Last updated: September 26, 2026 · Originally published: July 3, 2026 · By Eternal Elixir Editorial
Quick answer: The tongkat ali benefits for men with the most human evidence are a rise in total testosterone, lower cortisol, lower fatigue scores and better libido scores. They come from small randomised trials of standardised root extracts, taken at 100mg to 600mg a day for between two weeks and six months. The clearest results were in men over 40 whose testosterone had fallen. The evidence for sperm quality and strength is weaker. Our pick for Australian men who want to try it is Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract: 90 capsules for $39.99, a label serve of three capsules (2,000mg), sent from Sydney within 24 hours. That serve is more extract by weight than any trial below used, and no trial has tested our extract, so agree your amount with your GP.
Eternal Elixir makes Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract, and it is our pick. Every figure for other products on this page comes from their own product pages, read in September 2026, and we have not lab-tested any of them. The studies below used particular extracts, most often a standardised hot-water extract sold as Physta, so they describe the herb and those extracts rather than any one bottle on sale in Australia. For sourcing, forms and buying options, start with our tongkat ali guide for Australia.
Tongkat ali benefits for men at a glance
Each row gives a claimed benefit, the best human evidence behind it and how much weight that evidence can carry. The trial details follow in the next section.
| Benefit | Best human evidence | Daily dose and length | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone | A pooled analysis of five randomised trials (Leisegang 2022) and a trial in 105 men aged 50 to 70 (Chinnappan 2021) | 100mg to 600mg, for 2 to 12 weeks | Moderate. Results point the same way, but the trials are small. |
| Cortisol and mood | 63 moderately stressed adults (Talbott 2013) | 200mg, for 4 weeks | Limited. One trial, with men and women reported together. |
| Fatigue and energy | The same 105-man trial (Chinnappan 2021) | 100mg or 200mg, for 12 weeks | Limited. One trial, paid for by the extract’s maker. |
| Libido and sexual function | 109 men aged 30 to 55 (Ismail 2012) and 45 men with an average age of 47 (Leitão 2021) | 200mg to 300mg, for 12 weeks to 6 months | Moderate, for questionnaire scores |
| Sperm and semen quality | A subgroup of the 109-man trial and an uncontrolled study (Tambi 2010) | 200mg to 300mg, for about 3 months | Weak. No significant difference from placebo between groups. |
| Strength and muscle | A pilot study of 25 active adults aged 57 to 72 (Henkel 2014) | 400mg, for 5 weeks | Weak. No placebo group. |
What tongkat ali is, and why the extract matters
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, also sold as longjack) is a shrub from the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and nearby countries. Its bitter root has long been used in traditional Malaysian tonics for men. Supplements use a water extract of that root.
The extract is sold in three forms, and the milligram figure on the label means something different in each. Root powder is dried, ground root. A ratio extract, such as 25:1 or 200:1, tells you how much root went into each part of finished extract. A standardised extract states the level of a marker compound, usually eurycomanone. Physta, the extract in several of the trials below, is a freeze-dried water extract with a stated ratio of 20:1. Our label gives the ratio (200:1) and the amount (2,000mg per serve), and it does not state a eurycomanone percentage. Our tongkat ali dosage guide shows how to read each type of label.
What the research shows for each benefit
Testosterone
Raising testosterone is what tongkat ali is best known for, and it is the benefit with the most trials. A 2022 systematic review found nine studies and pooled five randomised controlled trials. Total testosterone rose significantly in men taking the extract compared with placebo, and the result held in the subgroup of men who started with low levels. The authors said more research is needed before it is used in clinical practice (Leisegang et al., Medicina, 2022).
The largest single trial in older men enrolled 105 men aged 50 to 70, all with total testosterone below 300 ng/dL. They took 100mg or 200mg of Physta, or a placebo, every day for 12 weeks. At 200mg, total testosterone was higher than on placebo at weeks 4, 8 and 12. Free testosterone rose within both extract groups but did not differ significantly from placebo (Chinnappan et al., Food & Nutrition Research, 2021). Biotropics, the company that makes Physta, paid for the study, and two of the authors were its employees.
Younger men have been tested too. In a two-week trial, 32 healthy men with an average age of 24 took 600mg a day or a placebo. Total and free testosterone rose more in the extract group, and so did oestradiol, the main form of oestrogen (Chan et al., Andrologia, 2021). In an earlier one-month study with no placebo group, 76 men with age-related symptoms took 200mg a day. Before the course, 35.5% had testosterone in the normal range. Afterwards, 90.8% did (Tambi et al., Andrologia, 2012). Without a placebo group, part of that change may have happened anyway.
Does tongkat ali lower SHBG?
