Tongkat Ali Herbal Supplement

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Whether you’re searching for a natural remedy to enhance sexual performance, raise testosterone levels, or reduce stress, you may have heard about tongkat ali, also known as longjack. There’s certainly some clinical evidence to support the idea that this botanical ingredient could make a difference.1

But you can get tongkat ali/longjack from an endless parade of manufacturers out there, some of whom claim to use special patented extracts that are more potent or consistent than others. We wanted to cut through all the noise, look at the science, try these supplements ourselves, and let you know which ones might be worth your time and effort.

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at what we found — what’s best for you really depends on your budget and goals:

Can tongkat ali increase testosterone levels?

Supplementing with tongkat ali should be able to increase testosterone levels, at least in men whose T levels are low. Doses as low as 200mg daily have shown testosterone benefits in studies.1

Who might want to look elsewhere?

The 1-3 months it could take to see results from a potent tongkat ali supplement would likely be too long of a wait for certain individuals. Men with clinically significant hypogonadism who are experiencing immediate symptoms would do better to seek prescription interventions like TRT (after appropriate testing, of course).11

The same thing can be said for those experiencing more significant mental health issues, as tongkat ali may be able to help treat certain kinds of mild stress and irritation, but not more significant issues with anxiety and depression that may require more direct professional interventions.

Research into certain potential tongkat ali benefits is also far too immature to suggest it as a daily supplement for those purposes. For example, individuals predisposed to certain cancers from things like genetics or environment shouldn’t look to tongkat ali as a preventive or a cure. A recent overview of tongkat ali’s potential in common cancers reinforces this perspective.12

Will tongkat ali show up on a sports doping test?

No. Tongkat ali doesn’t affect any of the parameters that would cause you to fail a sports doping test.8

Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rehman, S. U., Choe, K., & Yoo, H. H. (2016). Review on a traditional herbal medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat ali): Its traditional uses, chemistry, evidence-based pharmacology and toxicology. Molecules, 21(3), 331.

Low, B. S., Choi, S. B., Abdul Wahab, H., Das, P. K., & Chan, K. L. (2013). Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increases spermatogenesis by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase and aromatase in steroidogenesis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 149(1), 201-207.

Turck, D., Bohn, T., Castenmiller, J., Henauw, S. D., Maciuk, A., Mangelsdorf, I., McArdle, H. J., Naska, A., Pelaez, C., Pentieva, K., Siani, A., Thies, F., Tsabouri, S., Vinceti, M., Cubadda, F., Frenzel, T., Heinonen, M., Maradona, M. P., Marchelli, R., . . . Knutsen, H. K. (2021). Safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal, 19(12).

Chinnappan, S. M., George, A., Pandey, P., Narke, G., & Choudhary, Y. K. (2021). Effect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract–Physta® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study. Food & Nutrition Research, 65.

Tambi, M. I., Imran, M. K., & Henkel, R. R. (2012). Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism?. Andrologia, 44 Suppl 1, 226-230.

George, A., & Henkel, R. (2014). Phytoandrogenic properties of Eurycoma longifolia as natural alternative to testosterone replacement therapy. Andrologia, 46(7), 708-721.

Henkel, R. R., Wang, R., Bassett, S. H., Chen, T., Liu, N., Zhu, Y., & Tambi, M. I. (2014). Tongkat ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors — a pilot study. Phytotherapy Research : PTR, 28(4), 544-550.

Leisegang, K., Finelli, R., Sikka, S. C., & Panner Selvam, M. K. (2022). Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) improves serum total testosterone in men: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Medicina, 58(8).

Ismail, S. B., Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad, W. M., George, A., Nik Hussain, N. H., Musthapa Kamal, Z. M., & Liske, E. (2012). 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: ECAM.

Wahab, N. A., Mokhtar, N. M., A Halim, N. H., & Das, S. (2010). The effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on spermatogenesis in estrogen-treated rats. Clinics, 65(1), 93-98.

Kumar, P., Kumar, N., Thakur, D. S., & Patidar, A. (2010). Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 1(3), 297-301.

