Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali · a Southeast Asian root sold for testosterone and libido

SUPPLEMENTFACTSTACK.COM™
Consumer Brief · October 2026
15 October 2026 · v3

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Claim Verdict

Promising

Testosterone, Libido and Erectile Function

Research Confidence

Low

Testosterone

Supporting Evidence

Promising

Testosterone

Safety Risk

Avoid

Testosterone

Product Quality

Inconsistent

Testosterone

Bottom line: Tongkat ali may raise testosterone a little in men who start low, but the trials are small and maker-funded, and its safety is not established. Avoid it.

What’s New This Month

Safety Risk is Avoid: EU authorities have repeatedly flagged tongkat ali as an unauthorised novel food in supplements, and Europe’s food agency found its safety not established. The FactStack™ Rating methodology defaults to Warning when Safety Risk equals Avoid. ¹ ²
Taiwan: According to Taiwan FDA records (translated), tongkat ali is not permitted as a food ingredient. ³
Lead: A ninth California notice, filed 28 September 2026, alleges lead in a tongkat ali powder. Notices are allegations, not test results. ⁴
No new trials: Our search found no new human trial of tongkat ali since the 21 September report.

Overview

Tongkat ali is the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a Southeast Asian plant. It is also sold as longjack, Malaysian ginseng and pasak bumi.

Sellers say it was used by tradition to restore energy and mood. Many selling websites also claim it helps malaria and other illnesses. ⁵

Labels claim it raises testosterone, libido and erectile function, and helps energy, stress, strength and fertility. Most trials tested one patented water extract. ⁶ ⁷

How We Researched It

We rate each marketing claim with a modified version of GRADE, the system medical researchers use to say how sure we can be (i.e., high, moderate, low or very low), and check each trial with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, which asks whether a study’s design could skew its results. We used 40 evidence records, mostly from October 2022 to October 2026. We checked FDA, California Prop 65, NIH LiverTox, EFSA, Health Canada and EU food alerts.

Research NotesTop three benefits

Testosterone GRADE: Low

A 2022 review pooled 5 trials in 232 men. Total testosterone rose, mainly in men with low levels; in healthy men the change was not significant. ⁸ In the best trial, total testosterone rose on 200 mg a day over 12 weeks while placebo fell; free testosterone did not. ⁶

Bias check: The best trial was funded by Biotropics Malaysia, the extract’s maker, and two authors work for it. ⁶

Libido and Erectile Function GRADE: Very Low

In a 6-month trial of 45 men, erectile function improved most with training plus tongkat ali. In 138 women near menopause, 100 mg a day improved sexual quality-of-life scores. ⁹ ⁷

Bias check: The men’s trial mixed in exercise. The women’s trial was paid for by the extract maker, and its result was borderline.

Normal-Range Testosterone GRADE: Very Low

The only direct test gave 18 men 400 mg a day for 7 days. Testosterone, cortisol, muscle damage and performance did not change. ¹⁰

Bias check: It is one tiny, short trial, so it cannot rule out a small effect.

Benefit Evaluation

Claim	Claim Verdict	Research Confidence	Supporting Evidence	Safety Risk	Product Quality	FactStack™ Rating
Testosterone	Promising	Low	Promising	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Libido and Erectile Function	Promising	Very Low	Promising	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Fertility	TBD	Very Low	TBD	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Energy	TBD	Very Low	TBD	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Stress	TBD	Very Low	TBD	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Women's Hormone Support	TBD	Very Low	TBD	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Disease Treatment	TBD	Very Low	TBD	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Free Testosterone	Doubtful	Very Low	Doubtful	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Normal-Range Testosterone	Doubtful	Very Low	Doubtful	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning
Strength and Performance	Doubtful	Very Low	Doubtful	Avoid	Inconsistent	Warning

