November 15, 2009

Ali's Walking Stick (Tongkat Ali)

I wonder who actually started the fad "Tongkat Ali" in the early 1990's. Perhaps men were threatened by the wave of strong women taking the podium and leading nations as Presidents and Prime Ministers. The threats cut across the board and social strata. Perhaps it is quite accurate to say that increasing number of men suffer from physical dysfunction as women gain greater foothold on higher positions.

Thus natural viagra in many forms were "discovered". The tongkat ali (root only) has been around as an antidote for various indigenous ailments according to a learned friend. In the longhouses the tongkat ali has been sought mainly as a cure for malarial fevers and general physical weaknesses. ED has been a taboo topic - not talked about outside the four walls of the bedroom in the past.

It is only recently that documents have been presented on tongkat ali as a "cure" for ED and more village men and women begin to talk about it in humourous manners. However the potency of this TA is yet to be proven by more men.



Eurycoma longifolia is a small evergreen treelet growing to 15 m (49 ft) tall, with spirally arranged, pinnate leaves 20-40 cm (8-16 inches) long with 13-41 leaflets. The flowers are dioecious, with male and female flowers on different trees; they are produced in large panicles, each flower with 5-6 very small petals. The fruit is green ripening dark red, 1-2 cm long and 0.5-1 cm broad.












A 2003 study by researchers in the Department of Exercise Physiology at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, the abstract of which was presented in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in a section listing research to be presented at an upcoming conference, reported results that Eurycoma longifolia caused increased muscle strength and size when compared to a placebo.

Tongkat ali is sold in various forms of tablets/capsules by a large number of pharmaceutical firms in Malaysia. Some TA products are available in the Internet.
Instant coffee with some tongkat ali extracts have been commercial hits. But again nothing much has been proven . Perhaps it is the caffeine and not the TA which helps a man to be more active and alert.

However the local indigenous population would not extract the TA if they have no ailments. Hence the TA is still safe in the jungle.

The piece in the photographs has been used as a cure for malarial fever suffered by my relative. It has come from a very long piece of TA extracted some time ago from one single plant in the jungle. Perhaps according to Ake Juat about seven pieces were cut and given away. But he really cannot remember. Medicine like this does help reduce a fever but then again the important ingredients dry up over time!

Another friend of mine has a piece of very crooked TA framed up and is now hanging on the wall of his office - to be used as a conversation piece!

Sources :
l. Wikipedia
2. Ake Juat Entalai (Grandfather of Juat Entalai)

8 comments:

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Hi CY,

did you see my uncle's Tongkat Ali found in the forest near Miri?

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2009/07/abc-wednesday-round-5-letter-ali.html

You should go to the jungle and get rich finding a big tongkat ali.

Or grew a few plants in your garden. The squirrels won't get into them like your durian fruits.

Ensurai said...

Hi Ann

Yes a lot of people are planting tongkat ali now...but don't know if the roots can become big and long!!
Hard to pull TA too...

Must read your posting....

Thanks for visiting.

Anonymous said...

Hello there.
Nice to see some photos of Tongkat Ali. I have come across many Penans in the Baram who trade with Tongkat Ali. And at times they will give this medicine to the government officers as gifts.

I have indeed taken the bitter concoction. It can really cure headaches and fever!! You have a nice way of putting ED gently....TQ. Very pleasant reading too.

Justin.

Ensurai said...

Hi Justin
How are you?
Thanks for the input. I just hope that our jungles will continue to provide adequate medicine like a true natural pharmacy.

Ah Ngao said...

how about the kacip fatimah? - for making women "fast and furious"? i saw them in canned drinks but they're not so popular as the tongkat drink.

Ensurai said...

Ah Ngao
Kacip Fatimah seems to be a Borneo herb - used by the bumiprutras for after birth treatment. It is useful for menstruation and for cleansing. I suppose only very recently some one has done some research into it being a good restorative herb which might even increase women's libido....

Lots of capsules are available today in the market. I suppose the claims are still being made.

I must ask my friends....

Unknown said...

Nice post. I want to thank you for this informative read, I really appreciate sharing your post. Keep up your work!

Regards

Tongkat Ali

acslim said...

Hi,Iam Aaron.
When is the flowering and fruit set season?
According to Semenanjung people, the TA found in Indonesia is different to Semenanjung variety , is it correct?

Soh Mien on First Day of Lunar New Year

 Today 10.2.2024 is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Dragon. Yes I have cooked the chicken and made the soh mien. Happy New Year!!...