As the quest for natural remedies to support overall health continues, attention has turned to herbs from diverse regions beyond Australia's borders. While Australia boasts a wealth of indigenous plants with medicinal properties, some of the most potent and popular herbs and substances to improve health originate from distant lands like Southeast Asia and Africa. Drawing upon scientific research and traditional wisdom, this article will explore the top five most popular herbs and substances believed to promote overall health.
What are they?
2. Fadogia (Fadogia agrestis): Native to West Africa, Fadogia agrestis is known for its traditional medicinal uses in various African cultures as an aphrodisiac and for enhancing male sexual function. More recently, it has garnered attention in the fitness and bodybuilding community due to claims that it can potentially boost testosterone levels. It is often used as a sports supplement, both alone and in polyherbal combinations, to potentially enhance athletic performance and muscle growth.
3. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Originating from India, the Middle East, and some parts of Africa, ashwagandha has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. Known as an adaptogen, ashwagandha helps the body adapt to stressors, making it particularly beneficial for managing stress-related conditions. In addition to its stress-reducing properties, ashwagandha exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, immune-boosting capabilities, and potential anti-aging properties. It has also been studied for its role in improving memory, cognitive function, and sleep quality, highlighting its potential as a holistic herb for overall health.
4. Shilajit: Found in the Himalayan mountains and other high-altitude regions, shilajit resin is a rare and unique organic mineral compound with a wide range of purported health benefits. Rich in over 40 minerals and substances, including fulvic acid, shilajit has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Modern research suggests that shilajit may support brain function, slow the aging process, treat anemia and chronic fatigue, and even offer potential support for heart health and male fertility. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a valuable addition to men's health regimens, offering multifaceted support for overall well-being.
5. Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): A critically endangered plant from India, safed musli has gained recognition for its diverse potential medicinal properties. Traditionally used for boosting vitality and improving sexual performance, safed musli has shown promise in addressing a range of health issues. Research suggests that safed musli may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, increase testosterone levels, alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome, and support heart health. Additionally, safed musli has been studied for its potential to improve bone density in women, highlighting its role in promoting musculoskeletal health.
Reality:
While these herbs indeed show immense potential for improving health, it's important to recognize the current limitations within the field of herbal medicinal research. Many of the purported benefits associated with these herbs and substances are primarily derived from centuries-old traditional practices and anecdotal evidence rather than from rigorous scientific investigation. This reliance on historical usage and anecdotal accounts presents a significant challenge in establishing the efficacy and safety of these herbs through modern scientific methodologies.
Moreover, the lack of robust clinical studies and standardized research protocols further complicates the validation process for these traditional remedies. Without clinical trials conducted on a diverse range of people, it is challenging to draw definitive conclusions regarding their effectiveness, optimal dosages, and potential side effects. This gap in scientific evidence underscores the need for more extensive and rigorous research to substantiate the therapeutic claims associated with these herbs and substances.
However, amidst this landscape of uncertainty, Tongkat Ali emerges as one major frontrunner, alongside ashwagandha, which has also been well-studied on humans. Unlike the other herbs and substances on the list, Tongkat Ali and ashwagandha have been the subject of numerous research studies and clinical trials, providing a wealth of clinical and pre-clinical data to support their purported health benefits.
What Makes Tongkat Ali Different?
As one of the most promising native herbal traditional medicinal herbs from Malaysia, a great deal of research and investment has gone into this plant. This has culminated in the development of standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract. Developed between the Malaysian Government and MIT experts, it was originally conceived as a high-quality extract for further pharmaceutical and medical research into Tongkat Ali. With the intention of it being used as a key herbal medicine in Malaysia, it has also been extensively tested on humans over the past two decades.
With more than 300 research studies and over 26 human clinical trials, standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract has exceeded traditional expectations of it being used primarily as a remedy to enhance men’s vigor. In fact, clinical studies have revealed that daily supplementation with properly standardized and potent root extracts are beneficial for optimizing hormone levels in the body, particularly testosterone and cortisol. Studies show that regular use can boost total and free testosterone levels significantly and reduce the impact of stress on the body, making it an ideal sports supplement to boost athletes’ performance, a suitable natural alternative for TRT, a potent libido booster, as well as an effective means to battle the negative effects of chronic stress, boosting human immunity, and more.
