Does Tongkat Ali Actually Work? 12 Clinical Studies Reviewed

Let's start with what you're probably thinking:

"Another supplement claiming to boost testosterone naturally. Sure it does."

Fair enough. The supplement industry has earned that scepticism with decades of overpromising and underdelivering. For every legitimate product, there are dozens of useless ones riding on marketing hype and borrowed studies.

So when it comes to Tongkat Ali, what does the actual research say? Not the marketing claims. Not the influencer testimonials. The peer-reviewed, published, scientific research.

I've gone through the clinical studies so you don't have to. Here's what they found—the good, the limited, and the "needs more research."

Before we dive into studies, let's be clear about what we're talking about.

Tongkat Ali (scientific name: Eurycoma longifolia) is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asian rainforests, primarily Malaysia and Indonesia. The root has been used in traditional medicine for centuries—long before it became a supplement trend.

The active compounds include eurycomanone and other quassinoids, which are believed to be responsible for its effects. How these work is still being researched, but the proposed mechanisms include:

Now, traditional use doesn't prove anything works. Plenty of traditional remedies have failed when tested properly. So let's look at what happens when Tongkat Ali meets the scientific method.

The most comprehensive look at Tongkat Ali research came from a meta-analysis published in the journal Medicina in 2022. This type of study pools data from multiple trials to get a bigger picture.

What they analysed: Data from randomised controlled trials examining Tongkat Ali's effects on testosterone and related outcomes.

What they found:

This is one of the most-cited Tongkat Ali studies, and it looked at something specific: stressed-out adults.

Study design: 63 participants (32 men, 31 women) experiencing moderate stress took either 200mg of Tongkat Ali extract or placebo daily for 4 weeks.

What they found:

Why this matters: Chronic stress is one of the biggest testosterone killers. By reducing cortisol, Tongkat Ali may help remove a major brake on natural testosterone production. This is a plausible mechanism supported by actual data.

Limitations: 4 weeks is short, and the sample size wasn't huge. But the results were statistically significant.

This randomised controlled trial specifically looked at men with lower testosterone levels.

Study design: Men aged 50-70 with testosterone below 12 nmol/L received either standardised Tongkat Ali extract or placebo for 12 weeks, combined with a resistance training programme.

What they found:

Key point: The combination with exercise is important. This study suggests Tongkat Ali works best as part of an active lifestyle, not as a magic pill you take while sitting on the sofa.

Let's be intellectually honest about the limitations:

Here's my honest assessment:

The evidence suggests Tongkat Ali can have real effects on testosterone, stress hormones, and related outcomes. This isn't just marketing fluff—there's legitimate research showing measurable changes.

But it's not a miracle cure. The effects are modest compared to pharmaceutical testosterone replacement. If your testosterone is severely low, Tongkat Ali alone probably won't fix it.

It works best in context. The studies showing the strongest results combined Tongkat Ali with exercise, stress management, and healthy lifestyle factors. It seems to work with your body's natural systems, not as a replacement for them.

Quality matters enormously. This is crucial. A standardised, properly extracted product with verified active compound content is not the same as cheap powder with unknown potency. More on this shortly.

Based on the research, Tongkat Ali seems most likely to help:

Here's something most Tongkat Ali articles don't tell you:

The vast majority of products on the UK market are rubbish.

Independent testing has found that many Tongkat Ali supplements contain a fraction of the active compounds used in clinical studies. Some are diluted with fillers. Others have minimal eurycomanone content.

What clinical studies used:

This is why someone might try Tongkat Ali, get no results, and conclude "it doesn't work." They weren't taking anything equivalent to what was tested in studies.

If you're going to try Tongkat Ali, you need a properly standardised product with verified potency. Otherwise, you're essentially running your own experiment with an unknown substance.

If you try quality Tongkat Ali alongside healthy lifestyle practices, here's a realistic timeline based on research:

Weeks 1-2: Possibly subtle improvements in mood and stress resilience. Don't expect dramatic changes.

Weeks 4-6: Energy and recovery might start improving. Some men notice better sleep quality.

Weeks 8-12: This is where the research shows testosterone and related changes becoming measurable. Body composition, libido, and performance effects typically appear in this window.

What you probably won't experience:

Does Tongkat Ali work? The honest answer: yes, probably, with caveats.

The research suggests real effects on testosterone, stress hormones, and related outcomes. Multiple studies show statistically significant improvements over placebo. The mechanisms are plausible and increasingly understood.

But the effects are modest, individual responses vary, quality matters enormously, and it works best as part of a comprehensive approach to health—not as a standalone solution.

If you're considering trying it:

Your scepticism is healthy. Just don't let it prevent you from considering something that might actually help—when used properly, with appropriate expectations, as part of a sensible approach to optimising your health.