Jothi, S., Parumasivam, T., & Mohtar, N. (2023). Eurycoma longifolia: An overview on the pharmacological properties for the treatment of common cancer. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(Suppl 1).

Lopresti, A. L., Drummond, P. D., & Smith, S. J. (2019). A Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males. American Journal of Men's Health, 13(2).

Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Malvi, H., & Kodgule, R. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(37).

Kamal, H. I., Patel, K., Brdak, A., Heffernan, J., & Ahmad, N. (2022). Ashwagandha as a unique cause of thyrotoxicosis presenting with supraventricular tachycardia. Cureus, 14(3).

George, A., Suzuki, N., Abas, A. B., Mohri, K., Utsuyama, M., Hirokawa, K., & Takara, T. (2016). Immunomodulation in middle-aged humans via the ingestion of Physta® standardized root water extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack — a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 30(4), 627-635.

Ahmad, N., Teh, B. P., Halim, S. Z., Zolkifli, N. A., Ramli, N., & Muhammad, H. (2020). Eurycoma longifolia — infused coffee — an oral toxicity study. Nutrients, 12(10), 3125.

Chinnappan, S. M., George, A., Evans, M., & Anthony, J. (2020). Efficacy of Labisia pumila and Eurycoma longifolia standardised extracts on hot flushes, quality of life, hormone and lipid profile of peri-menopausal and menopausal women: A randomised, placebo-controlled study. Food & Nutrition Research, 64.

Chua, L. S., Lee, S. Y., Abdullah, N., & Sarmidi, M. R. (2012). Review on Labisia pumila (Kacip Fatimah): Bioactive phytochemicals and skin collagen synthesis promoting herb. Fitoterapia, 83(8), 1322-1335.

Guo, R., Wang, Q., Nair, R.P., Barnes, S.L., Smith, D.T., Dai, B., Robinson, T.J., Nair, S. (2018). Furosap, a novel fenugreek seed extract improves lean body mass and serum testosterone in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical investigation. Functional Foods in Health and Disease 2018; 8(11): 519-530.

Verma, N., Gupta, S. K., Tiwari, S., Mishra, A. K., Thakare, V., & Patil, S. (2023). Effect of ashwagandha root extract on serum testosterone and muscle recovery in strength training. International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, 4(5), 371-381.

Gonzales, G. F., Córdova, A., Vega, K., Chung, A., Villena, A., Góñez, C., & Castillo, S. (2002). Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia, 34(6), 367-372.

Appling, D. R., & Chytil, F. (1981). Evidence of a role for retinoic acid (Vitamin A-acid) in the maintenance of testosterone production in male rats. Endocrinology, 108(6), 2120-2124.

Chin, K. Y., Ima-Nirwana, S., & Wan Ngah, W. Z. (2015). Vitamin D is significantly associated with total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in Malaysian men. The Aging Male: The Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male, 18(3), 175-179.

Masterjohn, C. (2007). Vitamin D toxicity redefined: Vitamin K and the molecular mechanism. Medical Hypotheses, 68(5), 1026-1034.

Hunt, C. D., Johnson, P. E., Herbel, J., & Mullen, L. K. (1992). Effects of dietary zinc depletion on seminal volume and zinc loss, serum testosterone concentrations, and sperm morphology in young men. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56(1), 148-157.

Duncan A, Yacoubian C, Watson N, and Morrison, I. (2015). The risk of copper deficiency in patients prescribed zinc supplements. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 68, 723-725.

Oluboyo, A. O., Adijeh, R. U., Onyenekwe, C. C., Oluboyo, B. O., Mbaeri, T. C., Odiegwu, C. N., Chukwuma, G. O., & Onwuasoanya, U. F. (2012). Relationship between serum levels of testosterone, zinc and selenium in infertile males attending fertility clinic in Nnewi, south east Nigeria. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 41 Suppl, 51-54.

Córdova Martínez, A. (2020). Iron and physical activity: Bioavailability enhancers, properties of black pepper (Bioperine®) and potential applications. Nutrients, 12(6), 1886.

