Current scientific evidence shows that the Tongkat Ali root extract may potentially improve men’s libido by inducing penile erection and addressing mild ED symptoms.
But do natural libido supplements such as Tongkat Ali work?
In this article, we shall deep-dive into the effects of Tongkat Ali on libido, ED and sexual desire. More importantly, is Tongkat Ali an effective sexual enhancement supplement that you should buy?
Our sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), and neurotransmitters (i.e dopamine and oxytocin) are believed to be responsible to regulate libido besides psychological and social factors. According to US health experts from Cleveland Clinic, libido is complex and the “right” or “normal” libido for you depends on your preferences and life circumstances.
As our sex hormone (androgen) varies significantly as we age, this may affect our sexual desire. Biologically, due to the rapid decline of testosterone and estrogen that affect most men and women above 35, natural libido supplements such as Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) are used to restore testosterone, estrogen, and dopamine which help to increase sexual desire.
In fact, herbal remedies are listed amongst the top 10 natural ways to boost libido according to Medical News Today and the rising human clinical studies over the last decade has positioned Tongkat Ali as one of the top natural libido supplements that work for men and women, especially if you are diagnosed with androgen deficiency or low-T symptoms.
The trend is, that testosterone supplements could replace Viagra to improve middle-aged men’s sex lives as reported by the Telegraph.
According to multiple studies, Tongkat Ali’s mechanism of action is through its testosterone-inducing actions that happen in the adrenal, pituitary glands and testes, which have a direct impact on men’s libido and fertility.
Tongkat Ali’s libido-enhancing bioactive ingredients include:
Yes, Tongkat Ali may benefit men’s libido by increasing testosterone and dopamine. In addition, Tongkat Ali’s PDE5 inhibitory properties may cause increased blood flow to the penile areas causing mild to moderate erections. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that Tongkat Ali contains 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (9-HC-6–one), a bioactive compound that induces penile erection and ejaculation delay that benefits men’s libido.
Our analysis showed that users may experience mild to moderate libido effects from Tongkat Ali, depending on the quality extract. Tongkat Ali’s bioactive ingredients (eurycomanone and eurypeptides) activate Luteinising Hormones (LH) and stimulate the Leydig cells in your testes which helps to produce more free testosterone, thus increasing overall sexual desire.
We conclude that Tongkat Ali’s pharmacological properties have a strong potential to address mild ED symptoms and boost men’s libido provided that it contains pure unadulterated Tongkat Ali root extract. In reality, most users will not experience any significant libido boost from Tongkat Ali due to the impurities that exist from cheap low quality Tongkat Ali supplements sold on Amazon.
Aging adults who suffer from premature or low testosterone, and those diagnosed with androgen deficiency. (i.e hypogonadism) may use Tongkat Ali to restore testosterone levels that may improve libido based on the recommended dosage of between 200mg to 400mg daily throughout four to 12 weeks. Combining Tongkat Ali as a daily supplement with zinc, boron and arginine at the recommended dosage may increase libido by widening the blood vessels coupled with a higher level of free testosterone.
Natural libido supplements that contain Tongkat Ali and l-arginine may be taken to improve libido further. However, users are advised not to take l-arginine and Tongkat Ali at high dosages to avoid unwanted side effects such as dizziness, light headedness, nausea and even vomitting.
Tongkat Ali showed a 39% increase in erection, based on the Erection Hardness Scale (EHS) score after 12 weeks, indicating the potential use of Tongkat Ali to combat Erectile Dysfunction (ED).
The Erection Hardness Scale (EHS) is a reliable four-point scale system used to assess Erectile Dysfunction (ED) by healthcare professionals.
Definition on Erection Hardness Scale (EHS)
A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported an improvement in erection time of 162% after 12 weeks of Tongkat Ali consumption.
In addition, Tongkat Ali contains 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (9-HC-6–one) which may induce penile erection and ejaculation delay as reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
However, the effect of Tongkat Ali on longer erection varies from one individual to another due to a host of other psychological and social factors. Whilst Tongkat Ali may help you achieve longer erection time, users are advised to take pure Tongkat Ali extract to gain optimal libido results.
The erection performance test results were based on the Sexual Intercourse Assessment (SIA) survey of male test participants between 40 to 65 years of age. Here is the first SIA question that was asked to the patients who consumed Tongkat Ali during the test:
Did your erection last long enough for you to have successful intercourse?
Here is the result before and after 12 weeks:
Yes, Tongkat Ali enhances sexual performance in several key areas such as erection hardness, erection time and overall sexual satisfaction. Based on a Sexual Intercourse Assessment (SIA) survey reported in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, test participants who took Tongkat Ali reported a 162% improvement in erection time during sex.
In addition, an in-vitro study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one found in Tongkat Ali may induce ejaculation delay.
Here was the question asked to the test participants in the SIA survey.
Elapsed time from erection perceived hard enough for penetration to withdrawal from your partner's vagina
Here is the result after consuming Tongkat Ali for 12 weeks.
According to an in-vitro study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Tongkat Ali root contains 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (i.e also known as canthin-6-one) that may delay ejaculation. However, more human clinical studies are required to validate its efficacy and consistency on delaying ejaculation.
Yes, Tongkat Ali may cause mild to moderate blood flow to the penile area. A study published in 2022 showed that Tongkat Ali contains PDE-5 inhibitory effects on the blood vessels causing more blood flow. PDE5 inhibitors are used to treat EDs by increasing blood flow to the penis, improving erectile function.
Tongkat Ali, L-arginine and L-citrulline are active ingredients found in some libido supplements that are believed support better sexual desire and erection. L-arginine may help to increase the blood flow to the penis whilst increasing the Nitric Oxide (NO) in the blood. The action of combining Tongkat Ali and arginine may have stronger libido effects for those who can tolerate the side effects of l-arginine such as lightheadedness, constant dizziness and jittery.
Related Article: Tongkat Ali and L-arginine – Can you take it together?
Yes, studies showed Tongkat Ali exhibits PDE-5 inhibitory effects induced by canthin-6-one alkaloids; a bioactive compound found in Tongkat Ali roots which includes canthin-6-one-9-O–β-D-glucopyranoside, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, canthin-6-one, and 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one. The current study showed mild PDE5 inhibitory effects from taking Tongkat Ali extract that may benefit those experiencing mild ED.
Depending on your age, weight, and medical conditions, it may take a few hours to 12 weeks or even longer before you can notice any libido improvements after taking Tongkat Ali. Those who are overweight and experiencing mild depression may take a longer time to experience libido gains. Often you are required to perform weigh training and/or cardio exercises at least 3 times a week when taking a minimum of 400mg Tongkat Ali daily.
A randomized clinical study by the University of Santa Catarina Brazil, showed that 200 mg Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) daily intake improved erectile dysfunction, sexual satisfaction, desire and testosterone in men after 6 months. The group that consumes 200mg Tongkat Ali with regular exercises (i.e Group G4) showed the most improvement in erectile function scores at 15.21%.
Meanwhile, results from the same study involving a group of aging males showed that overall sexual satisfaction improved between 29% to 34% while sexual desire significantly increased by 235% in the group that took Tongkat Ali with regular exercises.
The long-term randomized clinical study conducted by Alice Letao et al in 2021 suggests that Tongkat Ali may have moderate to strong effects on men’s libido.
2-way RM-ANOVA for comparison of the sexual function domains of the four groups in the four moments of the study. (n = 38). BL – baseline; 1 month – after one month of intervention; 4 months – after four months of intervention; 6 months – after six months of intervention. G1: control + placebo; G2: control + Eurycoma longifolia; G3: concurrent training + placebo; G4: concurrent training + Eurycoma longifolia. AMS-S: sexual aspects of the AMS Scale
Tongkat Ali works better with regular exercises to improve libido as shown in the long-term 6-month study published by the University of Santarina, Brazil.
The randomized clinical study showed significant ED improvements in test participants who took Tongkat Ali with regular exercises during the 6-month observation.
Kegel exercises and weight training help to increase your testosterone and address ED-related symptoms due to age or hormone deficiencies.
Whilst there is a lack of empirical evidence on the effectiveness of Tongkat Ali on ED, current studies show Tongkat Ali is effective in managing mild ED symptoms, improving erection, and overall sexual satisfaction for those who have low testosterone levels.
Users experiencing mild ED symptoms due to androgen deficiency reported moderate to significant improvements in erection from short-term use of Tongkat Ali after 4 weeks. If you have a healthy androgen or testosterone levels, you may still gain mild to moderate libido effects from Tongkat Ali at doses of between 200mg to 400mg per day.
The effectiveness of Tongkat Ali as a libido supplement is not comparable to other medicinal sexual enhancement drugs which have a faster reaction time. It is important to note that Tongkat Ali is taken as a general dietary supplement for libido, energy, stamina and overall revitalization rather than as a libido-focused supplement.
Test Group | International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Score
| Orgasmic Function |
Group 2 (G2): Tongkat Ali, without exercises | Moderate Improvement (+4.58%) | Moderate Improvement |
Group 4 (G4): Tongkat Ali, with exercises, 3 times a week | Significant Improvement (+15.7%) | Significant Improvement |
Overweight adults with mild ED symptoms may require a higher Tongkat Ali dosage of 400 mg daily with regular exercises before seeing any libido improvements.
A human clinical study showed BMI reduction in obese adults after taking Tongkat Ali for 112 days and if you fall under this category, you may experience better libido after 12 weeks.
Related article: Tongkat Ali dosage guide
Based on human studies, 200mg to 300mg Tongkat Ali daily for 4 to 12 weeks may improve libido and mild ED symptoms. If you are overweight or have a higher BMI, you may increase your dose to 400 mg daily over a duration of 12 weeks.
Here are several tips when using Tongkat Ali supplements to achieve higher libido.
Source: Various studies on the effect of Tongkat Ali on men’s libido and fertility
Tongkat Ali daily dosage | Number of test subjects | Clinical Study & Research Conducted by | Results / Research findings |
300mg
| 62 (men and women) | Dr. Jay K Udani Dr. Annie George Dr. Michael Pakdaman
| Erection time: +161.8% Erection hardness: +39.3%
|
200mg | 45 (men) | Dr. Alice Erwig Dr. Melissa Carvalho Dr. Andriea Pelegrini
| Improvement in Erectile Dysfunction in Androgen Deficiency of Aging Males (ADAM)
|
300mg | 109 (men)
| Dr. Shaiful Bahari Dr. Annie George Dr. Wan Zahiruddin
| Sexual libido: +14% Sperm motility: +44% Semen volume: +18.2%
|
200mg | 350 (men) | Dr. Ismail Mohd Tambi Dr. Kamarul Imran | Sperm concentration: +65.5% Sperm morphology: +94.9% Sperm motility: 11%
|
A study published in the Asian Journal of Andrology showed that Tongkat Ali increased sperm concentration and sperm motility by 65% and 11% respectively.
Tongkat Ali contains high level of eurypeptides (i.e polypeptides, chain of amino-acids) and proteins that increase sperm count and sperm concentration.
Users may experience higher sperm count when taking Tongkat Ali supplements with meat protein, eggs and other healthy foods.
Yellow Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) generally works better for libido and is safe for long-term consumption compared to Black or Red Tongkat Ali. The strongest Tongkat Ali for libido is usually sourced from a pure root extract that uses hot-water extraction technology that contains higher eurypeptides (i.e polypeptides with chains of amino-acids) and glycosaponin.
Our analysis revealed that Malaysian Tongkat Ali pure root extract is highly sought after as a libido booster due to its superior performance compared to Indonesian Tongkat Ali, which is filled with impurities and adulterants. Taking Tongkat Ali extract that contains impurities or diluted with fillers (or maltodextrin) may not work to increase libido.
AKARALI Physta® Standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract is amongst the best natural libido booster sold on Amazon as it is clinically tested on men to deliver the highest libido gains. Made from natural ingredients with 100% root extract, this is the strongest and most potent Tongkat Ali formulation for long-term libido use.
Traditionally, Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) is used as a natural aphrodisiac to boost natural libido. Tongkat Ali is an active plant-based natural ingredient found in many sexual enhancement and natural libido supplements in recent years due to its testosterone-boosting properties.
Most libido-enhancing supplements contain Tongkat Ali, zinc, boron, Vitamin B12, l-arginine and l-citrulline which are believed to boost sexual desire for men and women. However, the effects of combining vitamins and Tongkat Ali on libido have yet to be clinically tested despite the reported gains in sexual desire and erection.
There is a higher chance that Tongkat Ali may work on libido provided the supplement contains pure unadulterated Tongkat Ali root extract. Users are cautioned against buying generic Tongkat Ali extracts that are not clinically tested as they may deliver zero benefits or mild effects on libido due to lower potency.
Tongkat Ali may address mild ED symptoms that are caused by low testosterone levels or hormone deficiencies. Tongkat Ali is not used or intended to cure or treat ED. The efficacy of Tongkat Ali depends on your daily dosage, purity of the extract, diet, lifestyle, age, and other medical conditions.
If you are medically diagnosed with severe ED or other medical conditions, please consult your nearest healthcare professional or doctor for advice before consuming Tongkat Ali.
Yes, Tongkat Ali is safe to be taken daily between 200 mg to 600 mg to maintain a healthy libido. Long-term 6-month human clinical studies showed improvement in libido on test participants taking Tongkat Ali with a 60-minute 3-times per week exercise routine.
If you are taking more than 6 months, it is best to cycle Tongkat Ali using 1 month on and 1 week off to ensure better libido and optimal testosterone levels.
Related Article: How to Cycle Tongkat Ali
Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Ismail Tambi, Professor Kerry Bone, Dr Rena Malik and Dr. Militello are amongst many healthcare professionals and scientists who spoke highly of Tongkat Ali’s effect on men’s libido.
US-based urologist, Dr. Rena Malik from Maryland shared her positive insights on Tongkat Ali’s effect on men’s libido based on recent scientific studies.
Dr. Rena Malik is an Urologist at University of Maryland Medical Center and was named a “Top Doctor” in the specialty of Urogynecology and Urology by Baltimore magazine in 2020.
In her video, Dr. Rena explains the science behind Tongkat Ali in 3 areas: Erectile Dysfunction, Testosterone and Stress based on research publications out there.
According to Dr. Rena, Tongkat Ali offers 3-in-1 benefits and may improve ED by restoring testosterone levels based on scientific evidence.
According to Dr. Rena Malik, Tongkat Ali with hot water root extract is the most potent (compared to ethanol-based extract), and encouraged users to choose hot-water Tongkat Ali extract for maximum benefit on libido.
From our customer survey research, many agree that standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract is the best supplement if you want the highest libido boost or a stronger erection.
Tongkat Ali Hot Water Root Extract gives the highest potency
Due to growing clinical trials, Tongkat Ali is used as a natural libido supplement to address mild ED symptoms and boost sexual desire for both men and women. In addition, Tongkat Ali showed promising results in supporting healthy fertility in men, and libido for men and women, making it a preferred supplement for the endocrine system.
Whilst Tongkat Ali may be recommended as a natural supplement or herbal remedy by urologists and andrologists, it may not treat chronic ED or cure ED. Tongkat Ali may work for men who have low-T and those who are actively exercising and taking other natural ways to boost their libido.
If you are seeking to reduce ED symptoms or improve your sexual desire, please ensure you consume pure Tongkat Ali extract at the recommended doses along with regular exercises to avoid any side effects.
AKARALI Tongkat Ali uses US-patented Physta® hot water standardized extract that is clinically tested for optimal libido support, with potent libido-enhancing properties from higher bioactive compounds; i.e 1.5% – 3% eurycomanone, 20% eurypeptides, 48% glycosaponin, 30% polysaccharide and 22% protein
Reference:
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
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.
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3 Responses
Hi, D
Do I have to go and see my doctors to write me a description and purchase your product.
I am having problem down there (Erectile dyfunction).
How do I get this product.?
Please respond.
Vegoli Geno
Tongkat Ali is a natural supplement that does not require any prescription from doctors. Tongkat Ali is clinically tested to promote better men’s health, predominantly on ED-related symptoms. Most clinical studies on ED involve daily dosage of 200mg-400mg of Tongkat Ali per day. An improvement in erection may be experienced by users consuming Tongkat Ali for 4 to 12 weeks, with regular exercises of at least 3 times a week. Most reported improved libido from taking Tongkat Ali are amongst men who are diagnosed with low level of testosterone or having an androgen deficiency. Please consult and take a testosterone test from your nearest clinic before deciding if Tongkat Ali is the best herbal supplement for you.
Tongkat Ali has shown positive effects in improving erectile dysfunction and boosting men’s libido, making it a potential natural solution worth considering!