Which is better, Cistanche vs. Tongkat Ali? The answer is that it depends. Certain people will find one of these herbs may suit their body and goals better than the other, while other people will find exactly the opposite. And some will find the best benefits come from using both Cistanche and Tongkat Ali together.
That being said, this guide will help you to understand the similarities and differences between the two so that you might make a better informed choice on which to use first.
What is Cistanche?
Cistanche, known as “desert ginseng,” is a parasitic plant that primarily grows in the deserts of China and is famous for its use in traditional Chinese medicine. Historically, it has been used to promote longevity and vitality, particularly among the elderly. Traditional applications of Cistanche include problems related to kidney health and sexual dysfunction, improving memory, and enhancing immune function.
Cistanche contains several active compounds that contribute to its health benefits. These include phenylethanoid glycosides, such as echinacoside and acteoside, which are potent antioxidants and are believed to have neuroprotective properties. Additionally, Cistanche is rich in polysaccharides, which are known to enhance immune function.
What is Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat Ali, also known as Eurycoma longifolia, is a medicinal plant native to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Traditionally, it’s been used in various forms by indigenous cultures for its health-promoting properties. This herb is highly regarded for its ability to improve vitality and energy levels, earning it the nickname “Malaysian ginseng” due to its rejuvenating properties.
The root of Tongkat Ali is rich in various bioactive compounds, including quassinoids, alkaloids, and other saponins which are believed to contribute to its therapeutic effects. Among these, the quassinoids, such as eurycomanone, are the most studied for their potential to enhance male fertility and sexual health. These compounds are thought to influence the body’s own production of testosterone, making the herb a popular choice for boosting hormonal function naturally.
Cistanche vs Tongkat Ali – The Main Similarities
We’ve got the “desert ginseng” vs. the “Malaysian ginseng.” The term “ginseng” is often thrown around for anything that helps to restore vitality, energy, sexual function and hormone levels. Both Cistanche and Tongkat Ali are well known for this.
On the sexual front, they both have innuendo nicknames, “The Stalk Enlarger” and “Ali’s Walking Stick” respectively.
Customers of both report simply feeling better and more manly. Mood and confidence improve. One of these is for Tongkat Ali and the other is for Cistanche. Can you tell which is which?
“This supplement is probably the best supplement I have ever had in terms of its effects on my quality of life and overall sense of well being. I felt an increase in my vitality, I wouldnt get tired at work, and I didnt feel tired, overly stressed or defeated at the end of the day. I noticed improvements after about 16 days of taking it.” – Quirino Brescia
“This stuff is ridiculous. It says you need to take it a while before you get results but I took it and within an hour I had a big libido boost and, uh, everything was more powerful. Everything.” – Jon M.
Both are more well known for helping to support male functions, but they can be useful for women as well. I think in the future we’ll continue to see more and more women benefitting from herbs like these (especially as more recognize the importance of testosterone for women).
In Chinese medicine, Cistanche is considered Yang Jing. Tongkat Ali wasn’t brought up in the same system, but it would be considered the same.
What is Different About Cistanche?
While Cistanche shows some probability of helping support hormone levels, with some intriguing evidence of Cistanche acting like a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator), its mechanisms of action are fully clear here. There is some evidence pointing to it’s impact on testosterone and DHT.
But Cistanche has an even bigger reputation as a sexual tonic. It’s names, Cistanche in Your Pants and the Stalk Enlarger, really speak to this. It’s been said to improve blood flow to the genital region. More specifically, some evidence points to it helping with nitric oxide.
The most intriguing differences are outside of the sexual and hormone realm though. There is preliminary evidence showing the Cistanche can help support the immune system, mitochondrial function and cognitive function too. For example, here’s a human trial that used Cistanche extracts in slowing cognitive decline.
“I’ve always suffered from having what I consider to be a small package…..I’ve been taking Cistanche for about a month now and can honestly say I’ve gone from 5″ in length to 5.5″ and increased my girth from 4.8″ to 5.5″ This shit actually works! I just hope it’s permanent because I did read a review on here that stated their junk went back to normal after about 5-6 weeks and I don’t want that happening to me!” – Robert Kirsch
What is Different About Tongkat Ali?
If you’re looking for scientific backing, Tongkat Ali simply has a lot more research behind it than Cistanche. There are meta-analysis showing the Tongkat Ali works for increasing testosterone, improving male sexual health, and improving erectile function. That means there is enough scientific studies available to look at the sum of them and, in these cases, show that Tongkat Ali does indeed have positive effects.
While Cistanche has some scientific evidence, it lags behind Tongkat Ali here. (Note though that lack of evidence is not the same as evidence of lack. That means Cistanche could work even better but it just hasn’t been studied as much, nor head to head.) Some of the sexual effects from Tongkat Ali come from compounds in it acting as a PDE-5 inhibitor.