Talbott, S. M., Talbott, J. A., George, A., & Pugh, M. (2013). Effect of tongkat ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10, 28.

Ang, H. H., & Cheang, H. S. (1999). Studies on the anxiolytic activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack roots in mice. Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 79(4), 497-500.

When used as directed, Tongkat Ali is generally safe. However, it's always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or are taking medication.

Tongkat ali vs. ashwagandha

We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the literature investigating tongkat ali and a similar botanical ingredient called ashwagandha. Both are well-regarded for their abilities to increase testosterone and other aspects of male wellness, and both have research behind them indicating that they can ameliorate stress and anxiety.

So, which one should you take?

Well, the good news is that they don’t appear to be mutually exclusive of one another. You can take both together. It’s up to you whether to seek out a standalone ashwagandha supplement or try to find a single product that combines tongkat ali and ashwagandha.

Innerbody’s Testosterone Support actually combines them alongside nine other ingredients, and it does so using clinically relevant doses of both. It contains 400mg of tongkat ali and 600mg of a branded, standardized ashwagandha extract called KSM-66.

If you absolutely had to take one and not the other, we’d probably steer you toward ashwagandha at this time, as it boasts a little more research, especially into the anti-anxiety potential.13 14 That said, if you were more concerned with sexual health symptoms (ED, testosterone, libido), tongkat ali may be slightly superior. That’s even more true if you have any thyroid issues or take medication to manage your thyroid hormone levels, as ashwagandha may influence those.15

For most people consuming doses recommended on the bottle (typically 100-500mg), tongkat ali should be perfectly safe. Studies looking into these dose ranges only seem to report occasional adverse GI effects, which are extremely common among dietary supplements.

Larger doses of tongkat ali have been associated with more serious effects, including the potential to damage DNA in the GI tract. However, a close examination of the relevant study reveals several important caveats:3

In more responsible doses that have shown efficacy in studies, we often see few to no adverse effects reported. One study on Physta’s potential immunomodulation used a 200mg daily dose for four weeks and reported that “the frequency of reported [adverse events] did not statistically differ between the [tongkat ali] and [placebo] groups.”16 There’s even a study looking into tongkat ali-infused coffee, like the one available from Akarali, that indicates no adverse effects at doses below 14g. For reference, the serving size for Akarali’s coffee is 3.3g.17

Ultimately, this all paints a picture in which there are some theoretical risks associated with tongkat ali at very high doses, but those doses are far higher than the amount you’d need to experience the effects of a tongkat ali supplement.

Best single-ingredient tongkat ali supplement

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Nootropics Depot manufactures a wide assortment of supplements, including a pair of tongkat ali options that are standardized extracts. These aren’t patented or branded extracts the way Akarali’s Physta is, but they are made by Nootropics Depot, and we haven’t found a comparably strong alternative to its 10% formulation.

The two available tongkat ali strengths from Nootropics Depot are 2% and 10% eurycomanone. Again, eurycomanone is thought to be one of the more important constituent parts of tongkat ali, responsible for the lion’s share of its positive effects. What’s less clear from the research we’ve reviewed is whether or not it can also be credited with any potential side effects. If it can, that 10% formulation may have a higher incidence of GI upset. But if it’s not the case, then a 10% concentration in a smaller overall dose could actually mitigate side effects.

Here’s how the two concentrations compare:

As you can see, Nootropics Depot delivers its more concentrated formula in a lower overall dose (100mg versus 200mg). That makes for smaller capsules and fewer of the ingredients that aren’t eurycomanone (90mg versus 196mg).

Bulk Supplements Longjack

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Bulk Supplements is typically a smart place to stop if you’re looking for a low price on a given supplement. Its tongkat ali is no exception, costing far less per gram of the substance than any of the competitors in our guide.

One big caveat is that, unlike the options from Nootropics Depot and Akarali, Bulk Supplements’ Longjack is not a standardized extract. That means there’s no effort put into controlling the concentration of eurycomanone or any other compound in each dose. The makeup of a wild Eurycoma longifolia plant includes around 0.8-1.5% eurycomanone, so that’s about what you can expect per dose.

