Tongkat Ali Supplement

Ingredients per 600mg Capsule

Innerbody pricing and returns

Innerbody provides a combination of bulk and subscription savings on its supplement, which works out like this:

Shipping is free on all Innerbody orders. The company doesn’t yet ship outside the U.S.

There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases, which means you can try the product for up to a month and still get all of your money back if you aren’t satisfied. While many studies say tongkat ali takes up to 12 weeks to yield results, we’ve seen some studies state it bears fruit in as little as 28 days, so the 30-day guarantee is just long enough.

Will tongkat ali show up on a sports doping test?

No. Tongkat ali doesn’t affect any of the parameters that would cause you to fail a sports doping test.8

Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rehman, S. U., Choe, K., & Yoo, H. H. (2016). Review on a traditional herbal medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat ali): Its traditional uses, chemistry, evidence-based pharmacology and toxicology. Molecules, 21(3), 331.

Low, B. S., Choi, S. B., Abdul Wahab, H., Das, P. K., & Chan, K. L. (2013). Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increases spermatogenesis by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase and aromatase in steroidogenesis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 149(1), 201-207.

Turck, D., Bohn, T., Castenmiller, J., Henauw, S. D., Maciuk, A., Mangelsdorf, I., McArdle, H. J., Naska, A., Pelaez, C., Pentieva, K., Siani, A., Thies, F., Tsabouri, S., Vinceti, M., Cubadda, F., Frenzel, T., Heinonen, M., Maradona, M. P., Marchelli, R., . . . Knutsen, H. K. (2021). Safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal, 19(12).

Chinnappan, S. M., George, A., Pandey, P., Narke, G., & Choudhary, Y. K. (2021). Effect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract–Physta® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study. Food & Nutrition Research, 65.

Tambi, M. I., Imran, M. K., & Henkel, R. R. (2012). Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism?. Andrologia, 44 Suppl 1, 226-230.

George, A., & Henkel, R. (2014). Phytoandrogenic properties of Eurycoma longifolia as natural alternative to testosterone replacement therapy. Andrologia, 46(7), 708-721.

Henkel, R. R., Wang, R., Bassett, S. H., Chen, T., Liu, N., Zhu, Y., & Tambi, M. I. (2014). Tongkat ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors — a pilot study. Phytotherapy Research : PTR, 28(4), 544-550.

Leisegang, K., Finelli, R., Sikka, S. C., & Panner Selvam, M. K. (2022). Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) improves serum total testosterone in men: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Medicina, 58(8).

Ismail, S. B., Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad, W. M., George, A., Nik Hussain, N. H., Musthapa Kamal, Z. M., & Liske, E. (2012). Randomized clinical trial on the use of PHYSTA freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the improvement of quality of life and sexual well-being in men. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: ECAM.

Wahab, N. A., Mokhtar, N. M., A Halim, N. H., & Das, S. (2010). The effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on spermatogenesis in estrogen-treated rats. Clinics, 65(1), 93-98.

Kumar, P., Kumar, N., Thakur, D. S., & Patidar, A. (2010). Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 1(3), 297-301.

Jothi, S., Parumasivam, T., & Mohtar, N. (2023). Eurycoma longifolia: An overview on the pharmacological properties for the treatment of common cancer. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(Suppl 1).

Lopresti, A. L., Drummond, P. D., & Smith, S. J. (2019). A Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males. American Journal of Men's Health, 13(2).

Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Malvi, H., & Kodgule, R. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(37).

Kamal, H. I., Patel, K., Brdak, A., Heffernan, J., & Ahmad, N. (2022). Ashwagandha as a unique cause of thyrotoxicosis presenting with supraventricular tachycardia. Cureus, 14(3).

George, A., Suzuki, N., Abas, A. B., Mohri, K., Utsuyama, M., Hirokawa, K., & Takara, T. (2016). Immunomodulation in middle-aged humans via the ingestion of Physta® standardized root water extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack — a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 30(4), 627-635.

Ahmad, N., Teh, B. P., Halim, S. Z., Zolkifli, N. A., Ramli, N., & Muhammad, H. (2020). Eurycoma longifolia — infused coffee — an oral toxicity study. Nutrients, 12(10), 3125.

Chinnappan, S. M., George, A., Evans, M., & Anthony, J. (2020). 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, 64.

Chua, L. S., Lee, S. Y., Abdullah, N., & Sarmidi, M. R. (2012). Review on Labisia pumila (Kacip Fatimah): Bioactive phytochemicals and skin collagen synthesis promoting herb. Fitoterapia, 83(8), 1322-1335.

