The use of natural dietary supplements such as Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha is increasingly popular among active members of the military and active-duty soldiers to improve endurance, strength, alertness and regulate stress.
While vitamins, minerals and pure herbal supplements are generally acceptable, US, UK and Australian military impose strict guidelines on the use of dietary supplements, especially products that may contain banned or potentially harmful ingredients.
This article explores whether Tongkat Ali, Ashwagandha, and other dietary supplements are permitted in the military, with specific guidelines from the US Defense Department, UK Armed Forces, and Australian Defense Force.
Additionally, we’ll cover banned substances often found in dietary or herbal supplements to ensure military members remain within regulatory boundaries and safety.
Dietary supplements, including herbal products and performance enhancers, are often sought by military personnel and soldiers to improve endurance, strength, focus, and recovery.
Studies showed 70% of military personnel and active soldiers use some form of dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fish oil and herbal products more than once a week – albeit higher consumption than the general public.
Many European countries, like Germany and France, permit the use of herbal supplements in their militaries, emphasizing the importance of transparency and regulation, but the US and UK Armed Forces and Australian Defense Force have strict regulations on the use of dietary supplements to ensure safety to their members and army personnel.
Amongst the dietary supplements used by the military, Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) tops the chart as energy performance booster, widely popular amongst the members of the US Armed Forces (Marine Corps, Navy SEALS,) as it is not banned by the US Department of Defense (DOD).
Tongkat Ali is not on the US Department of Defense (DOD) Prohibited Dietary Supplement List and should not cause a positive military drug test
Developed by the MIT scientists since 2003, standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract was made available in the US market in late 2020, primarily to provide optimal testosterone and energy support – which are helpful for hard military training, on-ground combat and for active-duty soldiers to improve focus and regulate stress, especially during challenging military operations.
Combining Tongkat Ali with multivitamins showed a 581% in total testosterone which may benefit military personnel to improve endurance and stamina
Many military personnel have showed improved resilience, grit and stamina from increased testosterone when taking dietary supplements – typically a combination of vitamins (i.e Vitamin C, D, B12, zinc, magnesium), minerals (sodium, potassium and calcium) and natural herbs such Tongkat Ali.
In the UK, Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha are not banned but the use of dietary supplement by British Army is “not encouraged” according to the official statement by the UK Armed Forces on drugs and dietary supplements.
According to a military health expert, the trend of having a supplement stack or buying untested products carries certain risks, from potential side effects to the presence of banned ingredients that could jeopardize military readiness.
According to the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times Meghann Myers, the US Defense Department has issued an instruction that governs the use of dietary supplements among military personnel and members, and bars any on-base retailers from selling dietary products with any banned ingredients.
Quick Military Guide on Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha
Is Tongkat Ali banned in the military?
Is Ashwagandha banned in the military?
Understanding the rules around dietary supplement is essential for active-duty service members who aim to avoid disciplinary action or adverse health effects.
In the US, the Department of Defense (DoD) provides clear regulations on supplement use, encouraging service members to research products before use. Here are key points:
The DoD remains vigilant about supplement use, and service members are urged to seek medical guidance and consult with their commanding officers if they have doubts about a specific product’s legitimacy.
The UK Armed Forces implement stringent guidelines regarding supplement use to maintain operational readiness and health. Here’s how the UK regulates the use of dietary supplements by the British Army:
Developed by the MIT scientists in its early days, standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract helps optimal testosterone support during hard military trainings, combat and beneficial to active-duty soldiers improve focus and regulate stress during challenging military operations.
For members of the UK Armed Forces, thorough research and adherence to dietary guidelines are essential to ensure all supplement use aligns with military standards.
The Australian Army upholds a cautious approach to dietary supplements, emphasizing natural fitness regimens and balanced nutrition. However, studies showed 74% of Australian army personnel use dietary supplements at least once daily, so you still can buy the dietary or herbal supplement if you are an active on-duty soldier in Australia.
Here’s what Australian soldiers and military personnel should know:
In the Australian military, safety and transparency in supplement use are paramount. Like the US and UK forces, consulting healthcare providers before starting any new supplement is advised.
Using dietary supplements that contain banned substances can result in serious consequences for military personnel, including disciplinary actions or discharge.
Here are some common banned substances across the US, UK, and Australian militaries:
Warning:
If you’re considering taking supplements like Tongkat Ali or Ashwagandha, here are some practical guidelines to help you make safe choices:
While supplements like Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha is used in military as it can offer better metabolic health, enhance physical and mental performance, military personnel must exercise caution when buying one.
Understanding the regulations and consulting trusted military resources ensures compliance with safety standards, ultimately preserving the health and readiness essential for military duties.
By adhering to these guidelines, service members can avoid the pitfalls of banned substances while benefiting from safe and approved supplements. This approach fosters optimal physical and mental performance while upholding the standards required in active military service.
Alex Kua leads AKARALI’s Global Partnership Community to help athletes, sports communities, and thousand of others optimize their well-being through evidence-based research that enables them to make better informed decisions. His legal and business consulting background underpins the rigorous data-driven approach in his writing – from hours of interviews, real-world performance data, and firsthand experiences of real people – offering actionable insights that connects clinical research, emerging health trends, and real-world applications. He is also an experienced researcher in herbal nutrition, with years of deep technical knowledge on Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia), including quality standards, industry benchmarks, lab tests, clinical trials, and the use of natural herbs by collaborating with top scientists, herbal experts, and nutritionists. As part of the core team behind AKARALI’s knowledge portal, he empowers people worldwide to access the benefits of high-quality herbal nutrition in a way that is effective, sustainable, and safe. He is also an avid runner, with regular participation in local sports communities and running events.
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read, or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