Bulk Supplements pricing and returns

Each capsule of Bulk Supplements Longjack contains a 500mg dose, with the company recommending that you take two capsules per serving. For most people, 1,000mg is probably excessive, meaning you can take just one capsule per serving and still expect to see some kind of results. And, considering the already low price of this tongkat ali, being able to cut the serving size in half without sacrificing efficacy just makes it that much better of a deal.

Of course, you can get an even better deal by reaching for Bulk Supplements’ tongkat ali powder, which comes in packages of up to 1kg.

Here’s what the pricing looks like:

At $44.06, the 1kg bag brings the cost per gram of tongkat ali down to $0.04. Of course, if you only take 200mg daily, it would take you nearly 14 years to consume all of it, and it would likely lose some of its potency by then. The most reasonable high quantity of tongkat ali powder on this list is probably the 100g bag, which would last you around 18 months and bring the cost per gram down to $0.16.

Like Innerbody, Bulk Supplements offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is just long enough to potentially see some results before deciding whether the substance is right for you.

Innerbody pricing and returns

Innerbody provides a combination of bulk and subscription savings on its supplement, which works out like this:

Shipping is free on all Innerbody orders. The company doesn’t yet ship outside the U.S.

There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases, which means you can try the product for up to a month and still get all of your money back if you aren’t satisfied. While many studies say tongkat ali takes up to 12 weeks to yield results, we’ve seen some studies state it bears fruit in as little as 28 days, so the 30-day guarantee is just long enough.

How we evaluated tongkat ali supplements

To evaluate tongkat ali supplements, we considered four key criteria that could pit one offering against another and reveal which would perform the best. We chose these criteria based on our understanding of tongkat ali’s pharmacological potential and what we would anticipate to be the needs of the average consumer.

Let’s take a close look at each criterion to see what companies fared the best.

Winner: Nootropics Depot Tongkat Ali Extract 10% Eurycomanone

Tongkat ali (scientific name: Eurycoma longifolia) houses an abundance of bioactive compounds, from quassinoids and alkaloids to terpenes and steroids.1 Among these, quassinoids make up the majority, and one quassinoid in particular — eurycomanone — has been highlighted as a likely driver of tongkat ali’s positive effects.2

A standardized tongkat ali extract will typically contain between 0.8% and 1.5% eurycomanone. This is true of Physta, one of the more well-regarded and widely tested tongkat ali extracts on the market. But Nootropics Depot manipulates its standardization process further, concentrating the eurycomanone content all the way up to 10%.

The result is a product with a smaller overall dose (100mg compared to the typical 200mg Physta dose) that still delivers more eurycomanone.

Winner: Akarali Physta

From a safety perspective, standardization was a must-have in our eyes, as it ensures you’re getting the same amount of tongkat ali’s active components with each dose. We also didn’t want to put too large a dose in the winner’s circle here, as there’s evidence of potential short-term toxicity at high doses.

Specifically, the European Food Safety Authority identified the potential for tongkat ali to induce DNA damage in the gastrointestinal (GI) system.3 The possible severity of that damage and its consequences were undetermined in the report, but it’s worth noting that the damage was only seen in rats consuming a human equivalent of more than 22g of tongkat ali extract. To put it in perspective, you’d have to consume nearly four bottles of 200mg Physta capsules to reach that dose.

Physta also has the advantage of being subjected to multiple human studies in the past 20 years.4 The studies we’ve reviewed showed one incidence of adverse effects that differed from those seen in a placebo group. We still consider the alternative from Nootropics Depot to be safe, especially since its higher concentration is delivered in an overall smaller tongkat ali dose, but the abundance of data on Physta and its well-known risk profile makes it the obvious choice for safety.

Winner: Bulk Supplements Longjack Root Capsules

When we consider a supplement's potential cost, we consider more than just sticker price, with things like shipping costs, money-back guarantees, and more weighing in our decision. Bulk Supplements, whose tongkat ali already boasted the best sticker price, turned out to be the best pick for cost in general.

