidal compounds. However, there are some differences between Ashwagandha and Tongkat Ali. Ashwagandha contains withanolides, while Tongkat Ali does not. Withanolides are similar to the active ingredients in testosterone and other steroids that are responsible for increasing libido. They also help reduce anxiety and stress (both of which can be major obstacles when enjoying sex).

In addition, Ashwagandha is known to be more effective than Tongkat Ali in helping men with erectile dysfunction—something that may be especially important if you're looking for a natural alternative to Viagra or other medications designed specifically for this purpose.

Here you can check out Vorst's New Organic Ashwagandha and Cacao Powder 600g and our Ashwagandha-500mg capsule and Premium Ashwagandha with black pepper.

References

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-953/ashwagandha

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ashwagandha#2.-May-benefit-athletic-performance

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tongkat-ali-longjack-review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/