The popular opinion is taking Tongkat Ali as and when needed, but most users seek for an established protocol for optimal and sustainable benefits.
There is no official recommendation from health authorities of how long you should take Tongkat Ali. Most current human studies are based on four to twelve weeks of daily supplementation, but in reality, most active adults are taking daily for six to twelve months, whilst some (eg: competitive runners or bodybuilders) are taking it more than a year.
Speaking to experts in the field, how long you should take Tongkat Ali depends on current baseline health status, needs, and health objectives. According to health experts, you may take it for four weeks at a minimum, but ideally six to twelve weeks to gain optimal and consistent results.
Despite limited studies to establish a clear duration of how long you should consume Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia), most opt for short term supplementation between four to twelve weeks, whilst those who are seeking longer term benefits seek for 52 weeks of supplementation and even up to to 3 years.
Granted Tongkat Ali is not medicinal drugs to cure diseases but rather optimizing your health through natural biological responses, our protocol may help you plan how long you should take Tongkat Ali by understanding the effects on health performance, sports performance and overall revitalization.
Prerequisites:
When adopting our protocol for short-term, medium-term or long-term use, please adhere to the following checklist:
For first time users, it is recommended to start with a two-week duration, before progressing to four-weeks, six-week or even twelve weeks supplementation plan to avoid any side effects – although this is rare in most users taking standardized or clinically tested Tongkat Ali products.
You may gain more sustainable testosterone, energy, libido and mood balance when taking it long-term use (i.e more than 12 weeks) as evidenced in many aging adults and those with hormonal deficiencies.
If you are used to taking herbs such as Ginseng, or Ashwagandha in the past, then you may start with a six-week or longer protocol as your body has a higher tolerance on adaptogenic or anabolic bioactive compounds (eg: alkaloids or quassinoids) found in most natural herbs.
Here is a guide on how long you should take Tongkat Ali for, its potential benefits, how much you should take it based on 2, 4, 6, 12 and 52 weeks with cycling intervals (if required).
Two weeks is the minimum duration for Tongkat Ali to work effectively for rapid energy or testosterone support for most adults. This protocol delivers a short-term boost and best suited if you are planning for a hectic month ahead of you, or gearing up for sports or cardio activities that requires more physical or mental energy than your current condition. You may stop taking it after 2 weeks and continue this plan later as and when you need the rapid energy boost.
| Goal | Rapid increase in energy, endurance, or acute testosterone support |
| Dosage | 400 mg/day (split into two doses: 200 mg morning, 200 mg afternoon). |
| Schedule | Daily for 14 days. |
| Cycle | No cycling required for short-term use. |
A four-week supplementation of Tongkat Ali is generally accepted as optimal for most healthy and aging adults. Taking Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks are backed by many clinical and research studies, and considered beneficial for sustaining optimal testosterone levels, improved immunity and building strong stress resilience (from regulation of stress hormone).
| Goal | Sustained testosterone support, improved recovery, and stress resilience. |
| Dosage | 400–600 mg/day , split into two doses: 200–300 mg morning, 200–300 mg afternoon). |
| Schedule | 5 days on, 2 days off per week. |
| Cycle | Include at least 2 off-days per week to maintain sensitivity. |
You may take Tongkat Ali for a duration of six weeks if you are focused on improving athletic or cardio performance – notably on endurance, stamina and strength. This performance-oriented protocol is paired with an exercise plan, best suited for sports training, military training and other energy-consuming physical activities. This six-week supplementation plan could also be extended with cycling intervals to benefit libido and improve mild ED symptoms in some cases.
| Goal | Optimized physical performance, recovery, and libido enhancement. |
| Dosage | 600 mg/day (split into two doses: 300 mg morning, 300 mg afternoon). |
| Schedule | 5 days on, 2 days off per week. |
| Cycle | After 6 weeks, take a 1-week break before restarting. |
Note: Please evaluate benefits, or you could measure performance and adjust dosage if needed throughout the six-week period.
Taking Tongkat Ali for twelve weeks may bring consistent improvement in your testosterone levels, muscle mass, mood, energy and overall well-being. This 3-month (12 week) plan is best suited if you are seeking to lose weight, build or maintain lean muscle mass or keeping yourself fit and energetic at all times. This 12-week protocol is usually paired with regular (but less strenuous) exercises, sugar-free diet and other vitamins or minerals to ensure your hormones are kept optimal at all times.
| Goal | Consistent improvement in testosterone levels, muscle mass, and overall well-being. |
| Dosage | 600–800 mg/day (split into two doses: 300–400 mg morning, 300–400 mg afternoon). |
| Schedule | 5 days on, 2 days off per week. |
| Cycle | After 12 weeks, take a 2-week break before resuming. |
You may also take Tongkat Ali daily for 1 year or longer with the right dosing strategy. If you are a bodybuilder or been running or doing cardio consistently at least 4 times a week, you may use Tongkat Ali as a daily supplement to keep your testosterone and other hormones in balance. This daily supplementation may help in muscle recovery from overtraining, or manage daily stress for constantly busy professionals, entrepreneurs and highly-trained athletes or military personnel that require higher than average energy levels.
| Goal | Long-term testosterone balance, stress management, and physical health. |
| Dosage | 400–600 mg/day (split into two doses: 200–300 mg morning, 200–300 mg afternoon). |
| Schedule | 5 days on, 2 days off per week. |
| Cycle | Every 12 weeks, take a 2-week break. |
Note: You may reduce dosage to 200–400 mg/day during low-activity periods or off-season (eg: when you are not exercising / training, or during recovery periods).
What happens if I stop taking Tongkat Ali?
Whilst there is no downside or withdrawal symptoms if you decide to stop Tongkat Ali, each person may experience some level of gradual depletion of stamina and energy.
If you are healthy and fit, you may experience a lack of energy in the first 24-72 hours after you stop taking Tongkat Ali – which is noticeable if you are doing serious running (at higher pace or in longer duration).
In addition, you may experience a gradual reduction in your testosterone by 10-20% over a period of 3 to 4 weeks after your last intake of Tongkat Ali. In some cases, your total testosterone levels may return to your baseline prior to Tongkat Ali supplementation if you are not exercising regularly to keep it at optimal levels.
Warnings
You should not take Tongkat Ali for longer than two weeks if you have hormonal imbalances, diagnosed with medical conditions (eg: kidney or liver diseases) that can affect your hormones severely, or if you are on other medications that are affecting your hormone levels.
Please note some users may experience side effects when taking Tongkat Ali at high doses (>800 mg/day) – which cause mild insomnia, restlessness, or gastrointestinal discomfort in sensitive individuals.
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.
