Tongkat Ali Benefits for Men: What the Research Actually Shows

Short answer: The best studied tongkat ali benefits for men are a modest rise in total testosterone (clearest in men who start out low), small gains in muscle strength when combined with training, and a better stress hormone profile with lower tension in moderately stressed adults. The trials are small, short and often funded by extract makers, so treat tongkat ali as a promising herb with limited evidence, not a proven fix.

Key Takeaways

• Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also called Long Jack) is a Southeast Asian tree whose root extract is sold as a supplement.
• A 2022 meta-analysis of five randomized trials (232 men) found a significant increase in serum total testosterone, with the clearest effect in men with low baseline levels.^[1]
• A 4-week placebo-controlled trial in 63 moderately stressed adults found lower salivary cortisol and lower tension, anger and confusion scores, but no change in vigor.^[3]
• A small 5-week pilot in active seniors aged 57 to 72 reported higher testosterone and handgrip strength.^[4]
• Study quality is mixed: small samples, high variation between trials, signs of publication bias and industry funding.
• Safety is not settled: LiverTox lists it as a possible rare cause of liver injury, and EFSA could not establish the safety of one root extract because of DNA damage findings in lab tests.^[2][5]

What Is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat ali is a slow growing evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. In traditional medicine its root has been used for a wide range of complaints, and today it is marketed mostly for testosterone, energy, libido and athletic performance. You will find it as raw root powder, in tea and coffee blends, and in capsules.^[2]

Chemists have identified more than 65 compounds in the plant, but it is still not clear which ones are responsible for the effects people report.^[2] Commercial water extracts are usually standardized to two groups of compounds: glycosaponins and eurycomanone, a quassinoid that is often used as a marker of extract quality.^[5]

That last point matters for anyone comparing products. The 2022 meta-analysis cites a survey of 41 Malaysian tongkat ali products in which only 24 contained eurycomanone, and only 11 of those met the recommended level.^[1] “Tongkat ali” on a label does not guarantee a meaningful amount of the active material.

Tongkat Ali Benefits for Men: What Human Studies Show

Most marketing claims sound bigger than the research behind them. Here is what the human trials actually measured, kept separate from lab and animal work.

1. Total testosterone, mainly in men who start low

This is the most researched benefit. Leisegang and colleagues reviewed nine clinical studies and pooled five randomized controlled trials covering 232 men. Taking Eurycoma longifolia was associated with a significant increase in serum total testosterone compared with control.^[1] The effect was statistically clear in men with hypogonadism (baseline total testosterone under 300 ng/dL). Healthy men also tended to show increases, but the signal was weaker.^[1]

LiverTox summarizes the same body of evidence in plainer terms: human studies show “mild” increases in total testosterone, usually over several weeks, with no change in free testosterone or sex hormone binding globulin in those studies.^[2] In other words, the effect is real enough to measure in some trials, but it is modest and not a substitute for medical evaluation. If you suspect low testosterone, read our guides to the signs of low testosterone and normal testosterone levels, then get a blood test.

2. Stress hormones and mood

The second most cited benefit comes from a 2013 randomized, placebo-controlled trial by Talbott and colleagues in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Sixty-three moderately stressed men and women took 200 mg per day of a standardized hot water root extract or a placebo for 4 weeks.^[3] Compared with placebo, the tongkat ali group had:

• 16% lower salivary cortisol
• 37% higher salivary testosterone
• 11% lower tension, 12% lower anger and 15% lower confusion scores on a standard mood questionnaire
• No significant difference in vigor

These results explain why tongkat ali is often grouped with adaptogens. Keep the limits in view: it was one 4-week study, hormones were measured in saliva rather than blood, and the trial was funded by the company that supplies the extract.^[3]

3. Muscle strength in active older adults

Henkel and colleagues ran a pilot study in Phytotherapy Research with 13 physically active men and 12 physically active women aged 57 to 72. Participants took 400 mg of tongkat ali extract daily for 5 weeks. Total and free testosterone rose significantly in both sexes, and handgrip muscle strength increased.^[4] The published summary does not describe a placebo group, so this is an early signal, not proof.

LiverTox adds that the testosterone increases seen in trials were linked to mild gains in muscle strength with resistance training, but not to better athletic performance.^[2]

4. Libido and sexual function

Tongkat ali has a long traditional reputation for male sexual health, and that is a big part of why it is popular. The independent summaries we reviewed focus on hormone and strength outcomes and do not establish that it improves sexual function. Erection problems can have medical causes worth checking, so they belong with a doctor first.

Animal and lab research: interesting but not proof

Many online claims about fertility, fat loss, blood sugar or “nitric oxide” come from cell or rodent studies. Those can suggest where to look next, but they often use doses and preparations that do not translate to a capsule. When an article cites a benefit without a human trial behind it, treat it as a hypothesis.