Tongkat Ali is also an adaptogen in that it helps you to deal better with stress, and has shown lowered cortisol levels as a result. Cortisol works against testosterone in an inverse relationship, so this is not too surprising.
All of Tongkat’s benefits seem to be around these areas and how they interact.
“I came across tonkat ali you could only get it in powder form back then, truly horrble taste. Some were crap, some were ok but just a few were good.But iv recently came across Lost Empire Herbs and tried their tonkat ali tincture.”ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW” after an hour and half of consumption I felt this surge of energy and a feeling of power corsing through my vains and had the best work in months.My body has become quite accustomed to tonkat ali iam 52 and Been taking it for 20 years so for me to have that experience means that LEH tonkat ali is something special.” – Nigel Heslop
Can Cistanche and Tongkat Ali Be Taken Together?
Absolutely! In fact, this combo might be better than either one alone, at least for some. Tongkat Ali and Cistanche, even though they cover some of the same benefits, appear to do so through very different mechanisms. Therefore, they may be quite complimentary. I scoured our thousands and thousands of reviews to find these two that mention great results combining the two.
Try one. Try the other. Then try them both together. I’d especially love to hear your results in the comments below about the synergy between these two if you have experience to share.
Both these herbs, along with Shilajit, Mucuna and Horny Goat Weed, are combined together inside of our potent Thor’s Hammer Formula.
Differences on Dosage and Cycling
What about Cistanche vs Tongkat Ali dosing? The differences on dosage depend on the specific product in question and what sort of extract ratio is at play. So I can only speak to our dosage specifically to give ideas on this.
Our recommended dose on our organic Cistanche powder extract is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per day. For the Tongkat Ali 100:1 extract it is 100 mg spoon twice per day (or one capsule). This is a much smaller amount.
For our tinctures, both the starting doses are 1 mL or approximately 30 drops.
So you can see there is a much bigger difference in the powder.
Furthermore, we recommend cycling with Tongkat Ali, but not necessarily with Cistanche. While Cistanche can be powerful it isn’t quite the same as Tongkat Ali, so it hasn’t made this recommendation. That being said, some may find cycling with Cistanche is useful too.
Differences on Side Effects
Both of these herbs are quite safe overall. Any side effects, if they occur tend to be mild. Actually, more often then not people notice some positive side effects they’re weren’t expecting!
Tongkat Ali has a few more reports of being too strong for some people. This can lead to headaches. Our new Tongkat Ali Spagyric Tincture is a good way to get around this because that effect is a result of too much. With the tincture you can aim for an easier lower dose which might be just a few drops.
In both cases, with the powder mostly, but also the tinctures, the taste is very strong. Some may find this off-putting.
Cistanche and Tongkat Ali Other FAQ
What is better than Tongkat Ali?
It totally depends on the person in question as to what will be better for them. For some, Cistanche might be. For others its Pine Pollen. For still others it might be Ashwagandha. And for many others a blend or formula might be the best option.
What does cistanche do for men?
Cistanche is known to enhance libido and sexual performance in men. It may also improve sperm motility and increase overall energy levels, making it beneficial for male sexual health and vitality.
Does cistanche increase growth hormone?
There is no direct evidence that Cistanche increases growth hormone. Its primary benefits are related to enhancing libido, immune function, and potentially cognitive performance, rather than directly influencing growth hormone levels. The evidence is still preliminary on how it effects testosterone and other sex hormones too.
Who should not take cistanche?
Pregnant or nursing women should also avoid it due to insufficient safety data. But overall, it’s safety profile is quite strong.
What are the downsides of Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat Ali can have side effects such as restlessness, increased body temperature, headaches and insomnia. It is possible it can interact with certain medications.
Can Tongkat Ali cause erectile dysfunction?
Tongkat Ali is typically used to enhance sexual function, not impair it. However, inappropriate use or individual reactions could lead to adverse effects. If symptoms of erectile dysfunction appear, discontinuing its use.
Is Cistanche the same as Ashwagandha?
No, Cistanche and Ashwagandha are different herbs with distinct properties. Cistanche is often used for its benefits in sexual health and vitality, while Ashwagandha is revered for its stress-reducing and neuroprotective effects. Each has unique applications and benefits in herbal medicine.
Speaking of other herb comparisons, here’s a few others we have available. Check these out:
- Ashwagandha vs. Tongkat Ali
- Maca vs. Tongkat Ali
- Pine Pollen vs. Tongkat Ali
- Ashwagandha vs. Maca
- Maca vs. Pine Pollen
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post on Cistanche vs. Tongkat Ali. If you have any questions or comments you can post them below.
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