Guo, R., Wang, Q., Nair, R.P., Barnes, S.L., Smith, D.T., Dai, B., Robinson, T.J., Nair, S. (2018). Furosap, a novel fenugreek seed extract improves lean body mass and serum testosterone in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical investigation. Functional Foods in Health and Disease 2018; 8(11): 519-530.

Verma, N., Gupta, S. K., Tiwari, S., Mishra, A. K., Thakare, V., & Patil, S. (2023). Effect of ashwagandha root extract on serum testosterone and muscle recovery in strength training. International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, 4(5), 371-381.

Gonzales, G. F., Córdova, A., Vega, K., Chung, A., Villena, A., Góñez, C., & Castillo, S. (2002). Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia, 34(6), 367-372.

Appling, D. R., & Chytil, F. (1981). Evidence of a role for retinoic acid (Vitamin A-acid) in the maintenance of testosterone production in male rats. Endocrinology, 108(6), 2120-2124.

Chin, K. Y., Ima-Nirwana, S., & Wan Ngah, W. Z. (2015). Vitamin D is significantly associated with total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in Malaysian men. The Aging Male: The Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male, 18(3), 175-179.

Masterjohn, C. (2007). Vitamin D toxicity redefined: Vitamin K and the molecular mechanism. Medical Hypotheses, 68(5), 1026-1034.

Hunt, C. D., Johnson, P. E., Herbel, J., & Mullen, L. K. (1992). Effects of dietary zinc depletion on seminal volume and zinc loss, serum testosterone concentrations, and sperm morphology in young men. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56(1), 148-157.

Duncan A, Yacoubian C, Watson N, and Morrison, I. (2015). The risk of copper deficiency in patients prescribed zinc supplements. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 68, 723-725.

Oluboyo, A. O., Adijeh, R. U., Onyenekwe, C. C., Oluboyo, B. O., Mbaeri, T. C., Odiegwu, C. N., Chukwuma, G. O., & Onwuasoanya, U. F. (2012). Relationship between serum levels of testosterone, zinc and selenium in infertile males attending fertility clinic in Nnewi, south east Nigeria. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 41 Suppl, 51-54.

Córdova Martínez, A. (2020). Iron and physical activity: Bioavailability enhancers, properties of black pepper (Bioperine®) and potential applications. Nutrients, 12(6), 1886.

Talbott, S. M., Talbott, J. A., George, A., & Pugh, M. (2013). Effect of tongkat ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10, 28.

Ang, H. H., & Cheang, H. S. (1999). Studies on the anxiolytic activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack roots in mice. Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 79(4), 497-500.

When used as directed, Tongkat Ali is generally safe. However, it's always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or are taking medication.

Innerbody Testosterone Support

Best complex T-boosting formula

Photo by Innerbody Research

Many people seek out a tongkat ali supplement to support male sexual wellness. If this describes you, then you should consider a supplement that combines tongkat ali with other well-regarded testosterone-boosting ingredients. There’s no shortage of mixed-ingredient testosterone boosters out there. We’ve covered them at great lengths for years and maintain a thorough guide to the best testosterone boosters. But during that time, we were frustrated by a gap in the market that we ultimately decided to fill with a product that provides the best ingredient bill we could imagine within reasonable cost parameters.

The result is Innerbody Testosterone Support, a combination of 11 ingredients, all present at doses that meet or exceed those used in successful studies. Here’s a quick look at the ingredients, with links to studies that can show you why we included them in the formula:

When it comes to testosterone, fenugreek and ashwagandha are the other two most important botanicals in this formula, alongside tongkat ali. But we included maca for its ability to help men with erectile performance and libido. Both zinc and vitamin D have a long-studied association with testosterone levels in men, as well.

If you’ve never tried any kind of supplement to address low T or similar men’s sexual wellness concerns, you might want to start out with an individual-ingredient approach by taking another tongkat ali in this guide. But if you’ve already tried one or more, or you want to skip that step and throw a larger ingredient bill at the problem, we believe Innerbody Testosterone Support is the best such choice for most men.

Bulk Supplements pricing and returns

Each capsule of Bulk Supplements Longjack contains a 500mg dose, with the company recommending that you take two capsules per serving. For most people, 1,000mg is probably excessive, meaning you can take just one capsule per serving and still expect to see some kind of results. And, considering the already low price of this tongkat ali, being able to cut the serving size in half without sacrificing efficacy just makes it that much better of a deal.

Of course, you can get an even better deal by reaching for Bulk Supplements’ tongkat ali powder, which comes in packages of up to 1kg.