What Sellers Say vs. What Studies Show

“Boosts any man’s testosterone.”	The rise showed mainly in men who started low. In healthy men, the pooled change was not significant. ⁸ ¹⁰
“Raises free testosterone.”	In the best trial, free testosterone (the active part) did not differ from placebo. ⁶
“Clinically proven.”	Only five small trials were pooled, and their results varied widely. Most tested one maker’s extract. ⁸
“Builds strength and performance.”	The only direct test, in 18 men for 7 days, found no gain in strength, soreness or jumping. ¹⁰
“It’s natural, so it’s safe.”	Europe’s food agency could not confirm its safety. LiverTox rates it a possible rare cause of liver injury, based on one case. ² ¹¹ ¹²
“Pure and third-party tested.”	None of the products we list holds NSF/ANSI 173, NSF Sport or USP certification. Nine California notices allege lead. ⁴

Trial ParametersIf you try it

Who	Adult men with clinician-confirmed low morning testosterone. Not for pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, or prostate or hormone-sensitive cancer.
Dose	100 to 200 mg a day of a standardized water extract. ⁶
Ceiling	200 mg a day. EFSA (2021) found safety not established under any condition of use. ²
Duration	Stop at 12 weeks; check testosterone at baseline and at 12 weeks.
Form	A standardized extract with a current batch lead result. Honey and sex-enhancement products have carried hidden tadalafil. ¹³
Ask First	Liver disease or heart-rhythm problems; antidepressants, blood thinners, digoxin, propranolol or diabetes medicines.

Source: ² and studies cited.

How to Take It

Pick a plan	Trials that measured testosterone used 100 to 200 mg a day of a water extract, for 4 to 12 weeks. ⁶ ¹⁴
Time of day	Not reported.
With food	Not reported.
What to expect	In the best trial, total testosterone rose by week 12 in men who started low. ⁶
How to take	Get a morning testosterone test before you start and again at 12 weeks. Ask the seller for a batch lead test.

Works With / Don’t Mix With

✓ Works with

Not reported. We found no supplement shown to add to tongkat ali’s effect.

Strength training. In a 45-man trial, the biggest gains in erectile function and testosterone came with training plus tongkat ali. Its effect alone was not reported. ⁹

⚠ Ask first / don’t mix

Antidepressants, blood thinners or digoxin (a heart drug). Ask a pharmacist first.

Propranolol (a blood-pressure drug). Tongkat ali may lower its level in the blood. Ask a pharmacist first. ¹⁵

Diabetes medicines. Ask a pharmacist first.

Prostate problems or hormone-sensitive cancer. Drugs.com says do not use it with prostate cancer. ¹⁵

Liver disease. One case of severe liver injury is documented. ¹² ¹¹

Pregnant? Drugs.com says avoid it. Not reported: combinations with other supplements tested in people. ¹⁵

Manufacturer Recalls & WarningsLast 36 months, newest first

Date	Maker / Brand	Product	Action	Src
Sep 2026	Phoenix Herb LLC	Phoenix Herb Tongkat Ali Powder (plus three other powders)	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	⁴
Aug 2026	Core Supplements LLC (Akarali)	Akarali Premium Tongkat Ali Powder Extract	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	¹⁶
Aug 2026	Franc Enterprises, Inc. (Twisted Thistle Apothicaire)	Twisted Thistle Apothicaire Tongkat Ali	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	¹⁷
Feb 2026	NY Spice Shop Inc	Tongkat Ali Powder	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	¹⁸
Jan 2026	The Black Forest LLC	Black Forest Turkesterone & Tongkat Ali 1000mg	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead; a settlement requires warnings. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	¹⁹
Dec 2025	Dorado Nutrition LLC	Tongkat Ali 1200mg	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	²⁰
Sep 2025	Nature Bell / Bayland Health Products (Naturebell)	Naturebell Tongkat Ali 200:1 Complex Stamina Energy	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead; a complaint was later filed. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	²¹
Aug 2025	Amazing Herbs / Amazing Organics	Amazing Herbs Tongkat Ali Powder Stamina	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead; a settlement requires warnings. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	²²
Feb 2024	Amazing Herbs / BetterLife.com	Tongkat Ali Express Raw Powder	California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result.	²³

We found no US recall of a tongkat ali product in the last 24 months; the one on record is a 2022 Class I honey product with hidden tadalafil. ²⁴ We found no FDA warning letter naming tongkat ali in the past two years (soft negative). One FDA adverse-event report in that time lists tongkat ali as a concomitant product, not the suspected cause. ²⁵ FDA lists two Malaysian makers of a tongkat honey product for detention at the border (2018) over hidden tadalafil. ¹³ EU authorities have repeatedly flagged tongkat ali as an unauthorised novel food in supplements. ¹ Health Canada lists two tongkat ali licences, both active but not marketed. ²⁶ ²⁷

