Tongkat Ali vs Ginseng vs Viagra, LOL.. Options

[fadlee]

Malaysia pins hopes on herbal Viagra for biotech push
By Clarence Fernandez

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's answer to Viagra is a traditional herb the country has picked to spearhead its push into biotechnology, but now it faces the challenge of convincing the world the remedy is both potent and safe.

Surging interest in the herb, "tongkat ali," has spawned dozens of products, from pills to beverages, that play up its reputed aphrodisiac properties, and could even threaten the sway overseas of ginseng, a more-widely established remedy in Asia.

Generations of aging Malaysian men have sworn by the rejuvenation effects of "tongkat ali," scouring the countryside for it so eagerly that it has almost vanished from all but the deepest rainforest, and now has the status of a protected plant.

Scientific studies show that concoctions of "tongkat ali" can help hormone production, making rats and mice more frisky, but have yet to prove it can reliably produce the same effect in humans, researchers say.

"It can have different effects on different people," said Abdul Razak, head of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, which is driving research and commercial production of the herb.

"For me, it gives the energy to play a game of golf without getting tired, but has no other effects," said Razak, who takes two capsule supplements of the herb before each weekly game to increase his stamina.

"Tongkat ali," which scientists call Eurycoma longifolia, is a slender evergreen shrub with bitter, brownish-red fruit that is native to Malaysia and Indonesia.

All parts of the plant which grows up to 10 meters (33 ft) tall can be chopped up fine and boiled in water to make the traditional medicine.

As Malaysia looks to biotechnology for economic growth, scientists are taking a harder look at the aphrodisiac qualities of tongkat ali, which means the "walking-stick of Ali," in Malay, and they say it could spawn drugs to treat cancer and malaria.

PREPARING FOR COMMERCIAL USE

Five years of research studies in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States have helped to identify the key compounds in the herb, Razak said.

"All these compounds have been found, have been tested and have been patented, and we are now in the process of carrying out clinical studies, and hopefully after some time we might even commercialize this," he added.

A Malaysian industry and government group says the rapidly growing global market for aphrodisiacs is worth about $4 billion and could reach nearly $7 billion by 2012, but plans for "tongkat ali" to grab a share of this pie hinge on proving it is safe.

In Taiwan this year, Taipei city officials banned six brands of coffee from supermarkets because they contained "tongkat ali," saying the plant had not been evaluated for safe use, although there were no confirmed reports of side-effects, newspapers said.

The episode in January stirred indignation in Malaysia, where some officials publicly defended the herb, saying its safety and efficacy had been demonstrated by hundreds of years of use.

Others said the incident showed how far Malaysia still has to go to prove its claims for the herb.

"We've still got a lot of homework to do as a nation," said M. Rajen, chief executive of Tropical Botanics Sdn Bhd, which counts among its products Malaysia's most popular fish-oil brand.

Makers of ginseng, which has a global market of about $2 billion a year, according to some industry estimates, would be ruthless in battling competition from "tongkat ali," he said.

"What we see in Taiwan and elsewhere is an example of this ruthlessness," Rajen added. "Because we have not done our homework, we cannot fight it."

But Malaysia is confident it will convince the world. Officials of Power Root Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which exports tea and coffee drinks containing the herb to Japan and South Korea, have said they are looking to the United States and the Middle East.

"One day 'tongkat ali' will be marketed internationally, even in Harrods of London," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said in January, at the launch of a $7 million biotech research center that will study ways to clone the herb.

At the Forest Research Institute, workers in white protective gear poured sacks of the herb into gleaming stainless steel dryers and grinders to turn out powder for capsules.

"It's high time for 'tongkat ali' now," said researcher Mohamad Shahidan, grinning through his face mask. "Everybody wants to try it."

($1=3.509 Malaysian Ringgit)

[singapak2]

fadlee, u take those?

[richvenom]

well, maybe just put it in simple terms

you have what it takes ...you have what it takes ...

if not ..just dream and go to sleep

[fadlee]

fadlee, u take those?

noo of course nott.. no aprodisiac needed lol..

