Herb ·Moderate evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Malaysian herb researched for testosterone support and stress reduction.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: testosterone support, stress reduction, athletic performance. 17 sources indexed (2013–2026), with 7 interaction records on file.
Core mechanism
Eurypeptides reduce cortisol and SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), increasing free testosterone. Quassinoids provide anti-estrogenic effects.10,6
Dosing protocol
Look for standardization to eurycomanone content. Effect on testosterone strongest in low-T baseline men.12
Ranked by evidence and value.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Standardized Tongkat Ali Extract.
Assumes 200-400 mg/day. Vendor basis: iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and specialty LJ100/Physta products; branded extracts define premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Tongkat ali is a medicinal root extract, not a normal dietary food.
What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.
Eurycoma longifolia (200 to 400 mg per day standardized extract) raises total and free testosterone modestly in hypogonadal and stressed men; effect in eugonadal men is smaller.6,1
Morning testosterone draw (7 to 10 am). Pair with SHBG and free testosterone. Quality of extract matters; look for standardization to eurycomanone content.
Tongkat Ali is expected to modestly lower morning cortisol, with effects that are typically small, dose-dependent, and clearest in people experiencing chronic stress with elevated baseline cortisol.10,3
Draw blood between 7 and 9 am when cortisol peaks, after a normal night of sleep and before caffeine or exercise. Cortisol is highly sensitive to acute stress, illness, and sleep loss, so retest under matched morning conditions.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) may modestly lower SHBG, the carrier protein that binds testosterone in the blood. Because less SHBG means a larger free, biologically active fraction of testosterone, a small drop here can nudge the free-to-total testosterone ratio upward. This effect is plausible and consistent with the herb's proposed mechanism, but the human data remain preliminary and mixed, with mostly small trials and several showing no significant SHBG change at all, so treat any SHBG shift as suggestive rather than reliable.3,4
Draw SHBG on a morning blood sample. Fasting is not strictly required for SHBG itself, but pairing it with a morning fasting total testosterone draw improves interpretation since testosterone peaks early in the day. Keep timing consistent: test at the same time of day before starting and again after a stable run of 8 to 12 weeks on the same dose, rather than right after a single dose. SHBG is influenced by many factors (thyroid status, insulin and body weight, liver function, and alcohol), so interpret any change in that context. Because SHBG can flag underlying thyroid, metabolic, or liver issues, and because Tongkat Ali can interact with hormone-sensitive conditions and some medications, involve a clinician before acting on results, especially if you have thyroid disease, diabetes, liver concerns, or take medications that affect hormones.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Tongkat ali raises total and free testosterone in hypogonadal and stressed men, improving libido scores.5,9
Largest effect in low or low-normal testosterone baseline; pair with morning testosterone draw.
Raises testosterone in low-T men, which can improve erectile function when low T is the driver.5,1
Most useful in men with documented low testosterone.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) may raise free testosterone by lowering sex-hormone-binding globulin and supporting energy and libido in aging men.5,6
Human trials are small and product quality varies widely; cycle use and verify sourcing. Discuss with a clinician if you have prostate concerns.
Tongkat Ali is commonly used for libido and testosterone-supportive protocols, though evidence is still developing.5,10
Avoid if it worsens anxiety or insomnia.
Evidence-based stacks that include it, with the exact dose and timing each one uses.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) may support testosterone by lowering sex hormone binding globulin and buffering cortisol, with early trials reporting improvements in stressed or hypogonadal men. The evidence is promising but still preliminary, so it is positioned as an adjunct.5,13
Tongkat ali raises testosterone; saw palmetto reduces DHT conversion. Combined effects on prostate-relevant androgens are mixed.
Recommendation: Most men can use both, but track PSA and prostate symptoms in older men. Tongkat ali's testosterone effect is small in eugonadal users.
Tongkat ali raises testosterone in low-T men; ashwagandha lowers cortisol that suppresses testosterone. Combined effect on male hormonal status is additive.
Recommendation: Common male hormonal stack: tongkat ali 200 to 400 mg plus ashwagandha 300 to 600 mg per day. Test baseline testosterone and DHEA-S.
Maca improves subjective libido without changing hormones; tongkat ali raises testosterone. Combined use targets both subjective and hormonal contributors to male sexual function.
Recommendation: Common stack: maca 1.5 to 3 g plus tongkat ali 200 to 400 mg per day.
Tribulus and Tongkat Ali are both used to support libido and male sexual function, with complementary traditional and clinical use for that goal.
Recommendation: Combination is reasonable for libido support. Monitor for overstimulation and discontinue if restlessness or sleep disturbance occurs.
