Last Updated: 26th March 2023
Millions have consumed Tongkat Ali without knowing its wide range of health benefits. Understanding each health benefit of Tongkat Ali is vital to achieving your health goals.
Tongkat Ali benefits both men and women – with primary focus on the core endocrine system and sub-systems such as the reproductive system, our hypothalamus, pituitary glands, and adrenal glands.
This article explains the potential health benefits of Tongkat Ali from decades of research studies and clinical trials.
Here is a quick summary.
Note: Our Credibility & Trust Score provides a summary rating on the Tongkat Ali benefits based on clinical trials and research studies from 1990-2023. The assessment was performed by a group of independent health experts, nutritionists, and researchers, and assisted by our medical advisors.
Tongkat Ali delivers a wide range of health benefits that span across our endocrine system; a messenger system containing more than 30 hormones that control our body functions.
Tongkat Ali’s benefit is driven by the hypothalamus in the brain; sending signals to the adrenal and pituitary glands to produce the required hormones for our body to function.
With growing clinical tests to validate Tongkat Ali’s health benefits, clinically tested Tongkat Ali is pioneering the new growth of discerning consumers who seek more benefits from Tongkat Ali supplements.
Clinically-tested Tongkat Ali is known for its proven health benefits due to rigorous tests by certified scientists. (Credit: AKARALI Physta Laboratory)
To date, more than 1,000 men and women have participated in research and clinical trials to validate Tongkat Ali’s health benefits.
In this article, we shall cover 12 key benefits of Tongkat Ali supplements; taken from published clinical tests and research studies.
Out of 12, there are 6 frequently-mentioned benefits of Tongkat Ali that you may have came across on the Reddit forums, or in sponsored articles such as Discover Magazine, or Outlook India.
Tongkat Ali benefits women in a similar way but with different focus areas. Find out how Tongkat Ali may benefit women in 5 different core areas.
Tongkat Ali also known as Akar Ali in the Malay language is a rare medicinal adaptogen plant found in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The scientific name for Tongkat Ali is Eurycoma Longifolia.
The most potent of the Tongkat Ali plant is the root. Researchers and scientists reported that the root contains the highest bioactive ingredients that are needed to produce pharmacological responses (i.e efficacy) to our health.
Most research and clinical studies in recent years are conducted using Tongkat Ali root extract to validate its health benefits.
Tongkat Ali benefits are derived from the following bioactive ingredients that produce pharmacological effects to our health:
Tongkat Ali raises testosterone levels, both total testosterone, free testosteorne and DHEA in both men and women. The mechanism of action of Tongkat Ali works by activating our adrenal gland, pituitary gland, testes and ovaries to produce more testosterone.
There is growing scientific evidence from clinical trials on testosterone in the last 20 years to support the benefit of Tongkat Ali on testosterone.
According to Dr. Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab, Stanford University), clinical trials and research studies showed that Tongkat Ali raises free testosterone.
Some recent studies showed an increase in testosterone between 15% to 600% in both men and women. Although in reality, testosterone gains depend on dosage, age, exercise, BMI, and existing medical conditions.
A placebo-controlled clinical trial on test participants between 20 – 60 years (n= 19 males, n= 28 females) consuming 50mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) with Multivitamins showed a significant increase in free testosterone. Clinical trial registration NCT02865863.
Increased testosterone from Tongkat Ali translates to improved libido, lean muscle mass, reduction of body fat, and increased mental performance and overall stamina.
Tongkat Ali benefits the libido of both men and women by restoring hormonal balance (i.e testosterone in men and estrogen in women) in our reproductive system.
There is sufficient scientific evidence of Tongkat Ali’s effects on increasing libido in recent years due to growing clinical trials on men.
Tongkat Ali benefits men’s health by supporting a healthy male reproductive function and fertility – including sperm motility, semen production, libido, and erectile function.
As for women, Tongkat Ali benefits the female reproductive system and libido, particularly for pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Multiple Tongkat Ali studies on men’s health showed improvement in ED-related symptoms and fertility.
Most libido benefits are associated with higher production of testosterone after consuming Tongkat Ali. The mechanism works by regulating the testosterone hormone that is responsible for sexual organs’ functions and libido in both men and women.
According to medical experts, using Tongkat Ali may improve libido, especially in men.
The increasing number of research and clinical studies on Tongkat Ali’s benefits on men’s sexual health sparked growing interest by medical experts, including andrologists and urologists such as Dr. Rena Malik (USA), Dr. Andrea Millitelo (Italy) and Dr. Ismail Thamby (Malaysia).
More doctors are recommending Tongkat Ali in recent years to patients seeking natural supplementation to boost libido, sperm motility, and fertility.