Where to Buy

We compare products side-by-side not just on price, but on whether NSF lists the product as NSF/ANSI 173 Contents Certified (an independent lab confirms the label matches the contents), whether it is NSF Certified for Sport, whether USP lists it as USP Verified, and whether the seller says it is manufactured in the USA. We leave out a brand’s products for this supplement when, in the last 36 months, the FDA took action against that brand over this supplement (a Class I or II recall, a warning letter, an import alert or an advisory letter). We also leave out any brand with an FDA Class II recall or warning letter on any product. We also leave out any product named in a California Prop 65 notice or a non-US recall, along with that brand’s products of the same ingredient and form. Brands with other actions stay listed and are marked in the Recall Screen column. Our goal remains to provide you, the Consumer, with the information and data necessary to make an informed purchasing decision. Prices reflected below are static and subject to change.

Ratings above describe the ingredient’s research, not any product listed below.

#	Retailer	Product	Price	Mfg. in USA (per seller)	Recall Screen	Affiliate link
1	iHerb	Force Factor, Fundamentals, Longjack Tongkat Ali, 30 Capsules	$7.99	✓	✓*	View on iHerb ↗
2	iHerb	Nutricost, Tongkat Ali, 60 Capsules	$14.65	✓	✓*	View on iHerb ↗
3	HerbsPro	Solaray, Tongkat Ali, 400 Mg, 60 Veg Caps	$15.39	✓	✓	View on HerbsPro ↗
4	iHerb	Force Factor, Fundamentals, LongJack Tongkat Ali Max, 60 Vegetable Capsules	$18.99	✓	✓*	View on iHerb ↗
5	HerbsPro	Solaray, Tongkat Ali Extract, 30 Count	$25.49	✓	✓	View on HerbsPro ↗
6	Botanic Choice	NOW Foods TestoJack Vege Capsules, 60 (blend)	$26.99	✓	✓*	View on Botanic Choice ↗
7	iHerb	Toniiq, Tongkat Ali, 120 Capsules (200 mg per Capsule)	$28.32	✓	✓	View on iHerb ↗
8	Green's Nutrition	Nutricost LongJack Powder 100 Grams	$29.95	✓	✓*	View on Green's Nutrition ↗
9	Botanic Choice	NOW Foods TestoJack 200, 60 veg capsules (blend; tongkat ali 200 mg)	$32.99	✓	✓*	View on Botanic Choice ↗
10	HerbsPro	Source Naturals, Tongkat Ali, 80 Mg, 120 Tabs	$69.99	✓	✓	View on HerbsPro ↗

Per NSF and USP public listings, as of our 15 October 2026 product review; blank = not found.

Every retailer in this table is an affiliate partner, and we earn a commission on every product listed. Our affiliate partners across the site are Amazon, Botanic Choice, Everlywell, Green’s Nutrition, HerbsPro and iHerb. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Our evidence ratings are set before any products are added. No brand or retailer pays to be rated or reviews our content before it is published. Always confirm certifications on the provider’s website before you buy.

Recall Screen: ✓* means the brand’s only actions in the last 36 months are a California Prop 65 notice, a non-US recall or sales action, an FDA Class III supplement recall, or a food recall, each on a different product from the one listed. Prop 65 notices are allegations by private enforcers, not findings. A blank means the brand had another FDA action in that period, such as an import alert or a recall of a different product, or a minor (Class III) recall of this product.

