Pine Pollen Vs Tongkat Ali both play a significant role in enhancing sexual life, boosting testosterone levels in males, and supporting various other health issues. However, when comparing Pine Pollen to Tongkat Ali, which should consumers choose? The following article provides information about this comparison, inviting you to consult it.
Pine Pollen vs Tongkat Ali: The Comparison
Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali are renowned for enhancing men's sexual health, improving overall health and cardiovascular systems, and aiding in weight loss. However, which herb should users opt for? Comparing a few aspects below might help:
The Origin
Pine Pollen is a fine yellow dust originating from pine trees of the Pinaceae family, genus Pinus, with over 126 species, including Pinus longaeva, Pinus Ponderosa, Pinus pumila, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus contorta, and others.
Pine Pollen is found in various regions worldwide, including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Tongkat Ali is a slender shrub widely used in traditional medicine, native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and also found in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei, though in lesser quantities.
Population
Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali are becoming more and more popular due to its excellent function.
Pine Pollen is increasingly recognized through media and social networks for its sexual health benefits for men, among other functions for the human body.
The global market report on Pine Pollen [1] shows it is growing at a CAGR of 6.45%, with its value increasing from $8,862.0 million to $14,479.0 million during 2019 - 2026.
Similarly, for Tongkat Ali, the 2024 global market research report [2] indicates its exact market popularity valued at $75 million in 2023, expected to reach $102.9 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.5% during 2024-2030.
Thus, Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali are becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to their potential health benefits.
Form
Pine Pollen is readily available in various forms, including capsules, liquids… In powder form, it can be dissolved in water or smoothies, making it easier to consume for those who do not prefer capsules.
Conversely, capsules allow you to carry this product with you and use it anywhere.
For Tongkat Ali, you can find it in different forms like capsules, liquid extracts, effervescent tablets, or mixed in tea, coffee… Tongkat Ali exists in more forms than Pine Pollen. Thus, you have a more comprehensive range of choices.
Active Compounds
Tongkat Ali and Pine Pollen contain many nutritional compounds for the body
Pine Pollen contains valuable nutrients such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, minerals, and phenolics [4].
These compounds can vary depending on climate conditions, altitude, and soil characteristics. Owning these beneficial substances, Pine Pollen is helpful in sterilization, anti-aging, and boosting the immune system…
Tongkat Ali has common effects on humans, like improving sexual life in men, increasing cardiovascular health, reducing stress, and improving mood…
It contains many beneficial compounds such as quassinoids, canthin-6-one alkaloids, β-carboline alkaloids, and bioactive steroids [3].
Key Benefits
For Pine Pollen, here are some notable benefits for health:
- Regulates the immune system [13]
- Antioxidant slows aging process [13] [14]
- Protects the liver [13], Combats fatigue, reduces blood sugar, lowers blood lipids [13]
- Improves intestinal function [13]
- Inhibits the growth of tumors [13]
- Treats skin diseases like sores, diaper rash, etc
Using Tongkat Ali, users will reap benefits such as:
- Supports muscle strength [9] [11]
- Reduces stress and improves sleep quality [5] [8]
- Maintains muscle mass [9]
- Improves spermatogenesis and boosts testosterone in men [6] [10]
- Balances hormones in over-exercised individuals [7]
- Enhances sports performance, and accelerates weight loss [7]
- Promotes fat breakdown [11]
- Strengthens bones, prevents osteoporosis, and muscle loss, Cancer prevention [12]
- Good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
Side Effects
While they offer numerous health benefits, it does not mean these herbs don't carry the risk of harm.
With Pine Pollen, if not well-researched before use, it might cause allergies [7]; hence, if you are allergic to pine or pollen in general, be careful when consuming this herb.
Specifically, Tongkat Ali is not recommended for people with high hormone levels.
Tongkat Ali increases testosterone levels in the body; its usage in individuals with high hormones may lead to hair loss, prostate enlargement, acne, anxiety, or even depression.
Additionally, when consuming Tongkat Ali to enhance sexual health, some undisclosed risks might occur, as reported explicitly by the FDA in 2019 [15].
Overall, these herbs offer numerous health benefits for both men and women; however, it is crucial to understand which compounds your body needs to supplement and which to avoid to minimize encountering side effects upon usage.
Dosage and Usage
For dosage recommendations, what follows is a suggestion for your reference. It is best to consult with a doctor or health consultant before consuming to avoid undesirable consequences:
Pine Pollen: 10g/ day, divided into multiple uses. The consumption dosage of Pine Pollen depends on gender (due to the presence of Phyto Androgen), objectives, and intake form; you can base your condition to determine the appropriate dosage.
Tongkat Ali: 200 - 400 mg, daily consumption, based on the study about the use of Physta Tongkat Ali extract to improve the quality of life and sexual health.
Table Of Key Differences Between Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali
Are you exploring the differences between Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali? Need help determining which of these two herbs to use for health supplementation? The comparison table below will provide you with the answers:
| Criteria | Pine Pollen | Tongkat Ali |
| Origin | Canada, Siberia | Southeast Asia |
|
Main Active Compounds |
Polysaccharides | Eurycomanone |
| Key Benefits | Enhances sperm quality and sexual life | Increases testosterone level |
| Suitable for | Men with sexual health problems or women wanting to balance hormones | Men seeking to increase testosterone, improve sexual function |
| Side Effects | Allergies | May impact fertility at high doses |
| Dosage | 10g/day | 200 - 400mg/day |
The comparison table of Pine Pollen vs Tongkat Ali
Pine Pollen Vs Tongkat Ali: What Should You Choose For Your Healthy Testosterone Level
Choosing between Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali is challenging.
