The Natural Testosterone Booster
A recent meta-study says that doctors may someday prescribe an herb to treat low testosterone. Check it out.
Physicians prescribing a plant to treat low T? It sounds crazy, but that’s what some researchers are suggesting. That herb is called Longjack (Buy at Amazon), also known as Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali.
After conducting a meticulous meta-study, here’s part of their conclusion:
“This systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature supports the possible use of E. longifolia (Longjack) supplementation for enhancing testosterone production. This may represent a safe and promising therapeutic option for patients with hypogonadism.”
What Did the Meta-Study Find?
The researchers were aware of some of Longjack’s medical properties, such as improving athletic performance and increasing muscle mass while reducing fat. Likewise, they knew the herb had long been used, at least in Malaysia, to treat male sexual dysfunction and infertility.
Based on these effects, they assumed that Longjack raised testosterone levels, but they wanted proof. Their search of the databases rewarded them with 521 published articles.
After ditching those that involved animals, females, in vitro studies, polyherbal formulations (those that tested the combined results of Longjack together with other herbs), and those that didn’t consider the herb’s effects on testosterone, they whittled it down to nine studies, five of which were highly regarded randomized control studies.
You’re probably assuming these studies all involved old guys, but that wasn’t the case. While two of the studies used men between 50 to 70, three of them used men between the ages of 18 and 30, and another used men aged 40 to 59.
Seven of the studies reported that Longjack led to a significant increase in total testosterone levels, while two failed to show any improvement (one of these two stopped treatment after just three weeks, even though experts suggest allowing at least four weeks for Longjack to take effect).
Some of the studies tracked other data in addition to total testosterone levels. Three reported a significant increase in free testosterone, too, while six found no concurrent rise in SHBG (steroid hormone binding globulins) levels. This is important because SHBG binds up testosterone, preventing it from doing the things you want it to.
How Does Longjack Work?
Most of the studies used a dosage of 100 mg. to 200 mg. a day, although one used a hefty dose of 600 mg. a day, which resulted in increased testosterone levels in just 14 days instead of the usual four weeks seen with smaller doses.
Efficacy, however, relies on the concentration of various bioactive chemicals in Longjack. It’s primarily the quassinoids that have the greatest impact on testosterone levels. These quassinoids are classified as eurycomanones, eurycomanols, eurycomalactones, eurycolactones, eurycomanosol, and eurycomaosides.
Studies on the quassinoids in Longjack show ergogenic effects, including increased muscle size, strength, and endurance. They also have anti-estrogenic properties (thereby increasing testosterone levels further). Animal studies show that the herb causes a higher release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), both of which are intimately involved in coaxing the testicles to increase testosterone production.
Bonus effects include improved semen volume, semen motility, and erection hardness. The herb inhibits rho kinases (ROCKs), which leads to stronger erections.
Lastly, the herb does something hugely appealing to competitive athletes: Longjack doesn’t appear to affect the ratio between urinary testosterone glucuronide and epitestosterone glucuronide (T:E ratio), which is often used to determine testosterone doping in sports.
A Safer, “Light” Alternative to TRT?
Only about 10% of men with low testosterone are being treated with TRT. Some physicians still feel hinky about the treatment. TRT is contraindicated in men who want to preserve fertility, in addition to men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), lower urinary tract symptoms, high PSA, obstructive sleep apnea, or a history of stroke.
Most of the Longjack studies, however, failed to show any significant side effects โ no testicular shrinkage, no polycythemia (an increase in the number of red blood cells), no prostate enlargement, no sleep apnea, and no increases in liver enzymes that might indicate liver damage.
All this promising data led the researchers to hypothesize that Longjack might be used in clinical settings (e.g., doctor’s offices) as a possible treatment for hypogonadism, one that might have fewer side effects than conventional TRT.
Let’s be clear, though. No testosterone booster on the market works as well as injecting testosterone cypionate or some other ester into your glute. Longjack, however, the single ingredient in Biotest’s Omega-Man (Buy at Amazon), is extremely effective in providing a nice boost in testosterone โ enough to either bring you back up to normal or just give you a boost so that losing fat, building muscle, or having sex is a little easier or more satisfying.
Omega-Man uses only LJ100 Longjack (a hefty 300 mg dose), developed and patented by the Government of Malaysia and MIT. It’s formulated in a self-emulsifying delivery matrix designed to get all active fractions into the body. The microemulsion is a game-changer for complete absorption. You only need one softgel per day.
Reference
- Leisegang K et al. Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Aug 4;58(8):1047. PubMed.