Tongkat Ali has been called many names—Ali’s Walking Stick, Malaysian Ginseng, and LongJack being the most colorful among them. And if a plant has some nicknames like that, you can be sure it has something to do with its effect on male virility.

Indeed, Tongkat Ali—scientific name Eurycoma longifolia—is prized as an aphrodisiac and testosterone booster for enhanced sexual health and performance. Plus, this amazing botanical has several other notable uses as well.

Tongkat Ali is a slender tree native to Malaysia, lower Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Indonesia that can reach 30 feet in height. For centuries, its root has been employed as a traditional remedy for malaria, high blood pressure, fevers, fatigue, loss of sexual desire, mood, and impotence.

In its countries of origin, the plant is found in more than 300 products—including everything from herbal syrups and capsules, to infused chocolates and soft drinks. Clearly, people with an intimate knowledge of this plant believe it boasts especially beneficial qualities for ailments that are not limited to men’s sexual health.

Let’s examine those qualities one-by-one, along with the science behind the claims.

1. Male Sexual Health Benefits Of Tongkat Ali

As some men age, their sexual activity might see a dip in action. As such, ways to increase virility might be on the top of some men’s health lists. For its part, Tongkat Ali has demonstrated the ability to increase libido and improve erectile function when compared to a placebo. Meanwhile, in a 12-week study of 26 men, researchers found that a combination of Tongkat ali and the Malaysian plant known as “kesum” (Polygonum minus) improved sexual performance and increased erectile quality.

2. Tongkat Ali Boosts Testosterone

As part of the natural progression of life, after age 30 most men experience a steady decline in their testosterone levels. And even though an array of health factors can affect sex drive, a drop in testosterone is certainly one of the culprits. Tongkat Ali found its way into a five-week pilot study of 25 male and female seniors and the results showed an increase in testosterone levels and muscle strength, measured by a hand-grip test, in both the men and the women. In another study that examined 76 men with hypogonadism (impaired testicular function) over a four-week period, Tongkat Ali supplementation was shown to increase testosterone. But, an important note for any athletes fearing that Tongkat Ali would cause a spike in testosterone levels in urine, a 15-week study proved the opposite and does not breach the International Olympic Committee’s anti-doping policies.

3. Male Fertility Gets Results From Tongkat Ali

When it comes to infertility, men are found to be the main or contributing cause in 40 percent of cases. Fertility troubles with men most commonly stem from problems in the testicles, either in creating or storing sperm. To this end, Tongkat Ali demonstrated a potential to improve physical fitness, libido and erectile function along with increased sperm motility and semen volume in a 12-week study of 109 men between the ages of 30 and 55. Enhanced fertility was also shown in a nine-month study of 75 males with infertility, where Tongkat Ali supplements improved semen volume, along with sperm concentration, motility, and quality.

4. Tongkat Ali Could Relieve Stress And Anxiety

In the realm of modern-day ailments, stress and anxiety levels have reached a fever pitch in our brains—and it seems people can use all the help they can get to combat these daily troubles. Tongkat Ali was the subject of a four-week study on 63 moderately stressed people, and the root extract was shown to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, while also decreasing tension, anger, and confusion.

5. Muscle Strength Could See A Boost From Tongkat Ali

As Tongkat Ali brings free testosterone levels closer to normal, it can help physically active seniors, both male and female, increase muscle strength. In a five-week pilot study of 25 seniors, Tongkat Ali supplements increased muscle strength in men and women. Meanwhile, in a five-week study of 14 healthy men, Tongkat Ali increased muscle strength and size.