[the army of LOVE]

don't u know that "tongkat ali" and "kacip fatimah" are shiite's propagate in malaysia

[richvenom]

that really pull a fast one on the guys in malaysia

[fadlee]

don't u know that "tongkat ali" and "kacip fatimah" are shiite's propagate in malaysia

Besides an aphrodisiac theres a research made by the massachusetts institute of technology have found some chemical in Eurycoma Longifolia shown potent anti-cancer and anti-HIV. The anti-cancer chemical are said to be more effective than existing anti-cancer drugs.

and labisia pumila or known as kacip fatimah clinical test:

Various studies were held on thirty-six female rats with consecutive 4 to 5 days oestrous cycle, assigned into 6 groups. Results obtained revealed that Labisia pumila extracts did not alter the oestrous cycle in all rats. All the animals proceeded towards successful mating, pregnancies, and deliveries. Animals that treated with this extracts gave birth earlier than those in the without treatment. Parameters measured such as pup sex ratio, live birth index, pup viability index and percentage of implantation death were also not significantly different. The slightly earlier delivery dates noted in the treated animals lend support to the traditional practice of using this herb in order to enhance and expedite labor in human. Further, findings also indicate that water based extracts of labisia pumila do not pose any significant reproductive toxicity in rats.

This post has been edited by fadlee: Mar 19 2007, 04:13 AM

[ricochet]

Besides an aphrodisiac theres a research made by the massachusetts institute of technology have found some chemical in Eurycoma Longifolia shown potent anti-cancer and anti-HIV. The anti-cancer chemical are said to be more effective than existing anti-cancer drugs.

and labisia pumila or known as kacip fatimah clinical test:

I never tried tongkat ali but the coffee ginseng by CNI has very nice smell.....but the taste so so....the effect cant see much. I have tried viagra.....wow....the greatest invention ever for men...

You should check out the indonesian version...... double the viagra power dude. But lately banned in Singapore

My frens wife is taking kacip fatimah.....and according to my fren...it really works. Now she demands it everynight

[feleaz]

I never tried tongkat ali but the coffee ginseng by CNI has very nice smell.....but the taste so so....the effect cant see much. I have tried viagra.....wow....the greatest invention ever for men...

You should check out the indonesian version...... double the viagra power dude. But lately banned in Singapore

My frens wife is taking kacip fatimah.....and according to my fren...it really works. Now she demands it everynight

Indonesian version ? . don't want to get heart attack or the reverse effect.

[singapak2]

Kacip fatimah and Tongakat ali are now quite popular in Japan. Saw it in today's paper.


i take Jamu..

[ricochet]

Indonesian version ? . don't want to get heart attack or the reverse effect.

I dunno what the name is but the picture is a body builder with no head. In Indonesia is known as ubat gak ada kepala.....it always cracks me up to say that

[greg aditya]

did u guys know that recently there was a research conducted which shows that viagra tends to damage the medula oblongata,in which will later lead to cardiovascular disease ( do remember that medula oblongata is the main mechanism for the pulse creation )......the research was done by the university of glasgow,and i had read the articles few months back on focus,NSTP

[feleaz]

Most users don't care about that, they just want satisfaction and more satisfaction.

[ricochet]

Most users don't care about that, they just want satisfaction and more satisfaction.

do you guys know how it works...have any of you tried it before...be honest. Virgins....this does not apply to you...

[Betong]

I hope i never have to used tongkat ali or ginseng or viagra

[mike2000]

Is tongka ali really effective as it claimed.
There are tongkat ali coffee, tongkat ali tea, etc packed as 3-in-one, 4-in-1. These ready to make coffee and tea can be found in almost all provision shops.
Mind u if it is effective as claimed, there will be a population explosion in Malaysia soon, hehehe

[ricochet]

I hope i never have to used tongkat ali or ginseng or viagra

Once is a while....the home ministry sure love a big jerk in the ever so boring same bedtime stories

it helps to re-invent your sexual relationship

[Betong]

Hey, is there any Tongkat ali mixed viagra mixed ginseng coffee
Rite now we only have Tongkat ali mixed with ginseng only...

Somebody need to do this... Business opportunity brotha....

[Henry123]

Yeah maybe they should mixed them all together (ginseng & Tongkat ali herb) and see what happens?

[ricochet]

Hey, is there any Tongkat ali mixed viagra mixed ginseng coffee
Rite now we only have Tongkat ali mixed with ginseng only...

Somebody need to do this... Business opportunity brotha....

Your condition that bad bro

I think forget all that...I give you CIALIS instead