One of the greatest fallacies in the world of herbal medicine is how specific herbs develop a reputation regarding their relationship to particular conditions specific to one gender. This fallacy has misguided people to believe that the opposite gender can’t use that herb. When you take a trip back in time, you learn that the herbs that are considered gender-specific today were, in fact, successfully used for both genders for a very long time. So, how did this new way of thinking become a reality? Well, this idea is based on the creation of isolated standardized herbs (or, as I like to call them, natural pharmaceuticals), where it is believed that a specific constituent is what creates the herb's desired effects. This concept is pure reductionist thinking and limits an herb's potential usage capability. An excellent example is the herb black cohosh root. Today, the standardized version is touted as a female herb specific to hormone modulation, but, in actuality, the whole root as a full spectrum extract is one of the most underrated nerve tonics that both men and women traditionally used for a long time before herbs were standardized.

Yes, it is true; when you isolate a compound, you can create a more specific targeted approach and result, but it comes with significant pitfalls. To be clear, this is not to say that there is no place for this form of plant medicine. It is important to note that it should not be used as the first line of defense for herbs and does not produce a balanced result. Whole herbs and full-spectrum extracts are the first line of defense. Ma Haung, aka Ephedra, is an excellent example of how isolating compounds within a plant takes a perfectly safe herb and creates a product with exacerbating effects and, if misused, may have potentially fatal results. This herb contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are considered sympathomimetic alkaloids. This plant has been used for thousands of years safely and effectively as a whole herb for lung and sinus issues in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The reason for Ma Huang’s (as a whole herb) long safety record is that these alkaloids are part of a complex blend of constituents, creating a synergistic and balanced effect. Only when people began creating products using the standardized version that isolated those alkaloids in high amounts did the problems start. Now, Ephedra is banned from the United States market as a supplement.   

Unfortunately, Tongkat Ali is one of those herbs where a misguided perception has also been placed regarding gender and usage. Contrary to popular opinion, both men and women can benefit significantly from Tongkat Ali. 

Also known as Malaysian Ginseng, Tongkat Ali has an impressive list of traditional uses. However, it is best known for its potential aphrodisiac properties. In human studies, it has been shown to support healthy testosterone levels in both men and women. To be clear, Tongkat Ali has been shown to do this by inhibiting sex hormone-binding globulin, which increases when testosterone levels are low. When SHBG is inhibited, more free testosterone remains in the bloodstream. 

Therefore, two important points should be made about this topic. 

• Tongkat Ali’s effects on raising testosterone are less due to actually “stimulating” testosterone synthesis but instead increasing the rate of free testosterone. 
• Tongkat Ali does not boost testosterone levels but rather restores and maintains those with low levels. 

Remember, women also produce testosterone (around 5-10% of the amount produced in men), increasing passion and sensitivity in their erogenous zone. In both sexes, testosterone supports metabolism, lipogenesis, the formation of red blood cells, and muscle growth. 

A pilot study with 12 active men and 13 active women between the ages of 57 and 72 who were given 400mgs of Tongkat Ali extract daily for five weeks looked at Tongkat’s effect on the following parameters: total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol, insulin-like growth factor-1, and sex hormone-binding globulin. The results showed a significant increase in total and free testosterone levels and muscular force in both men and women. It was also concluded that the increase in free testosterone in women is due to the significant decline in sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23754792/

A preliminary rat study was conducted to examine the potential effects of Tongkat Ali on body and uterus weight and bone markers, which are all associated with hormonal balance. The results showed that Tongkat Ali may be protective and beneficial for hormone and bone markers in women.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7076899/

Stay tuned for part 2 of this article on May 15.

Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing and has worked in different areas of this field for over 25 years. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs and local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael makes his mark in herbal medicine through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel (A Master Herbalist Perspective). He is considered a true educator in this field.