While boasting several impressive general benefits for both sexes, other studies have found that it has specific benefits for women too. Women-specific benefits for Tongkat Ali tend to relate to the rapid hormonal changes that women go thorough as they reach middle-age, especially with peri-menopause and menopause on the horizon. Clinical studies on peri-menopausal and menopausal women found that regular Tongkat Ali supplementation significantly improved symptoms like hot-flashes, joint pain, and fatigue progressively over the course of 24 weeks. Other studies showed that Tongkat Ali can help women who are experiencing age-related physical decline significantly improve in areas like physical strength, balance and flexibility.
Tongkat Ali vs Ashwagandha
There is no definitive answer to which herb is better as both Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha have different mechanisms of action to benefit health. The effectiveness of each herb is largely dependent on your short-term and long-term health goals, age, lifestyle and exercises.
Tongkat Ali performs better in areas such as boosting testosterone, libido, and immune function as well as restoring overall hormonal balance in order to unlock other health benefits. Conversely, Ashwagandha is mainly used to improve mood, reduce anxiety, brain fog, or stress. However, rising concerns regarding Ashwagandha’s side effects on the thyroid, liver damage, and anhedonia (emotional numbness) tips the scales in favor of Tongkat Ali as the preferred herb for long term use.
Side Effects
While Ashwagandha offers several clinically tested health benefits, it’s growing list of side effects underscore that it may be detrimental to long-term health. For example, ashwagandha’s negative effects on thyroid hormones have led to a permanent ban by Denmark on April 2023. In a report published by the Danish Technical University (DTU) in 2020, Ashwagandha has harmful effects on thyroid, sex hormones, and it may induce miscarriages. Other EU states such as Finland and Sweden are considering banning Ashwagandha as well due to the growing long-term safety concerns.
Excessive use and long-term use of Ashwagandha may also lead to anhedonia, a feeling often described as emotional numbness with risks of falling into a state of depression due to hormonal imbalances. Other areas of concern are that ashwagandha may interact with certain medications, including sedatives and blood pressure medications, potentially causing adverse effects or reducing the effectiveness of these drugs.
Tongkat Ali, on the other hand, has been shown in clinical studies to have very few to no side effects, especially with properly standardized and potent extracts. Established as safe for the kidneys and liver in recommended doses of up to 600mg daily, research has shown that it is very well tolerated over the long-term by a diverse range of test subjects. In fact, most side effects reported on Tongkat Ali are anecdotal, where consumers have reported side effects after taking very high doses such as insomnia, irritability, and restlessness.
More likely than not, the conclusion to draw is that the side effects of Tongkat Ali are caused by adulterants, contaminants, and impurities in poorly made Tongkat Ali extracts. Therefore, users are advised to only use clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements made with tried and tested hot-water extraction technology at recommended doses for minimal to no side effects.
Parting words
With so many different herbs with remarkable claims on the market today, the best way for Australians to ensure they get the best one for their long-term health is to look out for clinical testing and continuous research. Tongkat Ali stands out here due to the use of a singular high-quality extract that has been extensively tested and carefully conceived for further pharmaceutical and medical research.
Unlike other herbs and substances on this list, where there are dozens of different competing extracts of differing qualities from different sources, the existence of only one world-class extract for Tongkat Ali in the form of single-sourced and patented standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract makes the choice an easy one for consumers.
If you are interested in experiencing the clinically tested benefits of single-origin standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali extract, try our dose-optimized capsules, available anywhere in Australia.
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Author
Alief Acmal, a committed contributor to AKARALI, offers insightful narratives covering the realms of lifestyle, culture, and health-focused content in Malaysia. Through a blend of creativity and meticulous research, Alief provides a unique lens on various aspects of life. Immerse yourself in his compelling body of work for an enriching exploration.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Annie George