Sources

1. RASFF notification 2025.7482: novel food Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) in food supplements. European Commission (RASFF Window), 1 Oct 2025. webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/787177

2. Safety of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract as a novel food (EFSA Journal 19(12):6937). European Food Safety Authority, 22 Dec 2021. doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6937

3. Documents needed for health-food safety pre-assessment (notes tongkat ali as assessed as not permitted as a food ingredient; Chinese, translated). Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, undated. www.fda.gov.tw/tc/includes/GetFile.ashx?id=f637147101549694777&type=2&cid=32538

4. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2026-04610, Phoenix Herb LLC, Tongkat Ali Powder (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 28 Sep 2026. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2026-04610

5. Wahab et al. Information quality of websites selling tongkat ali: content analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911853

6. Chinnappan et al. Eurycoma longifolia (Physta) and testosterone and quality of life in ageing men: randomized trial. Food & Nutrition Research, 2021. doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v65.5647

7. Muniandy et al. Eurycoma longifolia (Physta) and menopausal quality of life: 12-week randomized trial. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 6 Nov 2025. doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v13.i31.109113

8. Leisegang K et al. Eurycoma longifolia and serum total testosterone in men: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina, 2022. doi.org/10.3390/medicina58081047

9. Leitao AE et al. Tongkat ali with and without training in ageing men: 6-month randomized trial. Maturitas, 2021. doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.12.002

10. Zakaria et al. Tongkat ali before eccentric exercise: double-blind randomized trial. Biology of Sport, 2023. doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.119290

11. LiverTox: Tongkat Ali (NBK609015). National Institutes of Health (NCBI Bookshelf), 18 Oct 2024. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK609015/

12. Kaliounji et al. Liver injury after tongkat ali: case report. Cureus, 21 Mar 2024. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.56639

13. Import Alert 54-16. US Food and Drug Administration, 14 Aug 2026. www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1141.html

14. Talbott SM et al. Tongkat ali and stress hormones and mood in moderately stressed adults: randomized trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2013. doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-28

15. Eurycoma longifolia: professional monograph. Drugs.com, 22 Jul 2026. www.drugs.com/npp/eurycoma-longifolia.html

16. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2026-04240, Core Supplements LLC, Akarali Premium Tongkat Ali Powder Extract (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 31 Aug 2026. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2026-04240

17. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2026-04220, Franc Enterprises, Inc., Twisted Thistle Apothicaire Tongkat Ali, Chaga and Maca (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 31 Aug 2026. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2026-04220

18. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2026-00718, NY Spice Shop Inc, Tongkat Ali, Maca, Spirulina and Neem Powders (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 13 Feb 2026. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2026-00718

19. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2026-00357, The Black Forest LLC, Turkesterone & Tongkat Ali 1000mg (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 23 Jan 2026. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2026-00357

20. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2025-05191, Dorado Nutrition LLC, Tongkat Ali 1200mg (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 24 Dec 2025. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2025-05191

21. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2025-03617, Nature Bell and Bayland Health Products, Naturebell Tongkat Ali 200:1 Complex (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 18 Sep 2025. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2025-03617

22. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2025-03260, Amazing Herbs and Amazing Organics, Tongkat Ali Powder Stamina (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 22 Aug 2025. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2025-03260

23. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2024-00515, Amazing Herbs and BetterLife.com, Tongkat Ali Express Raw Powder (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 1 Feb 2024. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2024-00515

24. Recall F-1515-2022, MKS Enterprise LLC, Dose Vital VIP Vital Honey With Caviar and Tongkat Ali Powder (Class I). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food enforcement), 18 Jul 2022. api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22F-1515-2022%22

25. openFDA food adverse event data, report 2025-CFS-018186 (tongkat ali concomitant). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA), 15 Nov 2025. api.fda.gov/food/event.json?search=report_number:%222025-CFS-018186%22

26. Licensed Natural Health Products Database: AKARALI Premium Tongkat Ali, NPN 80142321 (active; not marketed). Health Canada, 17 Mar 2026. health-products.canada.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/info?licence=80142321

27. Licensed Natural Health Products Database: Tongkat Ali, NPN 80141642, NOVA Regulatory Canada Inc. (active; not marketed). Health Canada, 17 Mar 2026. health-products.canada.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/info?licence=80141642

Disclaimer. This brief is for general education only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you take medication, have a health condition, or are planning surgery. 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. Research summaries reflect sources available on the date shown and may change. FactStack™ Research, LLC does not make, sell or warrant any product named here and is not responsible for how any product is made, sold or used.

Tongkat Ali · SupplementFactStack.com™ Consumer Brief · October 2026