Tongkat Ali is widely used as a pre-workout by athletes and sports professionals to increase performance output; notable improvements in stamina, anaerobic performance, post-muscle recovery, lean muscle growth, and overall strength.
Tongkat Ali is a versatile herb and can be mixed with Fadogio Agrestis, Ashwagandha and many other herbs to enhance sports performance. That makes Tongkat Ali more popular than other herbs in the fitness and sports community.
The benefit of adding Tongkat Ali to your existing health stack gives a performance edge to your stamina, endurance, strength, and muscle growth.
Tongkat Ali helps burn body fat and promotes weight loss by increasing metabolism in order to burn more calories, increasing testosterone levels to convert energy more efficiently and curbing stress eating or overeating habits.
Tongkat Ali raises metabolism by stimulating thermogenesis, a process of heat production that burns calories in your body, ultimately accelerating weight loss and BMI.
A clinical study on Tongkat Ali showed a reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) in obese adults after consuming 200 mg of Tongkat Ali daily.
Tongkat Ali burns calories more efficiently from thermogenesis which helps weight loss in men and women.
If you are taking Tongkat Ali as a weight loss supplement, you can gain the most benefit from Tongkat Ali by incorporating the basics fundamentals, i.e your exercise plan and your diet into your overall weight loss plan.
Tongkat Ali was recently discovered by scientists to be a potential treatment for osteoporosis. Although promising, it requires more research to validate Tongkat Ali’s benefits to osteoporosis patients.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body “loses too much bone” and as the bones become weak, it may be susceptible to break/ crack – usually from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.
Tongkat Ali exhibits anti-cancer properties on lung carcinoma (A-549 cancer cells), breast cancer (MCF-7 cancer cells), gastric (MGC-803 cells), and intestinal cancer (HT-29 cells).
The wide range of anti-cancer properties of Tongkat Ali was reported in various in-vitro studies from 2002 to 2020.
Despite the promising discoveries and ongoing research, more clinical studies should be conducted on humans to evaluate Tongkat Ali’s anti-cancer properties.
Tongkat Ali may reduce physical, behavioral, and cognitive stress, and improve your anxiety, anger and confusion. This is achieved by regulating your cortisol (i.e stress hormones) when you are in stressful situations.
Tongkat Ali is shown to reduce cortisol (i.e stress hormones). The cortisol in our body will rise when we are stressed, angry, or depressed.
Tongkat Ali is shown to increase dopamine, a feel-good hormone, acting as a neurotransmitter that controls emotional responses and makes you happy.
A 24-week randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial on 50mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali with multivitamins showed a significant improvement in cognitive stress, physical stress, behavioral stress and overall stress after the 12th week.
The assessment was done using Multi-Modal Stress Questionnaire (MMSQ) on 47 test participants, both men and women
Here is the result of the study.
A placebo-controlled clinical trial test results based on 50mg of Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) with Multivitamins. Clinical trial registration NCT02865863.
Tongkat Ali improves mood by reducing mood profile parameters such as anger, tension and confusion.
The mechanism of action of Tongkat Ali works by reducing your cortisol hormones (stress hormone) and increasing dopamine (happy hormone), which translates to better improvement in the overall mood.
Expect the benefit to work effectively within four to 12 weeks.
A clinical study conducted by a well-known psychonutritionist Dr Shawn Talbot published at The Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition showed significant improvement in the overall mood on test participants consuming Tongkat Ali for 4 weeks.
The study on 63 men and women who were in a reasonably stressed state, showed significant mood improvement after consuming 200mg daily of Tongkat Ali for 4 weeks.
The mood profile improvements were resulted from reduction in cortisol (i.e stress hormones).
Tongkat Ali promotes a healthier and stronger immune system by increasing the production of immune cells in our body. A healthy immune system protects our body from virus attacks, which may include COVID19 viruses, malaria, dengue and others.
Building a healthy immune system is based on a healthy count of your immune cells, i.e T-cells, CD4+ cells and others. The higher the count of these cells, the higher likelihood to win the battle against virus attacks.
Tongkat Ali is amongst the top herbs that may benefit COVID-19 patients’ recovery phase due to its strong immunological properties from its bioactive ingredients.
This Tongkat Ali breakthrough by a group of Japanese scientists reaffirms new benefits of Tongkat Ali supplementation to improve the immune system.
Learn more on Tongkat Ali’s effects on raising our immunity cells (i.e T-cells, CD4+ and Naive T-Cells) here.
Tongkat Ali supplementation produces more Naïve T-Cells by 28%, CD4+ T-Cell by 12% and increase the T-Cell count by 6.5%. Tongkat Ali contains eurycomanone which supplies nutrients to the bone marrow and our adrenal glands. Most of the T-Cells are produced in the bone marrow, with the help of hormones that flow in our bloodstream.