Here’s what the pricing looks like:

At $44.06, the 1kg bag brings the cost per gram of tongkat ali down to $0.04. Of course, if you only take 200mg daily, it would take you nearly 14 years to consume all of it, and it would likely lose some of its potency by then. The most reasonable high quantity of tongkat ali powder on this list is probably the 100g bag, which would last you around 18 months and bring the cost per gram down to $0.16.

Like Innerbody, Bulk Supplements offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is just long enough to potentially see some results before deciding whether the substance is right for you.

Tongkat ali vs. ashwagandha

We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the literature investigating tongkat ali and a similar botanical ingredient called ashwagandha. Both are well-regarded for their abilities to increase testosterone and other aspects of male wellness, and both have research behind them indicating that they can ameliorate stress and anxiety.

So, which one should you take?

Well, the good news is that they don’t appear to be mutually exclusive of one another. You can take both together. It’s up to you whether to seek out a standalone ashwagandha supplement or try to find a single product that combines tongkat ali and ashwagandha.

Innerbody’s Testosterone Support actually combines them alongside nine other ingredients, and it does so using clinically relevant doses of both. It contains 400mg of tongkat ali and 600mg of a branded, standardized ashwagandha extract called KSM-66.

If you absolutely had to take one and not the other, we’d probably steer you toward ashwagandha at this time, as it boasts a little more research, especially into the anti-anxiety potential.13 14 That said, if you were more concerned with sexual health symptoms (ED, testosterone, libido), tongkat ali may be slightly superior. That’s even more true if you have any thyroid issues or take medication to manage your thyroid hormone levels, as ashwagandha may influence those.15

For most people consuming doses recommended on the bottle (typically 100-500mg), tongkat ali should be perfectly safe. Studies looking into these dose ranges only seem to report occasional adverse GI effects, which are extremely common among dietary supplements.

Larger doses of tongkat ali have been associated with more serious effects, including the potential to damage DNA in the GI tract. However, a close examination of the relevant study reveals several important caveats:3

In more responsible doses that have shown efficacy in studies, we often see few to no adverse effects reported. One study on Physta’s potential immunomodulation used a 200mg daily dose for four weeks and reported that “the frequency of reported [adverse events] did not statistically differ between the [tongkat ali] and [placebo] groups.”16 There’s even a study looking into tongkat ali-infused coffee, like the one available from Akarali, that indicates no adverse effects at doses below 14g. For reference, the serving size for Akarali’s coffee is 3.3g.17

Ultimately, this all paints a picture in which there are some theoretical risks associated with tongkat ali at very high doses, but those doses are far higher than the amount you’d need to experience the effects of a tongkat ali supplement.

Best single-ingredient tongkat ali supplement

Photo by Innerbody Research

Nootropics Depot manufactures a wide assortment of supplements, including a pair of tongkat ali options that are standardized extracts. These aren’t patented or branded extracts the way Akarali’s Physta is, but they are made by Nootropics Depot, and we haven’t found a comparably strong alternative to its 10% formulation.

The two available tongkat ali strengths from Nootropics Depot are 2% and 10% eurycomanone. Again, eurycomanone is thought to be one of the more important constituent parts of tongkat ali, responsible for the lion’s share of its positive effects. What’s less clear from the research we’ve reviewed is whether or not it can also be credited with any potential side effects. If it can, that 10% formulation may have a higher incidence of GI upset. But if it’s not the case, then a 10% concentration in a smaller overall dose could actually mitigate side effects.

Here’s how the two concentrations compare:

As you can see, Nootropics Depot delivers its more concentrated formula in a lower overall dose (100mg versus 200mg). That makes for smaller capsules and fewer of the ingredients that aren’t eurycomanone (90mg versus 196mg).

Nootropics Depot pricing and returns

Nootropics Depot doesn’t offer subscriptions on either of its tongkat ali supplements, but you can buy a higher-count bottle to save money per dose. Here’s how it works out for each concentration:

Since we’ve come to put a fair amount of stock in eurycomanone concentration, we’d recommend the 10% formulation to anyone with the capital to invest in it. The fact that you get free shipping at the 120-capsule level is rather important here, as Nootropics Depot has the highest shipping costs in our guide. Its lowest rate is $10.20, which is high enough to take the 60-count 10% option from $39.99 to $50.19, for a per-dose price increase from $0.67 up to $0.84.