Both herbs contain nutrients beneficial for body testosterone growth, so determining the best option should be based on your personal goals.
If you're seeking an affordable, readily available herb with scientific support for enhancing testosterone, Tongkat Ali might be suitable.
However, be cautious, as Tongkat Ali could interact with other medications, affecting your health. It's also advisable to seek medical advice to avoid adverse effects.
Conversely, Pine Pollen offers numerous nutrients but might be harder to find and more expensive. Overdosing or incorrect usage could also provoke allergies.
Can You Combine Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali?
Combining Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali requires careful consideration.
While both herbs benefit health, mainly male sexual health, desiring a combination for enhanced results should be meticulously thought through.
Both have side effects and potential for drug interaction if used together. Furthermore, it could be disastrous if the combination is not correctly dosed or your body can't adapt.
Therefore, listen to your body and consult a doctor to find the most suitable herb.
Conclusion
This summary compares the benefits of Pine Pollen and Tongkat Ali and scientifically answers related questions about these two health-boosting herbs. This information is helpful and addresses some of your concerns.
References
[1] “Global Pine Polen Market.” Www.bccresearch.com, www.bccresearch.com/partners/verified-market-research/global-pine-pollen-market.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[2] “Global Tongkat Ali Extract Market – Industry Reports.” Www.industryresearch.co, www.industryresearch.co/global-tongkat-ali-extract-market-26635669. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[3] Lee, E. L., & Barnes, J. (2022). Tongkat Ali/Long Jack. Journal of Primary Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1071/hc22143
[4] Cheng, Yong, et al. “Pine Pollen: A Review of Its Chemical Composition, Health Effects, Processing, and Food Applications.” Trends in Food Science & Technology, vol. 138, 1 Aug. 2023, pp. 599–614, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224423002145
[5] Toyama, Haruki, and Et Al. “Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Tongkat Ali Intake on Stress Markers and Sleep Quality in Healthy Japanese Adults.” 薬理と治療, vol. 50, no. 5, 1 Jan. 2022, pp. 871–876, www.pieronline.jp/content/article/0386-3603/50050/871. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[6] Low, Bin-Seng, et al. “Standardized Quassinoid-Rich Eurycoma Longifolia Extract Improved Spermatogenesis and Fertility in Male Rats via the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal Axis.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 145, no. 3, 13 Feb. 2013, pp. 706–714, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.013. Accessed 1 May 2023.
[7] Talbott, Shawn M. “Human Performance and Sports Applications of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia).” ScienceDirect, Academic Press, 1 Jan. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123964540000539
[8] Talbott, Shawn M, et al. “Effect of Tongkat Ali on Stress Hormones and Psychological Mood State in Moderately Stressed Subjects.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 10, 26 May 2013, p. 28, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3669033/, https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-28.
[9] Henkel, Ralf R., et al. “Tongkat Ali as a Potential Herbal Supplement for Physically Active Male and Female Seniors-A Pilot Study.” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 28, no. 4, 11 June 2013, pp. 544–550, https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5017.
[10] ---. “Standardized Quassinoid-Rich Eurycoma Longifolia Extract Improved Spermatogenesis and Fertility in Male Rats via the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal Axis.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 145, no. 3, 13 Feb. 2013, pp. 706–714, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.013. Accessed 1 May 2023.
[11] Lim, P J, et al. “Effect of Eurycoma Longifolia Jack Extract on Lipolysis in Collegiate Athletes: Pilot Study.” IFMBE Proceedings, 1 Jan. 2017, pp. 97–100, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3737-5_20. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[12] Shankar Jothi, et al. Eurycoma Longifolia: An Overview on the Pharmacological Properties for the Treatment of Common Cancer. 16 Mar. 2023, https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2495. Accessed 19 May 2023.
[13] Liang, Shi-Bing, et al. “The Potential Effects and Use of Chinese Herbal Medicine Pine Pollen (Pinus Pollen): A Bibliometric Analysis of Pharmacological and Clinical Studies.” World Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, vol. 6, no. 2, 2020, pp. 163–170, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318335/, https://doi.org/10.4103/wjtcm.wjtcm_4_20. Accessed 12 Nov. 2021.
[14] Zhou, Conglai, et al. “Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Pine Pollen Extract Promote Wound Healing.” Materials Express, vol. 13, no. 2, 1 Feb. 2023, pp. 327–336, www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/asp/me/2023/00000013/00000002/art00016, https://doi.org/10.1166/mex.2023.2338. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[15] Research, Center for Drug Evaluation and. “GL Holdings Issues Voluntary Worldwide Recall of Green Lumber Products due to Presence of Undeclared Tadalafil.” Www.fda.gov, 22 Oct. 2019, www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gl-holdings-issues-voluntary-worldwide-recall-green-lumber-products-due-presence-undeclared#recall-announcement. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
[16] Ismail, Shaiful Bahari, et al. “Randomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma Longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in Men.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, 1 Nov. 2012, p. e429268, www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/429268/, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/429268.
This article synthesizes information from studies conducted by experts and researchers worldwide. The studies from the researchers below have contributed significantly to the article's content, aiming to provide reliable information to readers.
Nutrition Expert Shawn Talbott Ralf Henkel