Tongkat Ali promotes better sleep and circadian rhythm by lowering your core body temperature, thus increasing your REM and NREM sleep duration.
Studies found that Tongkat Ali supplementation did not cause any significant alteration during sleep duration, thus overall improving sleep quality. Tongkat Ali supplementation may benefit those who are suffering from sleep disorders.
Tongkat Ali is used as a sleep-improving agent in novel foods and dietary supplements. A patent application was filed by a group of Japanese scientists in 2019 on use of Tongkat Ali as an effective sleep-improving bioactive ingredient. (Patent No: WO2020040216A1)
Stress, anxiety, anger and your mood are some of the factors that are closely associated with high blood pressure. Studies show stress causes a steep rise in blood pressure.
There are many studies showing how Tongkat Ali reduces anxiety, stress, anger and improves overall mood.
Tongkat Ali may benefit if you are having early symptoms related to high blood pressure (or hypertension). Supplementation of Tongkat Ali may promote the widening of the blood vessels to reduce blood pressure.
You may benefit more from Tongkat Ali as it balances cortisol (i.e stress hormones) and dopamine (feel-good hormone) in your body, thus managing your emotional responses that contribute to your high blood pressure.
Tongkat Ali contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties. Tongkat Ali is also used to treat malaria and dengue, two of the most common diseases in South East Asia, for centuries.
Recent research studies including clinical trials on humans present a promising future in preventing gout, and bacteria-induced diseases.
A latest 2021 placebo-controlled clinical study on 103 men with 100mg Tongkat Ali daily showed a reduction of uric acid from 5.69 mg / dL to 5.03 mg / dL after 12 weeks. This indicates that Tongkat Ali may prevent the risk of gout and flares.
Tongkat Ali exhibits anti-ulcer properties and anti-tumor properties that may benefit mild abdominal or stomach-related injuries.
Further explanation here on abdominal injury by the Oregon Health and Science University.
Besides anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties, further research on Tongkat Ali revealed anti-ulcer properties which paved new discoveries to potentially combat stomach-related injuries.
With decades of scientifically proven health benefits, Tongkat Ali has a promising future.
Tongkat Ali’s global popularity in recent years is attributed to clinically proven benefits from rapid growth of clinical tests on humans.
For instance, AKARALI Physta® Tongkat Ali hot water standardized extract is clinically tested to benefit men and women from 20 years of clinical tests.
This has positioned clinically tested Tongkat Ali as a well-rounded supplement for sports professionals, active adults, working professionals, housewives, and even nightshift workers.
There are no observed adverse side effects from Tongkat Ali up to 400 mg per day; which is the recommended dosage to produce the desired health benefits.
However, you may experience side effects of Tongkat Ali if you are a first-time user. Common side effects reported by Examine and Healthline include mild nausea, stomach cramps, irritability, restlessness and mild digestive upsets.
Please refer our complete list of Tongkat Ali side effects and how to mitigate those risks. Additionally, we encourage you to report any adverse side effects to your nearest doctor or healthcare professional.
Clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements are safe to be taken daily within the daily recommended dosage of 100mg to 400mg. This will enable you to gain long-term benefits as outlined by the above studies.
However, it is highly recommended to cycle Tongkat Ali if you are taking it every day over a longer duration of more than 3 months.
There are rare cases on kidney failures (known as Drug-induced Kidney Injury) published in the Journal of Hepatalogy. The 62-year-old patient was reported with a kidney injury after consuming Swanson Tongkat Ali, Swanson DHEA and Swanson Oyster extract for 33 days.
Although rare, please consult your doctor before taking Tongkat Ali and to ensure if you have pre-medical conditions or early symptoms related to kidneys or liver functions.
Tongkat Ali supplements or brands that are clinically tested on men and women generally deliver greater health benefits and are safer.
Please use our guide to find the best Tongkat Ali supplements that are best suited to your health goals and budget.
Tongkat Ali supplement may benefit and revitalize your health. However, the health benefits are largely dependent on various factors such as diet, exercise, and other underlying medical conditions. We recommend consulting your nearest doctor or healthcare professional before consuming Tongkat Ali. Tongkat Ali should not be consumed by pregnant women, or children below 18 years of age and those who are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases.
Get the best help on Tongkat Ali benefits from our team of medical experts, scientists and research analysts.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist specializing in nutrition, supplements and natural wellness, Naressa specializes in fact-based health topics backed by scientific evidence. She explores the nuances of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness.
Dr. Annie George is the Head scientist specializing in herbal research and clinical trials of Tongkat Ali since 2003.
