Generally, standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extracts are reported to work faster due to higher bioactive compounds (i.e eurycomanone > 1.5%, eurypeptide > 20% and glycosaponin >30%) compared to non-standardized 200:1 extract.
Apart from types of extracts, your dosage, daily diet and choice of food may cause a longer response time for it to work optimally.
This article investigates how long it takes for Tongkat Ali to work, and if the response time to produce the desired effects meets your expectations and your daily supplementary needs.
It takes 30-120 minutes before you can notice any changes after you first take Tongkat Ali, but to get a meaningful or measurable results from your bloodwork or athletic performannce, you may need to take it in longer duration of more than four weeks.
The truth is, Tongkat Ali takes time to be fully digested in your intestines before absorbing the bioactive ingredients into your bloodstream. That means induce pharamacological changes to elevate your testosterone, hormonal changes, muscle growth, reduction in fat loss, changes in mood or even athletic performance requires daily consumption at the right doses.
Regardless format you choose, Tongkat Ali capsules, tablets, powder extract, coffee and effervescent deliver various response times.
How long it takes for Tongkat Ali to work is defined as follows:
Noticeable improvements: Instant, real-time or gradual improvements that can be felt physically or emotionally in either of the following categories – energy, stamina, strength, mood, libido
Measurable results: Improvements of health parameters, sports performance or other health goals that are backed by data, eg: empirical evidence from testosterone or hormonal blood test (before and after taking Tongkat Ali).
Assuming you are taking pure standardized hot water Tongkat Ali extract that is 3rd party lab tested at 200mg to 400mg, you may experience noticeable improvements in energy, mostly felt or perceived as an energy boost that translates into improved stamina or strength within 30 minutes after consuming Tongkat Ali. However, it may take as long as 2 hours if you are taking non-standardized extract or if it contains impurities and other adulterants.
According to pharmacists, taking Tongkat Ali powder extract in coffee or liquid form works faster than capsules due to faster absorption in the blood, which activates faster hormonal response from the adrenal and pituitary glands.
Standardized hot water Tongkat Ali extract has a high absorption rate, retains its molecular structure and generally works faster with measurable results.
For measurable results that are backed with data from blood test, it may take a minimum of four to twelve weeks based on a daily intake 200mg to 400mg Tongkat Ali to achieve a significant testosterone increase, muscle growth or improvements in sperm concentration. In other applications, those taking Tongkat Ali for weight loss may require more than 100 days based on clinical trials.
Here is a quick reference guide of the average time taken for Tongkat Ali to work if you are taking capsule or powder extract based on 200mg dosage.
Tongkat Ali extract | Noticeable Improvements
| Measurable Results |
Standardized Hot Water Pure Root Extract
| 10 – 30 minutes | 4 to 12 weeks |
Non-Standardized Generic Extract
| 90-100 minutes | 8 – 24 weeks |
Taking into account data 0f 217 published papers and clinical studies available on the American Botanical Council’s online database HerbMedPro, the average time taken for Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) to deliver measurable results on testosterone, libido, mood and strength is between four to six weeks based on 200mg daily intake.
Our analysis of past clinical studies and cutomer surveys showed that it takes an average between 24 hours to four weeks for Tongkat Ali to produce noticeable improvements on energy, mood or libido based on a 200mg to 400mg daily dose for adult weighing 70kg.
The dosage-response time of Tongkat Ali varies considerably depending on the purity, types of extract, level of eurycomanone and eurypeptides, user’s age and weight.
According to Head Scientist Dr. Annie George from Biotropics, “Most Tongkat Ali studies on testosterone are conducted between eight to twelve weeks before it can produce any meaningful results that are statistically significant”.
However, the average time for Tongkat Ali to produce noticeable improvements from testosterone gains is typically less than 24 hours, or as fast as 30 minutes provided you take between 200mg to 400mg of pure Tongkat Ali root extract that is standardized. Usually, 3rd party lab-tested or clinically tested Tongkat Ali extract has a faster response time due to its fine water-soluble powder extract.
Based on our analysis across more than 20 human clinical studies and hundreds of user reviews, pure Tongkat Ali root extract using standardized hot-water extraction may yield higher testosterone gains and benefits after 12 weeks compared to generic non-standardized extract.
You may experience a faster reaction time depending on Tongkat Ali dosage, lifestyle (sedentary vs active), BMI, diet and other factors.
In the case you fall under the category of sedentary (i.e non-active lifestyle) or overweight, you may feel a noticeable improvement in your energy or libido after the 3rd day compared to those who are actively exercising regularly.
Pro athletes, bodybuilders and sprinters may require up to 12 weeks of Tongkat Ali supplementation to deliver any measurable performance gains on the field.
22-year-old British pro-sprinter Khadafi claimed that Tongkat Ali helped to improve his sprinting time by 20%, with better body composition, reduced fat loss and faster muscle recovery time after six weeks.
“The amount of lean muscle growth, reduction in visceral fat and increase in anaerobic peak power during sprinting and plyometrics surprised me”, he said after taking 600mg standardized Tongkat Ali extract daily for six weeks.
The results of fat loss after the 1st 3 weeks improved his athletic performance, as shown in the table below.
| Before Taking Tongkat Ali (1st week) | After Taking Tongkat Ali (3rd Week)
|
Body Fat Mass | 13.8kg | 12.7kg |
Total Fat Percentage | 17.7% | 16.4% |
Fat-Free-Mass | 64.3kg | 64.5kg |
Visceral Fat Rating | 3 | 2 |
Basal Metabolic Rate | 1911 kcal | 1913 kcal |
For outcome-performance athletes, taking Tongkat Ali together with creatine, and a dose of zinc, magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D and iron improves sports performance significantly, resulting in faster lean muscle development, strength, stamina, and muscle recovery time by approximately 50%.
“It took me 16 weeks to achieve a sub 4-hour time in the marathon race after incorporating Tongkat Ali in my training plan” said 46-year-old Syed Shazli, who recently achieved his new personal best time in the Berlin Marathon.
“It is no surprise that 70% of Olympic athletes use herbal supplements such as Tongkat Ali and Ginseng during competitions to enhance sports performance, stamina and endurance, but taking at higher dose contribute to measurable performance gains such as faster speed, or longer distance” he added.
Improving Tongkat Ali Response Time for Athletes
During Training:
Take 400mg-600mg daily, an hour before training
During Competition:
Increase dosage up to 1,000mg during competition / race
The average response time for Tongkat Ali to induce meaningful bloodwork results to show any improvements takes more than a week, and whilst you may feel an immediate surge of energy, stamina or improvements in your running time or distance, this shows that various use cases of Tongkat Ali’s effectiveness largely depends on the measurable outcomes that you desire (i.e health goals).
That means some improvements are measurable, but some are not. And thus, our analysis shown in the table below illustrates a range of values of how long it takes for Tongkat Ali to work optimally based on age and lifestyle.
|
Tongkat Ali response time |
||
| Age |
Non-Active Lifestyle (Sedentary) |
Active Lifestyle (Regular Exercises) |
| 21-24 |
24- 72 hours |
< 72 hours |
| 25-30 |
1 – 5 days |
24 – 72 hours |
| 31-40 |
7 – 20 days |
48 – 72 hours |
| 41-50 |
7 – 60 days |
2 – 14 days |
| 51-60 |
7 – 90 days |
5 – 30 days |
| 61-70 |
7 – 90 days |
5 – 30 days |
| 71-80 |
7 – 90 days |
5 – 30 days |
Note: Tongkat Ali response time is defined as time taken to produce any noticeable benefits based on user experience and health goals. The above values are used as a guide and may vary from one user to another depending on lifestyle factors and health status.
Based on our survey, active health adults between 30 – 40 years are reported experience a surge in energy and libido in less than 48 hours after taking Tongkat Ali between 200 mg to 400mg daily compared to non-active adults. You can make Tongkat Ali work faster if you reduce your sugar intake, alcohol and other testosterone-killing foods substantially.
For young college athletes (below 24 years old) Tongkat Ali is reported to boost total testosterone and strength after 3 days. But Tongkat Ali may work only in high doses of more than 600mg if you are a highly-trained athlete as evidenced in other studies published in 2024.
Tongkat Ali powder extract or in capsule form take an average of 20-40 minute to be fully digested in the intestine and its bioactive ingredients are absorbed into the blood before flowing / travelling across various parts of your body including the adrenal, testes and pituitary glands. But with a good heart rate (HR), Tongkat Ali may work faster to ensure the newly produced testosterone hormones in your blood flow efficiently to various parts of your body.
“You need to keep your heart rate at optimal levels, preferably at 155 when you are doing physical activities if you expect Tongkat Ali to work almost immediately”, said a certified nutritionist from Boston, added that “all dietary supplements need time to work, but some work faster than others depending on potency and extract quality”
A higher heart rate is associated with increased blood flow, as a faster heart rate means more blood is being pumped out per minute, which directly contributes to higher blood flow throughout the body. And that helps to reduce time taken for Tongkat Ali to work if you want to experience a quick response time.