Many online summaries say tongkat ali lowers sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the protein that binds testosterone in the blood, and so frees up more of it. The trials in men do not show this. SHBG did not change significantly in the 105-man trial or in the two-week trial in young men. In a five-week pilot study of 25 physically active adults aged 57 to 72, the authors put the rise in free testosterone in the 12 women down to a significant fall in their SHBG (Henkel et al., Phytotherapy Research, 2014). For men, the SHBG explanation is still unproven.
Cortisol, stress and mood
Tongkat ali is often grouped with adaptogens because of its effect on cortisol, the main stress hormone. In a four-week trial, 63 moderately stressed adults (32 men and 31 women) took 200mg of Physta a day or a placebo. The extract group ended with salivary cortisol 16% lower and salivary testosterone 37% higher than the placebo group. Their tension, anger and confusion scores on a standard mood questionnaire fell by 11%, 12% and 15% (Talbott et al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2013). Men and women were analysed together, so the result for men alone is unknown. In the 105-man trial, cortisol also fell within the 200mg group over 12 weeks.
Energy and fatigue
Fatigue was a secondary outcome in the 105-man trial. Scores on the Fatigue Severity Scale fell significantly more than on placebo at every check, in both the 100mg and 200mg groups, and scores on the Ageing Males’ Symptoms scale improved in the same way. The authors concluded that 200mg a day reduced fatigue within two weeks. It is one trial, and the extract’s maker paid for it, so it needs repeating by other groups.
Libido and sexual function
The 12-week Ismail trial gave 109 men aged 30 to 55 either 300mg of Physta or a placebo each day. The extract group scored higher on the erectile function section of a standard questionnaire, and their libido score rose 14% by week 12. The physical functioning part of a quality-of-life survey also improved more than on placebo, and safety measures were similar in both groups (Ismail et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012). Two of the authors worked for Biotropics.
A six-month trial in Brazil split 45 men with an average age of 47 into four groups: placebo or 200mg of tongkat ali a day, each with or without exercise training three times a week. Sexual function scores improved with the extract and with training, and the men who did both had the largest gains and a rise in total testosterone (Leitão et al., Maturitas, 2021). With 45 men spread across four groups, each group was small.
Sperm and semen quality
Online summaries often say tongkat ali improves semen volume, sperm concentration and motility. The evidence is thinner than that. In the 109-man trial, 36 men gave samples at the start and at week 12, and the extract and placebo groups did not differ significantly on any semen measure. Among the 11 men on the extract who started with lower motility, the share of moving sperm rose from 33.8% to 48.8%, which is too small a group to rely on.
An older study gave 350 men from couples having trouble conceiving 200mg a day. The 75 who completed three months had better results on every semen measure, but there was no placebo group (Tambi and Imran, Asian Journal of Andrology, 2010). A man with fertility concerns should see his GP before he relies on a supplement.
Strength, muscle and body fat
In the Henkel pilot study, 400mg a day for five weeks raised total and free testosterone and grip strength in both the 13 men and the 12 women. Everyone took the extract, so there was no placebo comparison. In the 105-man trial, muscle strength rose within both extract groups by week 12, which is again a before-and-after result. In the 109-man trial, men with a BMI of 25 or more on the extract lost a significant amount of fat mass.
None of these trials compared training plus tongkat ali with training plus placebo in enough men to settle the question. If strength is your main goal, training, protein and sleep come first.
What the tongkat ali research has not shown
- No published trial has tested our 200:1 extract, or most of the tongkat ali extracts sold in Australia.
- The trials in men used 100mg to 600mg a day. None ran longer than six months.
- The randomised trials of benefits in men were small, with 32 to 109 people each. Several had authors from, or funding by, Biotropics.
- Most outcomes were blood tests and questionnaires. A higher testosterone reading is not always something you will feel.
- We found no trial that compared tongkat ali head to head with ashwagandha or shilajit.
Who is most likely to notice tongkat ali benefits?
The strongest results came from men in their 40s to 70s whose testosterone had dropped, and from adults under steady stress. For Australian men over 40, that makes tongkat ali a reasonable herb to try on top of the basics: sleep, resistance training and enough protein. Our step-by-step testosterone protocol for men over 35 covers those basics, and our guide to the supplements men over 40 compare most covers what else is worth a look.
Young men with normal levels have less to go on. The two-week trial in men with an average age of 24 found a rise, but no trial has followed young men for months. Women have been studied in only a few trials, and our guide to tongkat ali for women in Australia sets them out.
How to take tongkat ali for the benefits studied
The trials in men used 100mg to 600mg a day of a water extract, taken every day, and most used 200mg to 300mg. None compared morning with evening doses. Many people take it in the morning to keep it away from bedtime.
Our label says to take three capsules daily on an empty stomach, or as your physician directs, for 2,000mg of 200:1 extract. By weight, that is well above every trial dose. A 200:1 extract is a different material from Physta, so the milligrams do not line up one for one, and a bigger number on a label does not guarantee a bigger effect. Agree your amount with your GP, and never go above the three-capsule label serve. Our guide to how much tongkat ali to take lists every trial dose, and our write-up of the five-days-on dosing routine explains where cycling comes from.
How long does tongkat ali take to boost testosterone?
- 2 weeks: total and free testosterone up in young men at 600mg a day, and fatigue scores down in older men at 100mg and 200mg.
- 4 weeks: total testosterone above placebo at 200mg in men aged 50 to 70, and lower cortisol in stressed adults.
- 12 weeks: better libido and physical functioning scores at 300mg.
- 6 months: the largest gains in sexual function, in men who combined 200mg with training.
Give it at least four weeks, and preferably 12, before you judge it. Our guide to how long tongkat ali takes to work goes through each goal.
Tongkat ali vs ashwagandha and other options
No published randomised trial has compared tongkat ali with ashwagandha directly. They overlap on cortisol, but the research points in different directions. Tongkat ali’s trials mostly measured testosterone and sexual function in men. Ashwagandha’s are more often about stress and sleep. In one eight-week trial of 60 stressed adults, those given ashwagandha had lower stress scores, lower cortisol and better sleep quality than those given placebo (Salve et al., Cureus, 2019).
If testosterone support is your main reason, tongkat ali has the more direct evidence. If sleep is your main concern, ashwagandha has more trials. Our tongkat ali vs ashwagandha comparison sets out both, and we also compare tongkat ali with shilajit and tongkat ali with turkesterone.
Tongkat ali side effects and who should avoid it
The trials reported few problems. On 300mg a day for 12 weeks, safety measures were similar to placebo. The 105-man trial checked blood counts, cholesterol, liver and kidney tests and found no clinically relevant changes. The trials we cite lasted up to six months, so there is no trial safety data on longer use.
Tongkat ali can change how some medicines are absorbed. In a small crossover study of 14 healthy young men, taking a tongkat ali water extract with the blood-pressure medicine propranolol cut the total amount of the medicine absorbed by 29% and its peak level by 42% (Salman et al., Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2010). If you take any prescription medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist before you start.
- Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there is no safety data for either group.
- It is not for anyone under 18.
- Men with a hormone-sensitive condition, or on hormone medicines, should not take it unless their doctor agrees. Oestradiol rose in the young men’s trial.
- Anyone on prescription medicines should check with a GP or pharmacist first.
Our tongkat ali side effects guide covers the reported effects in more detail.
Tongkat ali capsules in Australia compared
Here is how our capsules compare with other tongkat ali products sold in Australia, each at its own label serve. Prices are in Australian dollars as of Sep 2026, taken from each product page. For a longer side-by-side list, see our best tongkat ali supplements in Australia comparison. If you usually shop at a pharmacy, our guide to tongkat ali at Chemist Warehouse covers what the chains stock.
| Product | Form and amount | Label serve | Capsules per bottle | Price (AUD, as of Sep 2026) | Cost per day | Who it suits, and who it doesn’t | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract (our pick) | 200:1 root extract, 2,000mg per serve | 3 capsules on an empty stomach | 90 | $39.99 | $1.33 | Suits men who want a month per bottle, the lowest price per capsule here ($0.44) and dispatch from Sydney. Not for anyone who wants the exact extract used in the trials. | View at Eternal Elixir |
| AKARALI Premium Tongkat Ali | 200mg of 200:1 extract per capsule. The product page lists Physta technical specifications. | 1 or 2 capsules after meals | 60 | $89.00 | $1.48 to $2.97 | Suits men who want an amount per capsule close to the trial doses. The highest cost per day in this table. | View at AKARALI |
| Emrald Labs Tongkat Ali | 500mg of 200:1 extract per capsule | 1 capsule | 60 | $69.90 | $1.17 | Suits men who want one capsule a day. Not for vegetarians, as the capsules are gelatin. | View at Elite Supps |
| Evolution Botanicals Tongkat Ali | 500mg of 25:1 extract, standardised to 1% eurycomanone | 1 capsule | 120 | $69.95 | $0.58 | Suits men who want a stated eurycomanone level and the lowest cost per day in this table. The upfront price is higher than ours. | View at Evolution Botanicals |
| Solaray Tongkat Ali 400mg | 400mg of root powder (not an extract) per capsule | 2 capsules, 800mg a day | 60 | $35.95 | $1.20 | Suits men who want the lowest upfront price here. The retailer notes that root powder and ratio extracts cannot be compared milligram for milligram. | View at Wallaby Wellness |
Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1: what you get
We make this product, so here is its label, plainly.
- What is in it: tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) 200:1 root extract, 2,000mg per three-capsule serve, with rice flour and a cellulose capsule.
