Last updated: September 26, 2026 · Originally published: July 2, 2026 · By Eternal Elixir Editorial
Quick answer: Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also sold as longjack) has a small but real body of research in women. The trials we found that included women used between 50mg and 400mg of extract a day. The clearest women-only result comes from a 12-week trial of 138 women aged 40 to 55, where 100mg a day of a hot-water extract improved menopause-specific quality-of-life scores more than placebo and left reproductive hormones unchanged. The stress and mood results come from mixed groups of men and women. In Australia, tongkat ali is sold by supplement brands, sports-nutrition stores and online retailers. Our pick is Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract: 90 capsules for $39.99, sent from Sydney within 24 hours. Its full label serve of 2,000mg is far above the doses tested in women, so talk to your GP about how many capsules suit you before you start.
Eternal Elixir makes Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract, and it is our pick. Every figure for the other products below comes from their own product pages or the Australian retailer listing we link, read in September 2026. We have not lab-tested any of them. Most of the research in women used a branded hot-water extract called Physta. Our 200:1 extract has not been tested in a clinical trial, and neither have most of the tongkat ali products sold in Australia, so the studies below describe the herb, not any one bottle.
Why women take tongkat ali
Tongkat ali is the root of a shrub that grows in South-East Asia. In Australia it is marketed mostly to men as a testosterone supplement, which is why most guides ignore women. Women who take it usually want steadier energy, a better handle on day-to-day stress, or support through the menopause transition.
The research in women looks different from the research in men. The doses are lower, the outcomes are mostly quality-of-life and mood questionnaires, and hormone panels are checked largely to confirm nothing unwanted happened. For the herb’s background and how it is extracted, see our guide to tongkat ali in Australia. For the evidence across both sexes, read what the research shows on tongkat ali benefits.
What the research on tongkat ali in women shows
Four published trials give most of what is known. Here they are side by side, then one at a time.
| Study | Who took part | Dose and length | What changed | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muniandy et al., 2025 | 138 women aged 40 to 55 with menopause symptoms (112 finished) | 50mg or 100mg of Physta, or placebo, once a day for 12 weeks | At 100mg, the menopause quality-of-life score fell 33.9% against 23.3% on placebo. 50mg did no better than placebo. Reproductive hormones unchanged. | Sponsored by the extract’s maker. Large placebo response. |
| Talbott et al., 2013 | 63 moderately stressed adults: 32 men and 31 women | 200mg of Physta a day for 4 weeks | Tension down 11%, anger 12% and confusion 15%. Salivary cortisol 16% lower and testosterone 37% higher than placebo. | Results not reported separately for women. |
| George et al., 2018 | 93 moderately stressed adults aged 25 to 65 (86 finished, 48 of them women) | 50mg of Physta with a multivitamin, or placebo, daily for 24 weeks | No significant difference from placebo on the main outcomes. Physical stress score down 15% against 0.7% on placebo. | Combined with a multivitamin, so the herb’s share is unclear. |
| Henkel et al., 2014 | 25 physically active adults aged 57 to 72, 12 of them women | 400mg of extract a day for 5 weeks | Total and free testosterone and grip strength rose in both men and women. | Small pilot study. |
Wellbeing during the menopause transition
The largest women-only trial was run in Malaysia. Researchers gave 138 women aged 40 to 55 who reported menopause symptoms either 50mg or 100mg of Physta, or a look-alike placebo, as one capsule after breakfast for 12 weeks. In the 100mg group, the total score on a menopause-specific quality-of-life questionnaire fell by 33.9%, compared with 23.3% on placebo (P = 0.049). The physical and sexual sections of the questionnaire also improved more than with placebo. The 50mg dose did no better than placebo. Vital signs, blood chemistry and reproductive hormones showed no significant changes (Muniandy et al., World Journal of Clinical Cases, 2025).
Read it with the caveats in view. The placebo group improved a lot on its own, so the extra benefit at 100mg was modest and only just reached significance. Of the 138 women, 26 dropped out. The trial was sponsored by Biotropics, the company that makes Physta. It is still the best evidence there is for women in their 40s and 50s, and it points to a low dose.