Here’s a quick cost comparison among our top tongkat ali supplements:

As you can see, you can get your hands on Bulk Supplements’ tongkat ali for less money up front than any other option, and its cost per gram of tongkat ali is lower — by far — than its competitors. The big caveat is that it’s not a standardized extract, so the exact amount of eurycomanone, saponins, and other constituent parts is both unknowable and likely to vary from one dose to the next. Your next-best budget-conscious option, if you want standardization, is Nootropics Depot’s less potent offering, standardized to 2% eurycomanone

One particularly amazing thing to note is that Innerbody’s Testosterone Support actually provides the same amount of tongkat ali per month as Akarali, but it does so both at a lower price and alongside ten other ingredients designed to boost testosterone levels and impart similar effects as tongkat ali. However, Innerbody’s tongkat ali is not a standardized extract.

Winner: Akarali Physta

Several variables can influence our convenience criterion, from the quality of a company’s site design to its customer service. The sites in question here are all similar enough, as is the customer service. And Bulk Supplements and Innerbody are the only companies that will accept returns on opened products, each for 30 days.

So, instead of focusing on these parameters, we looked at the convenience behind actually taking the tongkat ali in these supplements. Innerbody only offers its supplement as a capsule, Nootropics Depot offers a choice between capsules and tablets for its 10% eurycomanone extract, and Bulk Supplements offers tongkat ali as a capsule or a loose powder.

But Akarali delivers its Physta in several unusual ways, all of which make it the most convenient option for anyone interested in consuming their tongkat ali in a novel form. As with Bulk Supplements, you can choose between capsules and powder, but you can also get Akarali Physta as part of a fizzy energy drink or as part of an instant coffee. Our testers tried the coffee for themselves, and they were pleasantly surprised by the sweetness that the tongkat ali seemed to impart on an otherwise bitter (but not unpleasantly bitter) instant coffee.

Tongkat ali — also known as longjack or Malaysian ginseng — is a Southeast Asian plant traditionally used for its antimalarial and aphrodisiac properties.1 It’s a tall plant, resembling a palm tree but with shorter, more abundant leaves along longer branches.

When we talk about tongkat ali here, we’re discussing it as a supplement, not as the plant Eurycoma longifolia. And as a supplement, tongkat ali may offer many of the benefits for which it has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

You’ll most often see tongkat ali sold in capsule form, with each capsule containing a powdered extract made from the plant’s roots, leaves, or both (roots are most common). Occasionally, you’ll find powdered extract available on its own (no capsules) or pressed into tablets. Some companies even make it into energy drinks or instant coffees.

Innerbody Testosterone Support

Best complex T-boosting formula

Photo by Innerbody Research

Many people seek out a tongkat ali supplement to support male sexual wellness. If this describes you, then you should consider a supplement that combines tongkat ali with other well-regarded testosterone-boosting ingredients. There’s no shortage of mixed-ingredient testosterone boosters out there. We’ve covered them at great lengths for years and maintain a thorough guide to the best testosterone boosters. But during that time, we were frustrated by a gap in the market that we ultimately decided to fill with a product that provides the best ingredient bill we could imagine within reasonable cost parameters.

The result is Innerbody Testosterone Support, a combination of 11 ingredients, all present at doses that meet or exceed those used in successful studies. Here’s a quick look at the ingredients, with links to studies that can show you why we included them in the formula:

When it comes to testosterone, fenugreek and ashwagandha are the other two most important botanicals in this formula, alongside tongkat ali. But we included maca for its ability to help men with erectile performance and libido. Both zinc and vitamin D have a long-studied association with testosterone levels in men, as well.

If you’ve never tried any kind of supplement to address low T or similar men’s sexual wellness concerns, you might want to start out with an individual-ingredient approach by taking another tongkat ali in this guide. But if you’ve already tried one or more, or you want to skip that step and throw a larger ingredient bill at the problem, we believe Innerbody Testosterone Support is the best such choice for most men.