Consumers can buy tongkat ali online and in health food stores in a number of different product formats. Demand for the supplement has increased dramatically in recent years and nearly 200 tongkat ali products are currently available.
Options include dietary supplement capsules, liquid extracts, bulk powders as well as tongkat ali coffee and other beverages. This supplement is also often paired with complementary ingredients to support male sexual health, energy levels and athletic performance.
To make informed buying decisions it is important to understand what tongkat ali is, how it is cultivated and how it is used. This article discusses tongkat ali supplements and what you need to know before deciding to purchase this natural health product.



- Aphrodisiac & male sexual enhancer
- Increases testosterone & sperm motility
- Improves muscle mass, strength & mood
Should you Buy Tongkat Ali?
Tongkat ali is the local name for the plant Eurycoma longifolia, a shrub-like tree indigenous to Southeast Asia. The tree prefers the warm, sandy soil of countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Tongkat ali supplements are primarily used to increase testosterone levels and treat sexual dysfunction. Because it is believed to support testosterone production, tongkat ali is also used to improve endurance, strength and athletic performance.
Available scientific evidence indicates tongkat ali may be able to increase testosterone levels in individuals who are suffering from low testosterone, but its effect on otherwise healthy individuals is unknown. Additionally, tongkat ali has not been observed to improve endurance in otherwise healthy males.
Tongkat AlCultivation
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia, Long Jack, Pasak Bumi) naturally grows on jungle slopes, but wild populations are strictly protected and cannot be harvested in many Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia.
A fully grown specimen of Eurycoma longifolia can reach heights of between 15 and 18 meters, but is thought to take nearly 25 years to reach maturity.
Tongkat ali is now a cultivated crop in regions of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia. When it is grown for commercial purposes, the plant is usually only allowed to age for four years before its roots are harvested.
The roots are considered the most potent part of the plant, but the leaves, fruit and bark have also been used in some traditional medicine practices.
Tongkat ali supplements are available as raw crude powder (of the plant’s root), as a capsule (sometimes mixed with other herbs thought to act as aphrodisiacs), as an extract of the root (sometimes extracted using high-pressure water extraction) and as an additive in coffee or tea.
Tongkat Ali Extract Uses
Many buy tongkat ali supplements to promote sexual vitality and increase physical energy levels. It may also be recommended by herbalists for improving mood, immunity and general health.
Tongkat ali has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac, but it has also been used to reduce blood pressure, break fever and to treat aches, malaria, glandular swelling and dysentery. [1]
There are many contemporary uses of tongkat ali. Some of its contemporary uses are listed below, but it is important to note that more research is needed to establish the therapeutic effects of tongkat ali. People use this supplement for:
- hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and heart disease;
- stroke, Alzheimer’s and memory loss;
- low libido, erectile dysfunction and infertility;
- osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint pains and other degenerative bone conditions;
- type II diabetes mellitus and obesity;
- depression and irritability;
- enlarged prostate;
- weakness and lack of endurance;
- chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and anemia.
Tongkat Ali Research
More research is needed to establish the therapeutic effects of tongkat ali. In preliminary studies, a specific tongkat ali supplement has been observed to increase testosterone levels in men suffering from late-onset hypogonadism, a condition where the body produces insufficient levels of testosterone. [5]
In a separate study, tongkat ali was observed to improve sperm production, mobility and shape in men suffering from infertility. [2]
In addition, tongkat ali has been observed to improve testosterone levels and increase muscle strength in elderly individuals. [3] However, it has not been reported to improve endurance and strength in otherwise healthy adults. [4]
Buy Tongkat Ali Online
There is significant demand for tongkat ali supplements. The demand combined with the difficulty in harvesting the roots of Eurycoma longifolia has led to concern that some tongkat ali supplements may not contain the labeled ingredients.
As is the case with any supplement, it is important to do research before buying a tongkat ali product. Here are some tips to help you find a reputable tongkat ali vendor:
- Make sure that the company has a valid US postal address and other up-to-date contact information.
- Evaluate the professionalism and quality of the website that offers the product you are considering.
- Look for available customer support and the company’s refund policy before placing your order.
- Look for certified organic options.
- Look for consumer reviews of both the company and supplement. Large online retailers like Amazon.com are great sources for customer reviews.
In addition to these tips, look for supplements that have been produced in accordance with good manufacturing practices (known as GMPs). For more tips on buying supplements from a reputable producer, read Nootriment’s article on how to not get ripped off in the supplement marketplace.
Tongkat Ali Side Effects
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates tongkat ali as “Possibly Safe” when taken orally and appropriately. It reports tongkat ali has been used safely in doses of up to 200 mg/day for nine months.
Tongkat ali is not recommended for pregnant and/or nursing women. There is not enough evidence to show that tongkat ali is safe for developing fetuses or newborns.
Speak to your doctor before you buy tongkat ali for supplementation. Tongkat ali may interact with a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Speak with your doctor to make sure tongkat ali is a safe supplement for you.
- Bhat R, Karim AA. Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance. Fitoterapia. 2010 Oct;81(7):669-79.
- Tambi MI, Imran MK. Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl. 2010 May;12(3):376-80.
- Natural Medicines. Eurycoma Longifolia: Professional Monograph. September 2015.
- Hamzah S and A Yusof. The ergogenic effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack: a pilot study. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2003;37(5):465-466.
- 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 May;44 Suppl 1:226-30.
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment