Last Update: 22nd March 2026
At least 9 randomised controlled trials, 2 open-label studies, multiple animal studies, and a meta-analysis show meaningful conclusions that Tongkat Ali does work, but you can now use our Response Estimator to check if it will work for you.
The latest consensus report drawn from scientific papers showed a resounding “Yes” at 70% on Tongkat Ali’s purported benefits on testosterone, while the remaining 30% showing high “possiblity” that it may work.
Since 2005, most of Tongkat Ali’s wide range of health benefits are heavily supported by scientific evidence from the growing human and animal studies.
But does Tongkat Ali really work in reality? And will it work for you and me?
This article explains the science behind Tongkat Ali’s mechanism of action, its pathological pathways and whether it works on you.
Purpose:
Most studies measure Tongkat Ali’s efficacy in restoring the hormonal balance that contributes to key health parameters such as strength, body weight, testosterone, blood pressure, immune cells, erection, and sexual satisfaction.
In reality, Tongkat Ali is not a magic pill and may not work like medicinal drugs with 99% efficacy. Classified as food or herb in most countries, the response of taking Tongkat Ali varies considerably from each individual, although there has been extensive research to understand the biological response mechanism to direct effects such as testosterone and other outcome-based functional benefits such as sleep, sexual satisfaction, sports performance, strength and other health markers.
Present studies showed that the effectiveness of Tongkat Ali depends largely on dosage, weight, age, health status, lifestyle, and other underlying medical conditions.
Meanwhile, herbal experts argue that pure Tongkat Ali root extract using the hot water extraction method from roots is likely to be more effective (and potent). In addition, harvesting mature plants (more than 5 years old) ensures higher bioavailability that guarantee a higher level of potency
It simply means that standardized Tongkat Ali extract tha comply to the Tongkat Ali standard MS2409 is considered better in producing the desired health benefits (notably higher testosterone) as evidenced in some of the RCT studies in recent years.
Tongkat Ali may work better if you are exercising 3 times per week. Or else, most of the benefits are flushed out through your digestive system.
Behind the mixed reaction by Reddit users, we ought to know that Tongkat Ali supplementation can only work as intended if you are taking clinically tested Tongkat Ali extract – a premium that one has to pay to get a wide range of science-backed benefits.
That explains that only a handful of clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements work to boost testosterone, libido or even to enhance sports performance. Used by some pro-athletes, sports performance indicators (speed, sprinting time, endurance distance time) showed it exceeded other generic lab-tested benefits.
Tongkat Ali benefits both men and women by optimizing the production of vital hormones in your glands, which are part of the endocrine system.
Tongkat Ali supplementation plays a major influence on the primary endocrine system to enable optimal production of hormones, which is activated by signals produced in the hypothalamus (located in your brain). This makes Tongkat Ali an effective dietary supplement for adults with aging hormones as hormones are believed to be the pathways for optimal body functions.
Tongkat Ali may restore hormonal levels after 4 to 6 weeks, an early indicator that it works. It provides a static snapshot, but do not expect your hormones to stay constant all week.
If your goal is to boost testosterone, there is more than 70% chance that it may work for you based on 9 randomized controlled human studies.
However, due to age and the cyclical nature of hormone fluctuations (that peaks and drops during a 24-hour cycle), you may notice that taking Tongkat Ali at the right time (and at the right amount) may help improve your low-T symptoms, or boost your energy during your exercises or regular runs.
Your body goes through these 6 steps – either sequentially (and activated simultaneously) along various pathways, mostly through your bloodstream after its bioactive ingredients are fully absorbed within 30 minutes after taking Tongkat Ali.
At a minimum of 50 mg of Tongkat Ali consumption that gets absorbed into your blood stream, the bioactive ingredients (notably eurycomanone and eurypeptides) send sufficient signals to activate Luteinizing Hormones (LH) that in return, stimulates the Leydig cells in your testicles or ovaries to produce more testosterone. This is more so if your body requires more testosterone to “fuel your activities” (eg: when you are exercising, etc)
This action is driven by signals produced in the hypothalamus (i.e your brain) to send the message to the pituitary, adrenal and thymus glands to produce the necessary hormones.
Tongkat Ali inhibits and reduces the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) which in turn, allows higher production of testosterone. A point to note that SHBG rises when your testosterone level is low, which prevents the production of free or total testosterone.
Tongkat Ali boosts testosterone production by switching your body’s priorities away from catabolic (muscle-degrading) stress hormone production and shuttles resources into making anabolic (muscle-building) hormones such as testosterone.
Tongkat Ali enhances testosterone steroidogenesis at the Leydig cells by inhibiting aromatase conversion of testosterone to estrogen. At the same time, Tongkat Ali reduces cortisol, i,e the stress hormone that affects the production of testosterone in our body.
Whilst Tongkat Ali balances the cortisol, it also helps to raise 5-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
The mechanism of action work simultaneously to increase the production of “free testosterone”, which is the usable testosterone that your body needs.
Based on various studies, Tongkat Ali has significant effects on total testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHT, estrogen, cortisol, dopamine, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), T-cells, Naïve T-cells, CD4+ cells, uric acid, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood glucose level, and insulin levels.
Tongkat Ali’s adaptogenic properties play a major role in activating the hypothalamus that controls your pituitary glands, adrenal glands and thymus glands which helps in regulating your mood, increase sexual desire, reduce fat loss through increased metabolism, and helps support healthy fertility and libido.
Based on past results taken from RCT studies, there is a great chance of more than 70% that it will work on you if you have low-T symptoms, with notable improvements on energy, testosterone support and overall improvement in men’s health.
At the same time, since Tongkat Ali is classified as food (natural herb), it responds differently for each individual and the efficacy largely depends on your age, dosage, types of extract used, duration of use, your lifestyle, frequency of your exercises, and your existing dietary supplement stack.
For first-time users, we develop the world’s first Tongkat Ali Response Estimator below to evaluate if Tongkat Ali works for you.
Tongkat Ali benefits women in many ways through the activation of key reproductive hormones such as testosterone, cortisol and estrogen during various situations (eg: in a highly-stressed environment, exposure to overtraining, period cycle, premature aging, pre-menopausal and post-menopausal phases).
Studies showed that women above 50, pre-menopausal, post-menopausal or those diagnosed with androgen deficiency may benefit from Tongkat Ali due to low levels of testosterone and estrogen. Experts believe Tongkat Ali may be more effective on women above 35 rather than young women below 30.
Additionally, female athletes and active women may benefit from Tongkat Ali supplementation more than sedentary women due to the hormonal support needed to drive their energy at optimal levels at all times.
You may refer to the list of Tongkat Ali’s studies and clinical trials on women here.
Tongkat Ali works on men and women across 20-70 years to revitalize health, and keeping fit and balanced.
Generally, Tongkat Ali may work for most people based on two to 12 weeks of 200mg to 400mg daily consumption. This assumption is based on the strict protocol (eg: a minimum of 30 minutes light jogging, or 10,000 steps daily, no alcohol, and no smoking policy) during that period. More importantly, you may find early signs such as better energy in the morning, less brain fog coupled with clarity of thoughts, a sense of calmness and the “extra energy” you never knew you had – especially when doing weights, heavy reps, and the extra mile (if you are into running).
Our research (from online reviews across eCommerce platforms) revealed that at least 8 out of 10 users reported that Tongkat Ali improved their energy, libido and strength. Further anecdotal bloodwork by some users showed testosterone improvements between 20% to 80% after taking Tongkat Ali supplements for four to eight weeks.
In the real world, despite large number of users reported “feeling great and energized”, there is a small percentage of users who claimed Tongkat Ali supplements did not work for them, with bloodwork showing reductions in testosterone after 40 days.
Brands such as Solaray Tongkat Ali did not work as a libido or testosterone booster, reported by Dr. Chris in his review of popular Tongkat Ali brands in the US.
“American consumers are easily duped into buying hyped up Tongkat Ali brands such as Momentous and Solaray” said a former research analyst from the American Botanical Council. Meanwhile, urologist Dr. Reina Malek mentioned that always go for standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract, indicating that it may work better than the generic non-standardized Tongkat Ali.
Related Article: Reasons Why Tongkat Ali Did Not Work on Me.
Beyond physiological and biological responses that could only be measured using laboratory equipment and controlled groups, there are other visible signs to show that Tongkat Ali may work on you.
For men, common signs include morning erection, more energy and endurance during longer runs, high intensity or cardio exercises, faster recovery and better mood throughout the day.
As for women, most reported higher energy and female ultramarathon runners have been clocking more miles with faster pace, indicating better stamina compared to taking commercial energy gels.
Highly-trained athletes or active individuals may notice measurable benefits such as longer distance, higher VO2 max, and improved running speed after taking Tongkat Ali – key output indicators to show that Tongkat Ali is working effectively as intended.
Related Article: Top 10 signs that Tongkat Ali is working for you.
41 year-old Don Verb from Texas (USA) reported he lost over 60 lbs whilst building lean muscle after taking Tongkat Ali supplement for two weeks. He added that Tongkat Ali supplementation gave him more energy, accelerated his body transformation and gave him a “better sense of well-being”.
Former Uber driver James Goodman from Essex (UK) claimed that he wasn’t aware of the benefits of Tongkat Ali until he incorporated Tongkat Ali as part of his daily supplement stack which helped his libido and fueled his extra strength in his bodybuilding activities.
Don Verb (a.k.a Donald Pump) further shared his body transformation experience after taking Tongkat Ali for six weeks, with notable improvements reported in areas such as elevated energy, enhanced cardio progress and better sleep.
Dr. Chris shared his disappointing experience after taking Tongkat Ali for 40 days, claiming that Tongkat Ali did not increase his testosterone. In fact, he may have taken the wrong Tongkat Ali supplemented which resulted in testosterone of 29%.
Tongkat Ali helps in building a healthy endocrine system due to its unique bioactive ingredients such as eurycomanone, eurypeptides, saponin and proteins. Thus it works as a daily supplement to keep your reproduction system and immune system working optimally.
Tongkat Ali affects our sub-endocrine systems (eg: Male & Female Reproduction System, Immunology System, Central Nervous System) by restoring our hormones due to aging, insufficient nutrients and from years of poor diet.
Tongkat Ali root contains quassinoids and alkaloids, two bioactive compounds that activate hormone-inducing actions in your body that may work for most androgen deficiency adults.
Key bioactive ingredients of Tongkat Ali such as eurycomanone, eurypeptides, polysaccharide and glycosaponin are known for its adaptogenic properties, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities that protect your body from premature aging, enabling your body to function optimally.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) Bio-active ingredients | Description |
Eurycomanone |
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Polysaccharide |
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Glycosaponin |
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Protein |
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Tongkat Ali affects our hormones by restoring hormonal balance in our endocrine system. Tongkat Ali affects mostly hormones that are produced by the hypothalamus, thymus, adrenal glands, testes, ovaries, pituitary glands and in kidneys too.
Where the hormone is produced | Hormone(s) secreted | Does Tongkat Ali impact the hormone? |
Adrenal glands | Norepinephrine | Yes. Direct Impact
|
Testes (testicles) | Testosterone | Yes. Direct Impact
|
Ovaries | Progesterone | Yes. Direct Impact
|
Ovaries | Estrogen | Yes. Direct Impact
|
Pituitary gland | Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) | Yes. Possible Indirect Impact |
Pituitary gland | Growth hormone (GH) | Yes. Direct Impact |
Pituitary gland | Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | Yes. Direct Impact |
Kidneys | Renin and angiotensin | Yes. Direct Impact
It inhibits ACE receptor-which controls vasoconstriction and therefore blood pressure
|
Kidneys | Erythropoietin | Yes. Possible Indirect Impact
|
Pancreas | Insulin | Yes. Direct Impact
|
Hypothalamus | Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) | Yes. Possible indirect impact (since report of decrease in LH and FSH)
|
Hypothalamus | Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) | Yes. Possible indirect impact (since cortisol reduce and testosterone increase)
|
Thymus | Humoral factors | Yes. Possible indirect impact (since it improves immunity by increasing lymphocytes)
|
Hormones are chemical substances that affect the activity of another part of the body or your organs. Bioactive compounds from Tongkat Ali keeps our hormone healthy in our bloodstream, and stimulate our organs to ensure our body function optimally.
Experts believed that there are more than 200 hormones in our body, working harmoniously with different roles as messengers
The word “hormone” originates from the Greek word hormao meaning “I excite”. It refers to it’s inherent biological function which excites or stimulates a particular part of the body. In fact, The term ‘hormonal’ has become synonymous with ‘mood,’” says Dr. Epstein. While hormones do affect mood, they do much more in the body than that.
Here are key hormones that are produced in our respective organs and Tongkat Ali supplementation affects majority of these hormones including testosterone, cortisol and others.
Hormone | Organ | Function |
Testosterone | Testes | Testosterone is responsible for the characteristics of the masculine body, including hair growth on the face and body and muscle development. Testosterone is essential for the production of sperm, libido, mood and also acts to strengthen bones. |
Cortisol | Adrenals | Cortisol has a number of functions. It promotes normal metabolism, maintains blood sugar levels and blood pressure, provides resistance to stress and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also plays a part in regulation of fluid balance in the body. |
Thyroxine | Thyroid | Thyroxine controls many body functions, including heart rate, temperature and metabolism. It also plays a role in the metabolism of calcium in the body. |
Oestrogen | Ovaries | Oestrogen facilitates growth of the tissues of the sex organs and other tissues related to reproduction. Oestrogen also acts to strengthen bones and has a protective effect on the heart. |
Progesterone | Ovaries | Progesterone promotes the changes in the uterus that occur in preparation for the implantation of a fertilised ovum and prepares the breasts for milk production. |
At the epicenter of Tongkat Ali’s hormone-inducing mechanism, you may have heard from Dr. Andrew Huberman about how the testosterone production in our body is activated by a hormone known as Luteinising Hormone (LH).
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a glycoprotein hormone which is co-secreted along with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) in the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary).
Tongkat Ali helps the release of LH and FSH from your testis (for men) and ovaries (for women) from your pituitary glands. This explains why Tongkat Ali works for men’s libido and fertility in most cases with mild to moderate results.
According to WebMd.com, LH and FSH are hormones that help your reproductive system and this widely accepted view is supported by urologists, andrologists and endocrinologists. Tongkat Ali’s effect on LH and FSH is viewed favorably by Dr. Andrew Huberman, who positioned Tongkat Ali as an effective natural testosterone supplement in his various podcasts and interviews.
Here is a step-by-step explanation of what happens when LH and FSH hormones are activated.
Although there are sufficient clinical tests to support the evidence that Tongkat Ali actually works to boost or restore testosterone levels or improve libido, however, limited studies showed only clinically tested yellow Tongkat Ali extract is effective in inducing the claimed health benefits.
In fact, clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements that use standardized hot water extract are generally superior, and perform better compared to mass-produced ethanol-based Tongkat Ali extract.
For Tongkat Ali to work optimally, it is best to avoid 200:1 Tongkat Ali extracts, non-clinically tested products or supplements that use generic non-standardized extracts.
The mechanism of how Tongkat Ali work is by restoring normal testosterone levels by increasing the release of free testosterone from its binding hormone, the sex hormone-binding globulin.
Clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements are conducted by qualified scientists and reviewed by medical professionals to assess their efficacy (i.e ability to induce testosterone increase) across a wide range of patients with various demographics and health conditions. It is regarded as “clinically proven”, making it one of the best Tongkat Ali supplements that works well for aging adults, and for optimal testosterone and libido boost.
Tongkat Ali is not a medicinal synthetic drug and due to the nature of it being a natural plant-based supplement, it takes time to work. Despite its longer reaction time, some users reported that Tongkat Ali works within a few hours after first consumption while others reported measurable increase in testosterone or immune system after twelve weeks.
It is common to hear “I feel more energetic the next morning”, or “I feel younger again” from consumers consuming Tongkat Ali.
Based on most Tongkat Ali studies, it takes two to four weeks of continuous daily consumption of 200 mg per day before you can notice any significant improvements in energy and stamina.
But for those who are regularly exercising 3 times per week, expect faster improvements within less than 2 weeks.
You may greatly benefit from an improved libido and sperm production over a period of 4 to 12 weeks.
Tongkat Ali may not work as effectively as it should be if you are not exercising regularly (at least 3 times per week) or if you have a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, you may not gain optimal testosterone increase from taking Tongkat Ali supplements.
However, Tongkat Ali may still work with mild to moderate effects on mood, as continuous daily consumption of Tongkat Ali at 200mg daily showed a mild stress reduction of 10-15% due to the reduction of cortisol (stress hormones).
Growing clinical human studies and consumer reviews reinforce Tongkat Ali’s effectiveness and benefit to health. Whilst it may work for most people, it does not mean it will work for everyone.
To increase the likelihood that Tongkat Ali may work for you or optimal results, choosing quality Tongkat Ali with standardized hot water extract with regular exercises may result in better health gains and minimal side effects.
If you have more questions, we have prepared a list of Tongkat Ali Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.
Till then, choose wisely and stay safe!
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a writer and journalist, Naressa specializes in nutrition, natural supplement and wellness. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness.
13 Responses
I’ve been consuming tongkat ali for almost a year no. Yes, tongkat ali does work for me. Just within a month i can feel the difference. Overall, i feel more energetic physically and mentally. Just be sure to opt for the best quality tongkat ali.
Having the right amount of energy and testosterone are important for a ‘sports freak’ like me. Since taking tongkat ali my performance in sports have been improved meaning that tongkat ali does work effectively. The best part is that it can be mixed with coffee.
Tongkat ali was introduce to me by a friend who understands my struggle with fatigue. 5 months after taking tongkat ali i can say that i’m feeling fatigue a lot less and at the same time it improved my sleep quality. So, yes, it does work for me.
Took tongkat ali as a pre workout supplement after it was suggested by a mate. The effect from this is that i’m able to exercise longer and more intense as it gave me a boost of energy. It also helped me in maintaining my BMI. I must say, it worked perfectly for me.
Few months back i’ve been taking tongkat ali and i must say, it felt great. After couple of weeks, i can get more stuff done during the day and can still go on…plus, I don’t fell so exhausted after a long day at the office. My libido and sexual drive have been increase exponentially. So far, i’m not experiencing any side effect from this. Good stuff!
I would really recommend using tongkat ali as a supplement. I consume quality and genuine Tongkat Ali in the form of capsules or mixed it with coffee sometimes. Yeah it will ruin the taste of coffee with its bitterness LOL. So far I’m on week two, I can tell the difference where I definitely feel less lethargic and doesn’t go straight to bed after work.
I bought Tongkat Ali numerous times. I was very impressed by the effect it had on my training. I felt more energetic everytime I woke up in the morning. The muscle recover much faster and I could train more days instead of waiting for the muscle to recover.
I would say that after more than 2years using Tongkat Ali , the results have been good to very good. I am 64 and have literally never had a problem with sexual performance and I am not aware of any side effects (I do have a pretty sexy wife, though). I’ve not experienced any weight loss – as has been noted in some descriptions- but that was never the main reason for my purchase anyway.
I have used Tongkat Ali to enhance my sexual activity and libido. Overall I have been very pleased with the effects of this product. My first cycle was on for about 2 weeks and I felt how I have more energy during the day and that I needed less sleep during the night. After week 3 I could feel a real boost and the result was that I had a strong increase in my libido and my sexual activity. After 6 weeks I stopped for 1 week and started over with my cycle again. So far I still feel the same great results as when taken for the first time, this product has been working great for me so far.
Tongkat ali is one of the best pre workout supplement i’ve ever taken. It helped improves your performance and give you a boost of energy that helped to push further. It also help with muscle mass. Tongkat ali work for me and i would suggest it to others.
I have started taking Tongkat Ali a few months ago, and I feel energised and more active physically and intellectually. I’m positive it is one of the best herbal supplement in the market today. what’s amazing about Tongkat Ali is that it can be taken with tea or coffee or even as a pre-workout source of energy.
I have tested Tongkat ali 400mg extensively for 5+ months. The first 60 days were perfect hand grip strength went from 145lbs x10 to 197lbs x 22 in 3 months. BUT! Heart palpitations showed itself at day 60, I took 3 weeks breaks until all palpitations subsided. Only for the palpitations to return after 13 days on Tongkat again. This I reproduced twice like clockwork 2-3 weeks off and on day 13 heart palpitation start. So yes there is benefits but it duplicated what TRT Gel does at 13 days increased red blood cells. I see no studies stating this or any feedback from anyone stating this but should be mentioned as a possibility. I logged all of my data on amazon Tongkat Ali 400mg from Solaray.
thanks for your blog!
Although the effects of tongkat Ali on free testosterone have repeatedly been shown in studies, there are few (if any) randomized controlled trials (RCT) that tested its effect on muscle hypertrophy or strength gains. Although there seems to be evidence that tongkat Ali mimics (elements of) testosterone replacement therapy I have not been able to find an RCT that shows significant gains in muscle hypertrophy or (peak) strength.