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Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also called Long Jack) is a slender tree of the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, used for its bitter root. Its root has been used for centuries in Malay and Indonesian folk medicine as a tonic for male vitality, libido, fever and general strength.

Fertility/infertilityStress & Sleep

Tongkat AliTongkat AliTongkat AliTongkat Ali

Names in Different Languages

EnglishTongkat Ali
Urduٹونگ کٹ علی
Hindiटोंगकट अली
Farsiتونگکات علی
FrenchTongkat Ali
GermanTongkat Ali

Traditional Uses

In Malaysian and Indonesian traditional medicine, tongkat ali root decoctions have long been taken as an aphrodisiac and general tonic for male strength, stamina, fever and malaria, and as a postpartum tonic.

Modern Research

Evidence is modest but better than for many vitality herbs: a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis (Leisegang et al.) of five randomised trials found significantly higher total testosterone versus control, but noted publication bias and called for more research. Most trials are small (under 100 people) and short (4-12 weeks), use standardised extracts at 200-400 mg per day, and show the clearest effects in men with low baseline testosterone or chronic stress; healthy young men see little change. In 2021 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded safety was not established for the novel-food root extract it assessed.

Uses

  • Testosterone and male vitality support
  • Libido and sexual well-being support
  • Stress, mood and cortisol support
  • Energy, muscle strength and athletic performance support

Benefits of Use

  • Testosterone support: a 2022 meta-analysis of five randomised trials found a significant rise in total testosterone, strongest in men with low or low-normal baseline levels
  • Stress support: a 4-week RCT (Talbott et al. 2013) at 200 mg per day reported cortisol down 16% and testosterone up 37% with improved mood scores in stressed adults
  • Libido support: a 12-week trial (Ismail et al. 2012) reported improved sexual well-being measures with standardised root extract
  • Energy support: small trials in older men and athletes reported better energy, strength and erectile-function scores, with modest effects

Safe Dose & Overdose (mg/g)

Raw Herb Form

Safe: not established

Overdose: Not established

Extract Form

Safe: 200 mg per day of standardised root extract (e.g. LJ100 or Physta), the dose used in most clinical trials for 4-12 weeks; some trials used up to 400 mg per day.

Overdose: Not established

Side Effects

  • Insomnia, restlessness or vivid dreams, especially at higher doses or when taken late in the day
  • Irritability, anxiety or a feeling of being wired
  • Mild stomach upset, nausea or diarrhoea
  • Increased body temperature, sweating or raised heart rate at high doses
  • Rare liver injury reported in a 2024 case report with a non-standardised product; avoid with liver or kidney disease, prostate cancer, pregnancy or breastfeeding

Interactions

  • Hormone therapies and testosterone treatment: may add to androgenic effects; avoid with prostate cancer or hormone-sensitive conditions unless a doctor approves
  • Blood pressure medicines: may have mild blood-pressure-lowering effects; monitor blood pressure when starting
  • Diabetes medicines: may lower blood sugar and add to their effect
  • Blood thinners (anticoagulants): theoretical bleeding risk; also caution with immunosuppressant medicines

Sources

Disclaimer

General information only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.

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#Fertility/infertility#herbal medicine#Stress & Sleep#Tongkat Ali

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