Tenaga: What is in Tenaga?
Although the only way to be absolutely sure of the ingredients of a Tenaga caplet is to perform a laboratory test under controlled conditions, or to go through the arduous task of obtaining written manufacturing testimony from Biotropics, the maker of Tenaga, we do have some idea of the ingredient of Tenaga. According to the US supplement facts label, Tenaga claims to contain only a few ingredients:
Eurycoma Longfolia (LongJax) Root Extract 200 mg*
Polygonum Minus Leaf Extract 100 mg*
Cosmos Caudatus Leaf Extract 5 mg*
Although there is some doubt as to the purity of these ingredients, it is likely that Tenaga is at least able to manufacture these herbs. Biotropics does have at least one office in Malaysia, and this is the primary source of Eurycoma, the main ingredient. Although Polygonum and Cosmos may have some unexplained effect on sexual virility or “potency” for men, Eurycoma is the only ingredient which shown any scientific support for its use in this supplement. So, there is at least some scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of Tenaga.
Concerning the latter two ingredients, it should be noted that 5 milligrams of Cosmos Caudatus is unlikely to have any effect even if the herb were shown to change virility. Note that no such claims have been made. In fact, this leaf is a common salad ingredient in Malaysia. The amount contained in Tenaga is also so small that the relative purity of Cosmos would be exceptionally difficult to establish. In the case of Polygonium, some claims have been made to the effect of aphrodisiac properties, but these lack support. In any case, there is no reason to doubt the purity of these ingredients of Tenaga, since they are relatively unpopular and inexpensive.
Eurycoma, on the other hand, can be extremely expensive. Tenaga appears to offer a viable source of this herb for a relatively low cost. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that there is a connection between Eurycoma and stamina, although the effects would require relatively large doses over a long period of time. Note also that the Eurycoma in Tenaga provides a 10% digestibility when taken orally. In short, Tenaga may have some effect on “virility” over a long period of time, and there are possibly better sources for the Eurycoma root extract. Tenaga claims to be somhow involved with MIT in the production of their herb, but this relationship is likely limited to the fact that MIT holds a patent on one form of Eurycoma extract. This may indicate that Tenaga does contain genuine Eurycoma extract, but nothing further. It is highly unlikely that MIT staff are in any way associated with the development of a male virility supplement like Tenaga.
