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Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia)

Supporting healthy testosterone, libido, and stress resilience in men

Evidence · Grade DSafety · Use with caution
Systematic review availableHuman trial evidenceTraditional useSafety cautionInteraction riskNeeds more research

Southeast Asian root traditionally used as a male tonic; multiple RCTs suggest support for testosterone, libido, and stress in men with low or borderline levels.

Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also known as Longjack) is a flowering plant native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, used for centuries as a male vitality tonic. Modern research has focused on standardized water-soluble root extracts (often labeled "Physta" or "LJ100"), with randomized human trials reporting improvements in total and free testosterone, libido, mood, muscle strength, and stress markers — especially in men who start with low-normal or suppressed levels. Mechanistically, tongkat ali appears to support the HPG axis, reduce cortisol, and act as a mild aromatase modulator, increasing the amount of free, bioavailable testosterone rather than producing supraphysiologic levels.

Quick answer

What it is: Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also known as Longjack) is a flowering plant native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, used for centuries as a male vitality tonic.

May support:Hypogonadism (Low Testosterone), Low Libido, Erectile Dysfunction

Evidence:Evidence · Grade D

Safety:Safety · Use with caution

Evidence Summary

Evidence · Grade D

Multiple small-to-moderate RCTs in men with low/borderline testosterone or stress show consistent improvements in free testosterone, libido, mood, and cortisol; quality and duration of trials are still limited.

Last reviewed · Jun 2026

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Why It Works

Standardized root extracts have been shown in RCTs to raise free testosterone, lower cortisol, and improve libido and mood, likely via HPG-axis support and reduced SHBG binding.

How it works in more detail

Tongkat Ali contains various bioactive compounds, including quassinoids (e.g., eurycomanone, eurycolactone, eurycomalactone), alkaloids, and triterpenes. Eurycomanone, in particular, has been a focus of research. Proposed mechanisms include stimulating the release of free testosterone from sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), potentially by inhibiting aromatase and phosphodiesterase, and influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. It may also modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, contributing to its adaptogenic properties and stress reduction.

How to use

Always consult a qualified clinician.

Editorial guidance

Suggested dosage
200–400 mg/day of a standardized water-soluble root extract (e.g., Physta, LJ100), morning with food. Cycle 5 days on / 2 days off, or 8 weeks on / 2 weeks off, is commonly used.
Research dosage range
100–600 mg/day of standardized extract in clinical trials.
Typical onset
Subjective effects on energy, mood, and libido often reported within 2–4 weeks; hormonal changes typically seen by 4–12 weeks.
Typical forms
Standardized root extract capsules, Powder, Tea decoction
Quality markers
Look for products standardized to a specific percentage of active compounds like eurycomanone. Reputable brands often provide third-party testing for purity and potency, ensuring the absence of contaminants and accurate ingredient labeling.
Medication interactions
  • Anti-androgens
  • Hormone therapy (including TRT — discuss with clinician)
  • Blood thinners (theoretical)
  • Immunosuppressants
  • Diabetes medications (monitor glucose)
Avoid if
  • Prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers
  • Severe cardiovascular disease
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Children and adolescents
Pregnancy / lactation
Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding; primarily a male tonic.

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Suggested dosage

200–400 mg/day of a standardized water-soluble root extract (e.g., Physta, LJ100), morning with food. Cycle 5 days on / 2 days off, or 8 weeks on / 2 weeks off, is commonly used.

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Active medicinal compounds

Eurycomanone and related quassinoids, eurypeptides, polysaccharides

Traditional use

Used in traditional Malay, Indonesian, and Vietnamese medicine as a tonic for fatigue, fever, and male sexual vitality.

Safety

Safety warnings

Use only reputable, lab-tested extracts — raw tongkat ali products have been adulterated with mercury and lead. Not for use in prostate cancer, hormone-sensitive cancers, or men trying to suppress androgens.

Avoid if

  • Prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers
  • Severe cardiovascular disease
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Children and adolescents

Medication interactions

  • Anti-androgens
  • Hormone therapy (including TRT — discuss with clinician)
  • Blood thinners (theoretical)
  • Immunosuppressants
  • Diabetes medications (monitor glucose)

Reported side effects

  • Insomnia if taken late in day
  • Restlessness
  • Mild headaches
  • Increased aggression at high doses

Pregnancy & lactation

Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding; primarily a male tonic.

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Evidence ecosystem

Scientific literature, clinical guidance, government sources, ongoing research, traditional use, and lived experience — grouped by source type and quality.

Overall grade (D)

Multiple small-to-moderate RCTs in men with low/borderline testosterone or stress show consistent improvements in free testosterone, libido, mood, and cortisol; quality and duration of trials are still limited.

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Systematic Reviews(4)

Structured reviews of the full body of evidence (incl. Cochrane).

Very High Quality

  • Do "testosterone boosters" really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review

    Kim MJ, Lee JH, et al. · Int J Impot Res · 2024

    Among reviewed ingredients, evidence for a true increase in total testosterone was limited; Eurycoma longifolia showed the most consistent positive signal across trials.

    Systematic ReviewPubMedHigh Quality

  • A systematic review and evidence-based analysis of ingredients in popular male testosterone and erectile dysfunction supplements

    Clemesha CG, Thaker H, Samplaski MK · Int J Impot Res · 2020

    Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) was among a small group of ingredients with at least some supportive human data for raising serum testosterone; many other ingredients lacked clinical support.

    Systematic ReviewPubMedHigh Quality

  • An Analysis of Popular Online Erectile Dysfunction Supplements.

    Balasubramanian A, Thirumavalavan N, Srivatsav A, Yu J, Hotaling JM, Lipshultz LI · The journal of sexual medicine · 2019

    Erectile dysfunction supplements (ED-Ss) are featured on online marketplaces like Amazon.com, with dedicated pages and claims that they naturally treat ED. However, their efficacy and safety are largely unknown, limiting the ability to counsel patients regarding their use. To evaluate the highest rated and most frequently reviewed ED-Ss on Amazon.com to facilitate patient counseling regarding marketing myths, ingredient profiles, and evidence for product efficacy and safety. The Amazon marketplace was queried using the key term "erectile dysfunction" with default search settings and ranking items based on relevance. The top 6 ED-S products identified on September 29, 2018, were reviewed based on price, ratings, reviews, manufacturer, and ingredients. Consumer reviews were categorized using subtopics within the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire to better understand ED-S efficacy and then reanalyzed following filtration of untrustworthy comments using Review

    Systematic ReviewPubMedVery High Quality

Randomized Human Trials(6)

Controlled human studies with random assignment.

High Quality

Limitations: Key limitations include the small sample sizes in human studies, short study durations, variability in extract standardization and dosage across studies, and a lack of long-term safety data. Many studies are also industry-funded, which can introduce potential bias. The absence of comprehensive research makes it difficult to establish optimal dosages, identify all potential side effects, or fully understand interactions.

This page is educational. Statements use phrases like "may support" and "has been studied for"because no remedy here is approved to cure, treat, or reverse any condition. Discussion happens on the ailment pages — community statistics here are derived from those reports. Always consult a qualified clinician.

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