“It takes less than 15 minutes for standardized Tongkat Ali extract to show its effect on libido and energy after taking it immediately after my aerobic exercises” said a Tim Wallace, a health coach from Floria who trains recreational athletes in London and Manchester.
Depending on your heart rate, you may experience a faster reaction time of less than 20 minutes if you are taking Tongkat Ali for the first time – often reported as a “feeling great”, or “energized”, from the boost of energy felt when performing physical activities (eg: endurance running, swimming and other aerobic exercises).
Here is a performance test result based on feedback by recreational athletes and non-active adults who took Tongkat Ali in various doses (between 200mg to 1,000mg). This will give you an idea of the average time taken for it produce noticeable improvements in order to answer the question of “how long does it take for it work”
Tongkat Ali Dosage | Average Heart Rate (HR) in beats per minute (bpm)
| Type of Exercise and Intensity | Average time taken for Tongkat Ali to produce noticeable effect on energy, running time, libido, stamina (minutes) |
200mg | 60-100 bpm | Without exercises | 60-90 minutes |
200mg | 135-155 bpm | Running (Light) | 30 minutes |
400mg | 156-175 bpm | Running (Moderate) | 15 minutes |
600mg | 165-180 bpm | Running (Moderate to High) | 12 minutes |
600mg | 155-168 bpm | Weight lifting (moderate) | 55 minutes |
400mg | 167-175 bpm | Martial Arts / MMA (moderate) | 10 minutes |
Table above illustrate the effect of various dosage, heart rate, type of exercises and the intensity on Tongkat Ali’s effectiveness as a daily supplement when taken 30 minutes prior to performing the above physical activities
Health experts believe the recent advancement of standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract may offer faster absorption due to higher bioavailability (of eurycomanone and glycosaponin) to induce significant boost of energy, conversion of cholesterol to testosterone and higher metabolism, cutting down the time by almost 50% compared to conventional ethanol 200:1 Tongkat Ali extract.
Assuming if you take a potent Tongkat Ali supplement using standardized hot water extract, then chances are you may experience mild-to-moderate increased in libido or sustained energy after some light to moderate exercises in less than 30 minutes.
Our test results by a group of athletes (from 33-48 years) showed that the time taken for Tongkat Ali to induce noticeable effects or improvements on energy (through testosterone regulation), libido, erection and the reduction of fatigue reduced significantly by approximately 49% when paired with moderate-to-intense aerobic exercises such as running, swimming or cycling or even hiking, and keeping the heart rate (HR) at an average of 155-170 bpm (or at 80% max HR) for at least 40 minutes a day.
“This protocol works when using Tongkat Ali. You should experience immediate boost of energy if you sensitive to listen how your body react when exercising”, said Alimin, a 38 year old marathon runner who have been taking Tongkat Ali for more than 5 years.
Although it takes an average of about one minute for blood to circulate through the entire body, users taking Tongkat Ali may not experience immediate effects related to energy if the average daily heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). So if you are resting most of the time (or sedentary, less active), then Tongkat Ali may take longer time (averaging between 1 – 2 hours and sometimes longer for overweight adults) to induce any noticeable effects on improved libido, mood or energy.
Yes, Tongkat Ali takes time to work due to the nature of it being a plant-based supplement, thus requiring time for proper digestion and absorption into our blood stream to various hormone-producing glands. And that takes time, and unless you are fit or using it during exercises, you may not notice any visible benefits immediately or any health improvements that are considered measurable by medical standards.
The time-released nature of the bioactive ingredients allows ample time for your body to absorb the right nutrients at the right time. In most cases, Tongkat Ali works faster (i.e less time) in a situation that requires optimal hormonal balance and production in your body, eg: in activities that require physical strength or emotionally draining activities.
That is the reason Tongkat Ali is the most effective when taken an hour before high-intensity sports activities or exercises where your body requires optimal use of testosterone, cortisol and other hormones during rigorous activities.
From a pharmaceutical drug efficacy standpoint, natural supplements are known to produce gradual effects and may not be comparable to medicinal drugs that are inherently formulated to work faster.
Get more answers on Tongkat Ali’s reaction time to understand better how long it takes to produce desirable effects on health.
Taking pure Tongkat Ali hot water root extract may work instantly in less than 20 minutes, which is indicated by a boost of energy, mood or libido that is felt mostly by healthy adults with average BMI. However, most Tongkat Ali supplements in the market today have longer response times due to lower bioactive compounds, low-quality extracts and impurities. If you are overweight, or obese, it may take a longer time for Tongkat Ali to work before you can detect any measurable or noticeable gains.