- How to take it: three capsules daily on an empty stomach, or as your physician directs.
- How long a bottle lasts: 90 capsules make 30 serves, so $39.99 works out at $1.33 a day at the full serve.
- Multi-bottle pricing: the product page takes 10% off two bottles, 15% off three and 20% off five.
- Delivery and returns: free shipping on orders over $100, dispatch from Sydney within 24 hours, a 30-day money-back guarantee and Afterpay.
- Testing: the product page says batches are tested by third-party laboratories for purity and contaminants, including heavy metals.
Who it suits: men over 35 who want to try tongkat ali for testosterone and energy support, prefer a single-ingredient capsule and want a bottle that lasts a month and ships from within Australia. Who it doesn’t suit: anyone who wants the exact extract and dose from the trials, because our 200:1 extract has not been trialled and our serve is larger by weight. It is also not for anyone in the groups listed in the safety section above.
Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99Tongkat ali benefits: frequently asked questions
What does tongkat ali do to men?
In small trials in men, standardised tongkat ali extracts raised total testosterone, lowered cortisol and improved fatigue, libido and sexual function scores. The clearest results were in men over 40 with lower testosterone. It may help support normal testosterone levels, and it is not a substitute for seeing your doctor about low testosterone.
Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99
How long does tongkat ali take to boost testosterone?
In the trials, testosterone rose within two weeks in young men taking 600mg a day, and within four weeks in men aged 50 to 70 taking 200mg a day. Libido and sexual function scores took 12 weeks to six months. Allow at least four weeks, and preferably 12, before you decide whether it helps.
What happens if I take tongkat ali every day?
Every trial gave it daily, for two weeks to six months, and the trials that reported safety tests found them similar to placebo. Nobody has studied daily use beyond six months, so review it with your GP every few months, especially if you take any medicines.
What is better, ashwagandha or tongkat ali?
It depends on your goal, and no trial has compared them head to head. Tongkat ali has the more direct evidence for testosterone and sexual function in men. Ashwagandha has been studied more for stress and sleep. Our side-by-side guide to the two herbs covers the trials for each.
What is the best tongkat ali for men in Australia?
Our pick is Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract: 2,000mg of 200:1 extract per three-capsule serve, 90 capsules for $39.99, sent from Sydney within 24 hours. Eternal Elixir makes it. If you want the extract type used in several of the trials, look for a label that names Physta.
Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99
Can women take tongkat ali?
Some women do, but most trials are in men. In one pilot study, free testosterone rose in women taking 400mg a day. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a hormone-sensitive condition should not take it without talking to their doctor. Our guide to tongkat ali for women covers the trials.
Where can I buy tongkat ali in Australia?
Australian supplement brands and online retailers sell tongkat ali capsules, and so do we. Our capsules ship from Sydney within 24 hours, with free shipping on orders over $100. You can also browse our full range, and our Chemist Warehouse guide covers what the pharmacy chains carry.
The bottom line on tongkat ali benefits for men
Tongkat ali has a small body of trials in men, and the results mostly agree. The strongest evidence is for a rise in total testosterone, particularly in men over 40 whose levels have fallen, along with lower cortisol and better libido and fatigue scores. Claims about SHBG and sperm quality go further than the trials. Give it 4 to 12 weeks alongside sleep and training, and talk to your GP first if you take any medicines.
Sources
- 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. PubMed 36013514
- Chinnappan SM, George A, Pandey P, Narke G, Choudhary YK. 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. 2021;65. PubMed 34262417
- Chan KQ, Stewart C, Chester N, Hamzah SH, Yusof A. The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on the regulation of reproductive hormones in young males. Andrologia. 2021;53(4):e14001. PubMed 33559971
- Tambi MI, Imran MK, Henkel RR. Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism? Andrologia. 2012;44 Suppl 1:226-30. PubMed 21671978
- 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):544-50. PubMed 23754792
- 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
- Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WM, George A, et al. 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. 2012;2012:429268. PubMed 23243445
- Leitão AE, Vieira MCS, Pelegrini A, da Silva EL, Guimarães ACA. A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate the effect of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) and concurrent training on erectile function and testosterone levels in androgen deficiency of aging males. Maturitas. 2021;145:78-85. PubMed 33541567
- Tambi MI, Imran MK. Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2010;12(3):376-80. PubMed 20348942
- Salman SA, Amrah S, Wahab MS, et al. Modification of propranolol’s bioavailability by Eurycoma longifolia water-based extract. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2010;35(6):691-6. PubMed 21054461
- Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus. 2019;11(12):e6466. PubMed 32021735
- Product pages read in September 2026: Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract, AKARALI Premium Tongkat Ali, Emrald Labs Tongkat Ali at Elite Supps, Evolution Botanicals Tongkat Ali and Solaray Tongkat Ali 400mg at Wallaby Wellness.