Stacking Pregnenolone (a precursor that sits at the very top of the steroidogenesis cascade) with Tongkat Ali (which supports conversion to and liberation of testosterone) can compound androgen and downstream sex-hormone production beyond what either produces alone. For people seeking hormonal support this can be a useful synergy, but it also raises the chance of androgen-excess effects such as acne, oily skin, irritability, sleep disruption, scalp hair shedding in those predisposed, and in women unwanted androgenic effects. Because pregnenolone also branches toward progesterone and cortisol, individual responses vary widely.
Recommendation: Treat this as a deliberate hormonal stack, not a casual combination. Start each supplement separately and at the low end (pregnenolone often 5 to 25 mg in the morning, Tongkat Ali standardized extract typically 200 to 400 mg) before combining, so you can attribute any effect. When stacking, keep total dosing conservative, take both earlier in the day, and reassess after 4 to 6 weeks. Anyone with hormone-sensitive conditions (prostate issues, PCOS, hormone-sensitive cancers) or who is pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid this combination, and ideally check baseline and follow-up sex-hormone and DHEA-S labs with a clinician.
Shilajit and Tongkat Ali are frequently stacked for testosterone, energy, and libido, and the pairing is mechanistically coherent rather than redundant: one nudges hormone production and precursors while the other increases the free, biologically active fraction. This complementary action is why the two appear together in many men's vitality formulas. The same additive androgenic effect is the reason the combination warrants a note for anyone who should not raise testosterone.
Recommendation: For general vitality goals, a common pairing is roughly 250 mg purified Shilajit once or twice daily with 200 to 400 mg of a standardized Tongkat Ali extract, taken in the morning. Start each one individually for one to two weeks before combining so you can judge tolerance and effect. Men with hormone-sensitive conditions (such as prostate cancer or elevated hematocrit) and anyone on testosterone therapy or fertility treatment should consult a clinician before stacking, since effects on free testosterone are additive. Not for use in pregnancy.
Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali) significantly raises serum total testosterone in healthy and hypogonadal men in a meta-analysis of five RCTs. Adding it on top of prescribed testosterone has no proven benefit and may amplify androgenic side effects.
Recommendation: Avoid tongkat ali supplementation while on prescribed testosterone. If you wish to use it, discuss with your prescriber and check hematocrit and PSA. Tongkat ali has also been linked to rare cases of liver injury and an atrial flutter case report.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Significant improvement in total testosterone levels after Eurycoma longifolia treatment in both healthy volunteers and hypogonadal men across 9 studies
Meta-analysis of RCTs supports efficacy of Tongkat Ali for erectile function improvement compared to placebo
Muniandy S, Yahya HM, Shahar S et al.. Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack standardised water extract (Physta) on well-being of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: protocol for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group study. BMJ open. 2023
Combination of Eurycoma longifolia and concurrent training improved erectile function and increased total testosterone levels in men with ADAM
Physta 200 mg supplementation significantly decreased cortisol levels and increased muscle strength and total testosterone at week 12
Chinnappan SM, George A, Evans M et al.. Efficacy of Labisia pumila and Eurycoma longifolia standardised extracts on hot flushes, quality of life, hormone and lipid profile of peri-menopausal and menopausal women: a randomised, placebo-controlled study. Food & nutrition research. 2020
George A, Udani J, Abidin NZ et al.. Efficacy and safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta(®)) water extract plus multivitamins on quality of life, mood and stress: a randomized placebo-controlled and parallel study. Food & nutrition research. 2018
Udani JK, George AA, Musthapa M et al.. Effects of a Proprietary Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta) and Polygonum minus on Sexual Performance and Well-Being in Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2014
200 mg/day for 4 weeks significantly reduced salivary cortisol (-16%) and increased testosterone (+37%) compared to placebo, with improvements in tension, anger, and confusion
Liu Y, Wang H, Wu R et al.. Natural longevity modulator: aging modulatory effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack polysaccharides in C. elegans and D. melanogaster. Biogerontology. 2026
EFSA safety evaluation found no safety concerns at recommended doses for Tongkat Ali root extract as a novel food
Abd Aziz NA, Hasham R, Sarmidi MR et al.. A review on extraction techniques and therapeutic value of polar bioactives from Asian medicinal herbs: Case study on Orthosiphon aristatus, Eurycoma longifolia and Andrographis paniculata. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society. 2021
Li CH, Liao JW, Liao PL et al.. Evaluation of Acute 13-Week Subchronic Toxicity and Genotoxicity of the Powdered Root of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack). Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2013
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