Stress hormones and mood
In a four-week trial, 63 moderately stressed adults (32 men and 31 women) took 200mg of Physta or a placebo every day. The tongkat ali group reported 11% less tension, 12% less anger and 15% less confusion on a standard mood questionnaire. Their salivary cortisol was 16% lower and salivary testosterone 37% higher than in the placebo group. Liver enzymes, body weight and body fat did not change (Talbott et al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2013).
The paper reports men and women together, so we cannot say how the women responded on their own. It is a short trial, and the product came from the extract’s maker.
Six months of use with a multivitamin
A longer US trial gave 93 moderately stressed adults aged 25 to 65 a tablet of 50mg Physta plus a multivitamin, or a placebo, every morning for 24 weeks. On the main quality-of-life and mood measures, the two groups did not differ significantly. Both groups improved from where they started. The physical stress score fell 15% in the tongkat ali group against 0.7% on placebo. Blood chemistry did not change, and adverse events were similar (seven on the active tablet, six on placebo). In the women, free testosterone rose in both groups, with no significant difference between them (George et al., Food & Nutrition Research, 2018).
Testosterone and strength in older women
A small pilot study gave 400mg of tongkat ali extract a day for five weeks to 13 men and 12 women aged 57 to 72 who were physically active. Total and free testosterone rose in both sexes, and so did grip strength. The authors put the rise in women’s free testosterone down to a fall in sex hormone-binding globulin, the protein that carries testosterone in the blood (Henkel et al., Phytotherapy Research, 2014).
That result matters for women. At the low doses in the menopause trial, hormones did not move. At 400mg, free testosterone in women went up. If you have a hormone-related condition, that is a reason to talk to your doctor before you start.
What has not been shown
- We found no trial of tongkat ali on female fertility, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- We found no trial in women that ran longer than 24 weeks.
- The three Physta trials all involved Biotropics, which makes the extract, through sponsorship, product supply or staff authors.
- We found no trial testing whether cycling tongkat ali (for example five days on, two off) works better than taking it daily.
- Retail extracts are labelled in different ways (200:1, 25:1, raw root), so a milligram figure on one label cannot be matched to a trial dose on another.
Tongkat ali (longjack) dosage for women
The doses tested in women were 50mg, 100mg, 200mg and 400mg of extract a day. In the only women-only trial, 100mg helped and 50mg did not. Those figures refer to specific extracts, mostly Physta, and cannot be carried straight across to a different product.
Our label directs three capsules a day on an empty stomach, or as your doctor directs, for 2,000mg of 200:1 extract. That works out to about 667mg per capsule. Even one capsule holds more extract than any dose tested in women, which is why we suggest talking to your GP about the right amount for you before you start, and never going above the label serve.
On timing, two of the trials gave it once a day in the morning: one with water, the other after breakfast. Morning use also keeps it away from bedtime. Our tongkat ali dosage guide covers amounts and forms in more detail, and our write-up of the popular dosing and cycling protocols explains where the five-days-on pattern comes from.
The trials ran for four, five, 12 and 24 weeks, so give any routine at least a month before you judge it. Our guide to how long tongkat ali takes to work sets out what changed at each point.
Tongkat ali side effects and safety for women
The trials reported few problems at the doses they used.
- In the menopause trial, some participants reported bloating, headache, breast tenderness, wind or stomach discomfort when they started. These settled on their own within a couple of weeks, none was judged to be caused by the capsules, and there were no serious adverse events.
- In the four-week stress trial, three people felt unusually tired in the first two weeks: two taking tongkat ali and one on placebo.
- In the 24-week trial, adverse events were about even between groups and blood chemistry did not change.
Our tongkat ali side effects guide covers the wider evidence, including the trials in men.
Who should not take tongkat ali
- Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. There is no safety data for these groups.
- Anyone under 18.