Pure Tongkat Ali root extract in powder form may work faster than Tongkat Ali capsules as it is easily absorbed into your bloodstream. Most health enthusiasts add pure Tongkat Ali powder extract to their coffee or protein shake as a pre-workout drink due to better solubility and faster absorption. However, due to time constraints and practical reasons, most users opt for Tongkat Ali capsules that are sourced from potent root extract formulation as the second best option.
It takes four to twelve weeks of daily use of Tongkat Ali (at 200mg to 400mg daily dose) for it to deliver any meaningful or measurable results that can be detected in your bloodwork or testosterone lab test reports. As our testosterone levels fluctuate based on hours of the day, activities, diet and state of our physical health, Tongkat Ali may work with optimal results in less than four weeks if you adhere to good diet, sufficient sleep and regular exercises.
Depending on your health objectives, you may take Tongkat Ali daily for at least a minimum of four weeks for it to work optimally. However, there is no recommended duration of how long you should take Tongkat Ali and it can be taken daily as long as it makes you feel good, energized, and revitalized. You may take Tongkat Ali continuously for a year or even longer without side effects on the liver or kidneys as long as you adhere to low recommended dosages of between 200mg to 400mg daily.
Tongkat Ali is a plant-based food supplement that complements your diet and if you decide to stop taking Tongkat Ali immediately, you may notice a gradual decrease in energy, mood and overall physical strength after 1 week. Tongkat Ali’s nutrients and bioactive compounds will remain in your body for at least 4 to 5 days before you notice slight changes in your strength, stamina, and mood.
There are mild to moderate reductions in your total testosterone, free testosterone, DHEA, LDL and other parameters in your bloodwork after you stop taking Tongkat Ali. However, if you decide to start taking Tongkat Ali again after 1-2 week break, you may start noticing the immediate effects within 30 minutes to an hour.
Each Tongkat Ali brand sources its extract from Malaysian or Indonesian suppliers which contain varying degrees of potency and efficacy that can affect the response time. Pure Tongkat Ali root extract has higher efficacy with a faster response time to deliver the intended health benefits whilst brands such as Solaray Tongkat Ali 400mg may not work to produce any testosterone benefits due to low levels of eurycomanone content (<0.12%) and other impurities.
Related article: Does Solaray Tongkat Ali Work?
Tongkat Ali supplement containing pure standardized hot water root extract are clinically tested to work within 24 to 72 hours compared to non-standardized 200:1 Tongkat Ali extract. This is supported by clinical evidence study on young active adults (college athletes) below 24 years of age. However, real-world performance of Tongkat Ali may vary considerably depending on your age, weight (BMI) and health status.
Yes, Tongkat Ali may produce faster reaction time in less than 72 hours with noticeable effects on energy and libido for healthy adults who perform cardio or high-intensity exercises at least 3 times a week. Pairing with weight training 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes may help improve energy and libido substantially.
Older men over 60 may require between 4 to 12 weeks of daily consumption of 400 mg daily to obtain optimal effects from Tongkat Ali supplementation. Those taking Tongkat Ali together with Vitamin C, Vitamin B and other multivitamins may experience noticeable difference in energy, libido, mood and overall well-being.
Tongkat Ali is clinically tested on older menopausal women and a study on the reduction of hot flushes recorded significant results after 12 weeks based on a 200 mg of Tongkat Ali daily. However, women in their 40s an 50’s should adhere to the recommended dosage when taking Tongkat Ali with other supplements for optimal benefits. Please consult your nearest doctor for further advice and recommendations before consuming Tongkat Ali.
Increasing Tongkat Ali dosage may not work and could be detrimental to your health if the Tongkat Ali supplement contains low-quality extract, impurities or filled with adulterants. The effect of increasing dosage in order to gain faster results from Tongkat Ali may only work if you are using pure purified Tongkat Ali extract.
As evidenced in the lab test report reported by Dr. Chris (MD), taking 400mg to 800mg Tongkat Ali daily did not produce any testosterone gains. His bloodwork showed a reduction in testosterone after taking Solaray Tongkat Ali for 40 days.
Related article: Tongkat Ali Potency Explained.
There are no studies to support or compare the effectiveness of Fadogia Tongkat Ali combo. Whilst users are reported to have experienced faster gains in the areas of energy and libido, we recommend to observe any severe side effects when combining multiple herbs with Tongkat Ali in high dosages.
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.
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.