Evidence at a Glance

How Tongkat Ali Might Work

Researchers have not pinned down a single mechanism, and it is still unclear which of the plant’s many compounds do the work.^[2] The leading ideas come straight from what trials measured:

• Hormone balance: trials report higher total testosterone in some men, and in the Henkel pilot the authors linked part of the free testosterone change in women to a drop in sex hormone binding globulin.^[1][4]
• Stress response: the Talbott trial found lower cortisol and a lower cortisol to testosterone ratio, which the authors read as a better stress hormone profile.^[3]
• Standardized compounds: extracts used in trials are usually water extracts rich in glycosaponins and eurycomanone, so results from those extracts may not apply to unstandardized powders.^[1][5]

How Much Was Used in Studies

We cover timing, forms and practical dosing in a separate guide on tongkat ali dosage, so here is only what you need to read the benefit studies. Trials in the 2022 meta-analysis used roughly 100 to 600 mg per day of extract for periods ranging from a few days to 6 months.^[1] Traditional use is listed by LiverTox at 100 to 400 mg daily, while some capsules sold online for testosterone or bodybuilding contain 1,000 to 1,600 mg, well above studied amounts.^[2] Benefits seen in trials took weeks, not days, so a fair personal trial means consistent use while you keep sleep, training and diet steady.

Side Effects and Safety

Our full breakdown lives in the tongkat ali side effects guide. The short version that every reader of a “benefits” article should also know:

• Common side effects are uncommon: at conventional doses, reported effects include nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, headache and rash.^[2]
• Liver: LiverTox gives tongkat ali a likelihood score of D, a possible rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury, and notes long-term human safety is poorly documented.^[2]
• Regulators are cautious: in 2021 the European Food Safety Authority reviewed a standardized root water extract proposed at up to 200 mg per day and concluded its safety “has not been established under any condition of use,” because lab tests showed potential for DNA damage.^[5]
• Limited safety reporting in trials: only one study in the 2022 meta-analysis reported adverse effects, which were gastrointestinal symptoms and itching.^[1]

Who should avoid it or ask a doctor first

• Anyone with liver disease, or who drinks heavily
• Men with prostate conditions, hormone-sensitive conditions, or who use testosterone or other hormone therapy
• People taking any prescription medication, since interaction data are limited
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women (the EFSA application itself excluded them)^[5]
• Anyone with symptoms such as fatigue, low libido or erection problems that have not been checked by a clinician

Where Ultra Bann Fits

Ultra Bann is a natural male vitality supplement by DL Bioproducts that includes tongkat ali as one of seven botanicals. Each serving contains 85 mg of tongkat ali alongside Thai Butea superba (345 mg), Panax ginseng (110 mg), Cynomorium songaricum (85 mg), black ginger (85 mg), epimedium (45 mg) and reishi (45 mg), for 800 mg total. Every amount is printed on the label, with no proprietary blend, and you take one capsule every 2 days.

To be transparent, 85 mg is below the 100 to 600 mg daily amounts used in most of the tongkat ali trials above, so Ultra Bann is a multi-herb vitality formula rather than a high-dose tongkat ali product, and the study results above should not be read as results for Ultra Bann. You can review the full label on the Ultra Bann ingredients page. First orders ship free in the US and come with a 60-day money-back guarantee through the Ultra Bann shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tongkat ali good for?

In human studies, tongkat ali has been linked to a modest increase in total testosterone (mainly in men with low levels), lower salivary cortisol and tension in moderately stressed adults, and small strength gains in active older adults. Evidence for libido, fertility and athletic performance is weak or absent.

How long does tongkat ali take to work?

Trials ran from a few days to 6 months, and the benefits reported usually appeared over several weeks.^[1][2] The stress and mood trial measured results after 4 weeks, and the seniors pilot after 5 weeks.^[3][4] Expect gradual changes, if any, rather than an overnight effect.

Does tongkat ali raise testosterone in healthy men?

Possibly a little. The 2022 meta-analysis found a clear increase in men with hypogonadism, while healthy men showed smaller increases that were less consistent.^[1] If your levels are already normal, a large change is unlikely.

Is tongkat ali safe to take every day?

Side effects at studied doses appear uncommon, but long-term safety is poorly documented, rare liver injury has been reported, and EFSA did not establish the safety of one root extract because of DNA damage findings.^[2][5] Talk to your doctor before daily use, especially if you have liver disease or take medication.

Is tongkat ali the same as Long Jack?

Yes. Tongkat ali, Long Jack and Eurycoma longifolia all refer to the same Southeast Asian tree, and supplements are made from its root.^[2]

References

1. Leisegang K, Finelli R, Sikka SC, Panner Selvam MK. Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Medicina. 2022;58(8):1047. mdpi.com
2. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Tongkat Ali. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10:28. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4. Henkel R, Wang R, Bassett S, Chen T, Liu N, Zhu Y, Tambi M. Tongkat Ali as a Potential Herbal Supplement for Physically Active Male and Female Seniors: A Pilot Study. Phytotherapy Research. 2013. uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za
5. EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens. Safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal. 2021;19(12):6937. efsa.europa.eu

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.