- Women with a hormone-related condition such as PCOS, or a hormone-sensitive condition, unless their doctor agrees. Free testosterone rose in women at 400mg a day.
- Anyone taking prescription medicines, including hormone therapy, blood-sugar or blood-pressure medicines. Ask your GP or pharmacist first.
Where to buy tongkat ali in Australia: the options compared
Tongkat ali capsules are sold in Australia by local supplement brands, sports-nutrition stores and online retailers. Chemist Warehouse did not list any tongkat ali capsules when we searched its site in September 2026, and our guide to tongkat ali at Chemist Warehouse covers the alternatives. Here is how the main products compare, with prices in Australian dollars as of Sep 2026.
| Product | Extract per capsule (label) | Label serve | Capsules per bottle | Price (AUD, as of Sep 2026) | Cost per day at label serve | Fit with the doses tested in women | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract (our pick) | 200:1 root extract, 2,000mg per 3 capsules | 3 capsules, or as your doctor directs | 90 | $39.99 | $1.33 | Above every tested dose. Lowest price per capsule here, at $0.44. | View at Eternal Elixir |
| AKARALI Premium Tongkat Ali (sold as a men’s product) | 200mg of 200:1 hot-water extract; the maker says it uses Physta | 1 or 2 capsules after meals | 60 | $89.00 | $1.48 (1 capsule) or $2.97 (2 capsules) | Physta is the extract used in three of the trials. One capsule matches the 200mg stress-trial dose. | AKARALI |
| Emrald Labs Tongkat Ali | 500mg of 200:1 extract | 1 capsule | 60 | $69.90 | $1.17 | Above the tested doses | Elite Supps |
| Evolution Botanicals Tongkat Ali | 500mg of 25:1 extract, 1% eurycomanone | 1 capsule | 120 | $69.95 | $0.58, lowest cost per day here | Different extract type from the trials | Evolution Botanicals |
| Solaray Tongkat Ali | 400mg of root powder (not an extract) | 1 capsule twice a day | 60 | $35.95 at Wallaby Wellness | $1.20 | Root powder, not tested in women | Wallaby Wellness |
Our price is from our live product page. Competitor prices were read from the linked pages in September 2026 and change with promotions, so check before you buy.
Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99
Evolution Botanicals has the lowest cost per day at its label serve, at $0.58. If matching the trial extract matters most to you, AKARALI says its capsule uses Physta, the extract in three of the four trials, though it costs much more per capsule and is marketed to men. Emrald Labs and Solaray sit in between on price. Our capsule has the lowest price per capsule in the table, and a 90-capsule bottle gives you room to take fewer capsules a day if your doctor suggests it.
Why Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali is our pick
Eternal Elixir makes this product. Here is what the label gives you.
- What is in it: tongkat ali root extract at a 200:1 ratio, with rice flour and a cellulose capsule. No other actives.
- Amount: 2,000mg per three-capsule serve, 90 capsules per bottle, 30 serves at the full label amount.
- Price: $39.99 a bottle, which is $1.33 per full serve or $0.44 per capsule.
- Buying ahead: the product page takes 10% off two bottles, 15% off three and 20% off five. Three bottles come to $101.97, which clears the $100 free-shipping threshold.
- Service: a 30-day money-back guarantee, dispatch from Sydney within 24 hours and Afterpay at checkout.
Where it does not win: it is not the extract used in the trials, and its full serve is far above the doses tested in women. If that matters more to you than price and local dispatch, the AKARALI capsule is the closer match. You can see the full label on our Tongkat Ali 200:1 product page, compare every Australian option in our tongkat ali supplement comparison, or browse the rest of our range.
Some women would rather start with a different herb. Our guide to Korean Panax ginseng for energy and stress and our review of shilajit research in women cover two other options from our range, and our tongkat ali and ashwagandha comparison sets tongkat ali against the most common stress herb.
Tongkat ali for women: frequently asked questions
Is tongkat ali safe for women?
