Tongkat Ali is a natural dietary supplement that revitalizes health in many ways. Whilst you may view it as a quick-fix anecdote to boost testosterone and libido, many inexperienced users are expecting Tongkat Ali to work instantly.
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.
Based on multiple clinical studies across more than 200 test participants including anecdotal evidence from user feedback, it takes an average between 24 hours to 12 weeks for Tongkat Ali to produce measurable results or benefits based on a 200mg to 400mg daily dose.
The dosage-response time may vary relative to the purity, extract quality, age and weight. The average time for Tongkat Ali to work is less than 24 hours if you are active and provided you take between 200mg to 400mg of pure Tongkat Ali extract daily.
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. Users are advised to take Tongkat Ali with regular exercises and follow a healthy diet (of zinc, magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D and iron) to get the most from Tongkat Ali supplements.
Below is a general rule of how long it takes for Tongkat Ali to work optimally.
|
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.
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.
And there are some studies to support the effect of strength and testosterone on young college athletes (below 24 years old) after 3 days of taking Tongkat Ali.
Tongkat Ali takes time to work as it is classified as a natural supplement that contains natural bioactive ingredients that produce gradual effects in our body.
The time-released nature of the bioactive ingredients allows ample time for your body to absorb the right nutrients at the right time.
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.