Unfortunately for anyone who’s unsure tongkat ali will work for them, Nootropics Depot doesn’t offer any kind of money-back guarantee, and it doesn’t accept returns on opened products. That’s in pretty stark contrast to Innerbody and Bulk Supplements, both of which let you try a product for 30 days. We’ve seen some evidence that longjack can have an effect in as little as four weeks, so that 30-day mark may be enough to know whether it works for you.16

Best patented extract

Photo by Innerbody Research

Even in our first round of research review, we noticed the frequency with which Physta was specified as the type of tongkat ali used in numerous studies. This is something that undeniably sets it apart from other tongkat ali supplements, and it should put Physta at the top of the list for anyone who needs to see a brand name in the scientific research before reaching for a given supplement. We’ve been impressed by the research that Physta has been subjected to over the years (26 studies over two decades), though we aren’t wholly convinced that its standardization process puts it head and shoulders above similar products.

That standardization provides a 1.5% eurycomanone concentration, 0.5% less concentrated than Nootropics Depot’s 2% option and 8.5% less than the 10% option. Much of the research into tongkat ali assumes that eurycomanone is the primary driver of its beneficial effects, but Akarali goes a little further in its standardization efforts. It creates a consistent delivery of both eurycomanone and the plant’s other constituent parts, which, according to its website, are glycosaponins (48%), proteins (22%), and polysaccharides (30%).

For those of you with calculators at home, you might notice that 48, 22, 30, and 1.5 add up to 101.5%, so there’s clearly some wiggle room in this formula. We got clarification from Akarali on the issue, and here are the actual numbers:

Akarali deploys its Physta in a few ways. Its capsules are the most straightforward option. They each contain 200mg of Physta, a pretty standard dose compared to what we’ve seen in the research. There’s also a version marketed toward women that contains only 50mg per capsule, but we’ve seen no evidence that women would need a smaller dose than men.

In fact, many of the studies we’ve read that explicitly used Physta administered the same 100-300mg dose to men and women alike. And of the studies that used a 50mg dose, the one that was most successful combined its tongkat ali with 200mg of Labisia pumila, a similar herbal remedy with purported antioxidant properties,18 so we don’t recommend the 50mg women’s dose at this time.19

You can also get the plain tongkat ali powder, an instant coffee infused with tongkat ali, or a fizzy tongkat ali energy drink. The powder’s dose is pretty flexible, but the other two products deliver 70mg and 50mg per dose, respectively.

Photo by Innerbody Research

Longjack coffee is very popular in Southeast Asia, so we ordered some of it for ourselves to try out. Now, in the U.S., instant coffee isn’t well-regarded, at least not since the Starbucks revolution of the 1990s and the Keurig revolution of the late 2000s. But our testers have still had their fair share of instant coffee through the years (including some from Starbucks), and we wanted to see how Akarali’s stacked up. We were pleasantly surprised.

Akarali’s tongkat ali-infused coffee is immediately sweet on the tongue despite not containing any natural or artificial sweeteners or flavorings. That sweetness very quickly gives way to an intensely strong, bitter coffee flavor, but one that’s not unwelcome after the initial sweetness and that more closely resembles the bitterness of Campari or a similar liqueur. The whole thing is pretty well-balanced.

Summary of recommendations

Best Single-Ingredient

With an unparalleled 10% concentration of eurycomanone, this supplement option can deliver a potent dose in smaller capsules.

Nootropics Depot is available directly from the company’s website or from its storefront on Amazon. First-time buyers are better off buying direct from Nootropics Depot because you’ll only get the same low price from Amazon if you’re prepared to subscribe.

A majority of men seek tongkat ali to improve testosterone levels, sexual performance, and stress management. If that’s you, then this is your most powerful option.

This supplement contains relevant doses of several botanical extracts including tongkat ali, KSM-66 ashwagandha, fenugreek, and maca. It also has vitamins and minerals that many studies connect to healthy testosterone levels (including zinc and vitamin D).

Does tongkat ali damage DNA?

A very small amount of research looking into tongkat ali’s potential risk factors identified a possible effect on DNA in the GI tract. But that research established an oblique correlation, far from any evidence of causation.3 Much more research is needed to clarify the issue, but it’s worth noting that the doses used in that research far exceed typical doses used in nutritional supplements.

Bulk Supplements Longjack

Photo by Innerbody Research

Bulk Supplements is typically a smart place to stop if you’re looking for a low price on a given supplement. Its tongkat ali is no exception, costing far less per gram of the substance than any of the competitors in our guide.

One big caveat is that, unlike the options from Nootropics Depot and Akarali, Bulk Supplements’ Longjack is not a standardized extract. That means there’s no effort put into controlling the concentration of eurycomanone or any other compound in each dose. The makeup of a wild Eurycoma longifolia plant includes around 0.8-1.5% eurycomanone, so that’s about what you can expect per dose.