The trials that reported safety found no serious adverse events at 50mg to 200mg of extract a day for up to 24 weeks, and blood chemistry did not change. Some women in the menopause trial had early bloating, headache or breast tenderness that settled within a couple of weeks. There is no safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and none beyond 24 weeks in women. Talk to your GP first if you take prescription medicines or have a hormone-related condition.
Does tongkat ali raise testosterone in women?
It depends on the dose. At 50mg and 100mg a day for 12 weeks, women’s reproductive hormones did not change significantly. At 400mg a day for five weeks, free testosterone rose in a small group of older women, which the authors linked to a fall in sex hormone-binding globulin. If you have a hormone-related condition, ask your doctor before taking it.
What does tongkat ali do for the body?
In people, the best-supported effects are on stress and wellbeing. A four-week trial in stressed men and women found lower salivary cortisol and less tension, anger and confusion than with placebo. A 12-week trial in women aged 40 to 55 found better menopause-specific quality-of-life scores at 100mg a day. In men, most research is about testosterone. Our tongkat ali benefits guide covers both.
What happens if I take tongkat ali every day?
Every trial gave it daily, for between four and 24 weeks, and the three trials that reported blood chemistry found no significant changes. What happens over years is unknown. Many people cycle it, though no trial has shown that cycling works better than daily use.
Who should not use tongkat ali?
Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, anyone under 18, and anyone with a hormone-related or hormone-sensitive condition should not take it without their doctor’s agreement. If you take prescription medicines, including hormone therapy, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Where can I buy tongkat ali in Australia?
From Australian supplement brands, sports-nutrition stores and online retailers. Chemist Warehouse listed no tongkat ali capsules when we searched in September 2026. Our pick is Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract, $39.99 for 90 capsules and sent from Sydney within 24 hours. The table above compares it with AKARALI, Emrald Labs, Evolution Botanicals and Solaray.
Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99
How much tongkat ali should a woman take?
The trials in women used 50mg to 400mg of extract a day, and the women-only trial found a benefit at 100mg but not at 50mg. Different extracts are not interchangeable by weight. One capsule of our 200:1 extract holds about 667mg, which is already above the tested doses, so agree the amount with your GP and do not go above the label serve.
How long does tongkat ali take to work for women?
The trials ran for four, five, 12 and 24 weeks. The menopause trial saw its result at 12 weeks, so allow at least a month, and ideally three, before you decide whether it helps.
Can you take tongkat ali while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. We found no trial of tongkat ali in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and the Solaray listing we checked at Wallaby Wellness says not to use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid it while trying to conceive as well, and speak to your doctor about any supplement during this time.
The bottom line on tongkat ali for women
Tongkat ali has more research in women than most guides admit, but it is still small. The best result is a modest improvement in menopause-specific quality of life at 100mg a day, with hormones unchanged, from a trial funded by the extract’s maker. The stress and mood data come from mixed groups at 200mg. At 400mg, free testosterone rose in older women. If you want to try it, start with your GP’s advice on dose, take it in the morning and give it a few months. Our pick is Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract, for the price per capsule and the Sydney dispatch, with the dose caveat above.
For more options for women, see our guides to the supplements women over 40 compare in Australia, energy supplements in Australia and adaptogen supplements in Australia.
Sources
- Muniandy S, Yahya HM, Shahar S, et al. Effect of Eurycoma longifolia water extract (Physta®) on menopausal quality of life and mood states. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2025;13(31):109113. PubMed 41283187
- 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(1):28. PubMed 23705671
- George A, Udani J, Abidin NZ, Yusof A. Efficacy and safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Physta®) water extract plus multivitamins on quality of life, mood and stress: a randomized placebo-controlled and parallel study. Food & Nutrition Research. 2018;62. PubMed 30574050
- Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, et al. Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors: a pilot study. Phytotherapy Research. 2014;28(4):544-550. PubMed 23754792
- Product pages read in September 2026: AKARALI Premium Tongkat Ali, Emrald Labs Tongkat Ali at Elite Supps, Evolution Botanicals Tongkat Ali and Solaray Tongkat Ali at Wallaby Wellness.
