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Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia): Testosterone, Benefits, Dose and Safety
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, longjack) is a Southeast Asian root sold for testosterone and libido; small, mostly maker-funded trials found modest testosterone rises.
Last updated 2 November 2026
Tongkat Ali: the short answer
Tongkat ali, also called longjack (Eurycoma longifolia), is a shrub native to Southeast Asia whose root is sold for testosterone, libido, energy and stress. A 2022 analysis of 5 small randomized trials found that it raised total testosterone in both healthy men and men with low testosterone, but the trials were few, small and of low or unclear quality, and most were funded by the maker of the extract tested. A 2015 analysis of two trials found no overall improvement in erectile function. Trials typically used 200 to 400 mg a day of a standardised extract. Long-term safety is unknown.
| What it is | The root of a Southeast Asian shrub (Eurycoma longifolia, longjack), sold mainly to men. |
|---|---|
| Most studied for | Testosterone, erectile function and, in small trials, stress and fatigue. |
| Amounts used in studies | 200 to 400 mg a day of a standardised root extract. |
| Strength of evidence | Limited: 5 small trials of low or unclear quality found higher testosterone; two trials found no overall improvement in erections. |
| Safety | Well tolerated in short trials; long-term safety unknown. Avoid with hormone-sensitive conditions without medical advice, and in pregnancy. |
| In products we review | ProstaVive, Red Boost |
Sources: Eurycoma longifolia and serum testosterone in men: meta-analysis of trials (Medicina 2022)
Benefits of Tongkat Ali
What is tongkat ali?
Tongkat ali, Eurycoma longifolia, is a shrub or small tree native to Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, also known as longjack or pasak bumi. Its bitter root has long been used in traditional medicine as a tonic and for men’s sexual health, and supplements use root extracts.
Why people take it
Tongkat ali is sold mainly to men for testosterone, libido and erections, and also for energy, muscle strength and stress.
Top Rated Supplements with Tongkat Ali
Products we review that list Tongkat Ali as an ingredient. Not every product discloses how much of each ingredient a serving contains, so check each review before assuming it matches the amounts used in studies.
ProstaVive (also written Prosta Vive) is a once-daily drink powder sold through ClickBank for prostate health, urine flow, sleep and sex drive. This review checks its full label, with fenugreek, ashwagandha, tongkat ali, maca, nettle root, zinc and vitamin D3, against the research, and explains the prices and the 180-day refund. Men with urinary symptoms should see a doctor first.
Red Boost is a once-a-day powder sold to men for firmer erections and blood flow, with L-citrulline, horny goat weed, maca, tongkat ali, nettle root and a fruit and beetroot blend. This review compares its label with the research and explains the prices and the 180-day refund.
Scientific Analysis of Tongkat Ali
Testosterone
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials found that tongkat ali raised total testosterone, both in healthy men and in men with low testosterone (hypogonadism). The trials were few and small, most were of low or unclear quality, and most were funded by the company that makes the extract they tested; the authors concluded that more research is needed before it is used in clinical practice. A rise in blood testosterone does not necessarily mean noticeable changes in energy, muscle or libido.
Erections and libido
A 2015 meta-analysis of two trials with 139 men found no significant overall improvement in erectile function, with a possible benefit only in men who started with lower scores. Erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease or diabetes, so they are worth discussing with a doctor.
Energy, stress and muscle
Small trials have looked at stress hormones, fatigue and muscle strength, mostly with the same branded extracts. The evidence is too limited for firm conclusions.
How much tongkat ali per day
Trials typically used 200 to 400 mg a day of a standardised root extract for several weeks to months. Labels such as “100:1” describe how much root went into the extract, not how much active compound it contains, so they cannot be compared directly with the standardised extracts in the trials.
Side effects and safety
- Short-term: it was generally well tolerated in the small trials, which lasted weeks to months; long-term safety is unknown.
- Hormone-sensitive conditions: because it may raise testosterone, men with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions should not take it without their doctor’s advice.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is no safety information, so avoid it.
- Low testosterone: tiredness and low libido have many causes; a doctor can check your testosterone with a blood test.
- Quality: choose a product that names its extract and is tested by an independent laboratory for purity.
Products we review that contain it
ProstaVive lists 100 mg of a “100:1” extract in a prostate formula; tongkat ali is not a prostate treatment. Red Boost lists the same 100 mg of a “100:1” extract in a formula sold for blood flow and erections. Neither can be compared directly with the 200 to 400 mg of standardised extract used in trials.
Frequently Asked Questions
The root of Eurycoma longifolia, a Southeast Asian shrub also called longjack. It is a traditional tonic sold mainly to men for testosterone and libido.
Probably a little. A 2022 analysis of 5 small trials found higher total testosterone in healthy men and men with low testosterone, but the trials were of low or unclear quality and mostly funded by the extract’s maker.
The best evidence is for a modest rise in testosterone. Effects on erections, energy, stress and muscle are unclear because the trials are few and small.
A 2015 analysis of two trials with 139 men found no significant overall improvement, with a possible benefit only in men with lower starting scores. See a doctor about erection problems, which can signal heart disease or diabetes.
Trials typically used 200 to 400 mg a day of a standardised root extract. A “100:1” label describes the extraction ratio, not the strength, so it cannot be compared directly.
It was generally well tolerated in short trials, but long-term safety is unknown. Men with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions should ask their doctor first, and it should be avoided in pregnancy.
Among the products we review, ProstaVive and Red Boost each list 100 mg of a “100:1” tongkat ali extract.
⚖️ Conclusion
Tongkat ali has some evidence for a modest rise in testosterone, but it rests on a handful of small trials, mostly funded by the company whose extract was tested, and the effect on erections is unproven. If you want to try it, use a standardised extract at the 200 to 400 mg a day used in trials, from a brand that tests for purity, and treat it as a short experiment. If you have symptoms of low testosterone or erection problems, a doctor’s check is more useful than a supplement.