She is part of 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 in this article is for educational purposes and not intended to provide any form of recommendations, directly or indirectly to purchase or consume herbal supplements, drugs, medications, alternative remedies and practices or any brands mentioned in this article. By reading this, the sole responsibility and decision lies on the reader to make an informed decision based on publicly available information published on the internet. Any herbal supplements can be used as a health supplement, dietary plan or to treat illnesses. However, we encourage you to consult your nearest doctor before making any purchase from this website or any other websites or social platforms after reading this article. We do not hold any responsibility or accountability for any products purchased from this website or any third-party websites that are linked to this articles, sales channels or social platforms.
15 Responses
Can I use Ashwaganda or other natural products a week and Tongkat ali the next so as to not have to put back the use of other products for a prolonged period of time? Will this reach the synergy of both supplements? Thanks for your great insights.
I blog often and I truly appreciate your information. The
article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your site and keep checking for new details
about once per week. I subscribed to your Feed too.
How can I get it?
Hi there, you may purchase directly from our website at the following link:
http://akarali.com/buy-tongkatali/
We have the Twin Pack (2 bottles) which offers more savings. We deliver authentic Tongkat Ali from Malaysia to any country worldwide via DHL premium service. Hope it helps
Which country in West Africa do you have tongkat Ali
And how do you use tongkat Ali powder or fresh root and leaves?
Hi Musa, greetings from Malaysia. Tongkat Ali sold in West Africa generally comes from Malaysia. Tongkat Ali’s highest potency usually is extracted from its roots, not from its leaves. You may find more information on Tongkat in our FAQ section here:
http://akarali.com/tongkat-ali-frequently-asked-questions/
I am a 56 year old woman with typical menopause weight gain (15 lbs over my comfort zone) and low libido. Would you agree this will likely be a good choice to add to my daily supplements?
Tongkat Ali is suitable for women too. The decline in androgen levels among ageing women is typically sharp and rapid. As such, it may play a critical part in the functional limitations commonly associated with ageing. The testosterone loss in women can also increase their general morbidity (or chance of developing diseases).
It is no wonder why women, too, should optimise their testosterone levels. It may not be as high as the male body would require, but in healthy amounts, they help maintain crucial bodily mechanisms but also ensure their sexual health and wellbeing.
So we can see why Tongkat Ali would be beneficial for women. The energy activation that Tongkat Ali supplements provide would help raise women’s testosterone amounts to their original levels
Can Tongkat Ali treat pancreatitis? I have learned that blood sugar is controlled by insulin produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas has got some damage will Tongkat Ali repair the injury?
Tongkat Ali is a herbal supplement that provides many health benefits and used to manage symptoms related to ED, low testosterone or androgen deficiencies. It should not be used to treat any medically diagnosed health conditions or diseases. You may consult your nearest doctor before consuming Tongkat Ali, or to understand better how it affects your pancreatitis.
This article about TongKat is very interesting.
Thank you Slyvester! Glad you find our article interesting. In fact, Tongkat Ali has more health benefits compared to Fadogia and Panax Ginseng due to its 30-50 years of clinical tests on humans. Read more about the health benefits of Tongkat Ali vs. Ginseng, or Tongkat Ali vs. Fadogia here:
https://akarali.com/fadogia-agrestis-tongkat-ali/
https://akarali.com/turkesterone-tongkat-ali/
I took Double Wood Tongkat Ali for few months but didnt notice any health benefits. Tongkat Ali benefits are always hit-and-miss, but I realized the importance of buying clinically tested Tongkat Ali products that comes with guaranteed benefits. I heard AKARALI Tongkat Ali is clinically tested and better than DoubeWood Tongkat Ali. Is this true? I am avoiding cheap Tongkat Ali supplements like Solaray, its an absolute crap with no benefits to my testosterone or libido.
Amazing and insightful article! My colleague reported that he truly enjoyed the benefits of Tongkat Ali. Gave him a morning wood and he wakes up smiling everyday! He said the improvement in mood was significant too. He took Tongkat Ali for 4 weeks now, and it performs better than Maca or Ashwagandha. Nothing beats Tongkat Ali’s all-rounded health benefits TBH. IMHO, any herbal supplements will work wonders if taken with frequent exercises. I did try once before, but gave me moderate gains. Maybe i should try reputable Tongkat ali brands, or at least clinically tested Tongkat ali supplements to notice a significant difference. Thats just my two cents.
Hey anyone tried Tongkat ali coffee? Saw the latest article on health benefits of Tongkat ali coffee, but i am not sure if it does a better job than a capsule / supplement format. It seems that the combination of caffeine and eurycomanone from tongkat ali can bring compounded health benefits.
https://akarali.com/health-benefits-of-tongkat-ali-coffee/