With aging, our bones and muscles weaken as body fat accumulates, all while our immune system declines. These symptoms can be attributed to hormonal changes, including decreased testosterone. Low testosterone levels are common in older men, but now researchers may have found a way to increase testosterone without direct hormone stimulation or replacement.

Tongkat Ali or Longjack, an herb found in Southeast Asia and commonly used as part of traditional holistic medicine there, has risen in popularity due to claims about its effectiveness in increasing testosterone, reducing stress, and potentially even boosting male fertility. Various podcasters, including Joe Rogan and Professor of Neurobiology at Stanford University Andrew Huberman, have discussed this herb in depth. They posit that taking Tongkat Ali boosts antioxidant levels in the body to fight free radicals while normalizing certain hormones like testosterone and Cortisol. Do these claims hold water? Let’s dive in.

The Science Behind Tongkat Ali

While the current scientific research on Tongkat Ali is nascent, initial studies have helped us gain a greater understanding of its mechanisms and benefits.

Tongkat Ali is rich in bioactive compounds vital for life. The quassinoid it has in greatest abundance is eurycomanone, which acts on the body’s hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG axis). These glands, in concert, control our development, reproduction, and aging.

Testosterone Boost: Some research suggests that Tongkat Ali may help increase testosterone levels in men with low baseline T. A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that supplementation with Tongkat Ali extract for five weeks led to significant improvements in testosterone levels among male participants.

Libido Enhancement: Tongkat Ali is often touted as an aphrodisiac, and some studies support this claim. Improved libido and sexual performance have been reported by men taking Tongkat Ali supplements.

Stress Reduction: Chronic stress can contribute to hormonal imbalances, including low testosterone. Tongkat Ali has been shown to have stress-reducing properties, potentially indirectly benefiting testosterone levels.

Physical Performance: Some athletes and bodybuilders have turned to Tongkat Ali as a natural performance enhancer. Although research is limited, some studies suggest it may improve muscle strength and endurance.

In men, Tongkat Ali may help activate hormones that stimulate the testicles to produce testosterone. In women, these hormones may ultimately help with menstruation. Tongkat Ali also liberates testosterone from its sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). In doing so, it effectively increases the amount of bioavailable testosterone your cells can use.

How Tongkat Ali Can Benefit You

Boost testosterone levels

Testosterone has a PR problem. For some people, “high testosterone” might bring to mind an aggressively macho weightlifter, or a spittle-flecked man with road rage. But testosterone’s role in bad behavior is overblown—and, in fact, many more people would benefit from more testosterone than less of it.

In both men and women, testosterone plays important bodily roles, affecting our muscles, bones, sexual organs, and more. Testosterone deficiency in men, which happens naturally as part of the aging process, can result in loss of muscle mass and body hair, impotence, infertility, and more.

Improve fertility, libido, and erectile function

The literal translation of Tongkat Ali is “Ali’s walking stick.” The name is doubly apt—a reference, experts claim, to the plant’s long, twisted roots, or perhaps to its aphrodisiac properties. That is to say: Tongkat Ali can enhance your sexual health.

Studies of both humans and animals have shown Tongkat Ali’s positive effects on erectile function and libido. Men who took Tongkat Ali for 12 weeks reported significantly harder erections and made more attempts at sexual intercourse. Male rats, meanwhile, showed increased libido on Tongkat Ali.

The supplement also has positive improved fertility, with greater semen production, volume, and motility. In one animal study, eurycomanone was shown to improve fertility by increasing sperm production.

Relieve stress

Work. Sleep. Family and friends. Exercise. Diet. Life is a balancing act, and sometimes things start falling down, making you stressed, unfocused, and unhappy. For all the spinning plates of life, Tongkat Ali can help. That’s because it helps manage your stress-hormone profile, lowering cortisol and increasing testosterone levels.

A four-week study of people with “moderate stress levels” found that Tongkat Ali reduced participants’ tension, anger, and confusion compared to the placebo. Participants also reported an improvement in overall well-being.

Increase muscle mass

You might already be taking whey protein or creatine to enhance the muscle-building work you put in at the gym and outside of it. Tongkat Ali can help maximize your gains, acting as an ergogenic aid that improves body composition.

In one study, physically active older adults reported enhanced muscle strength after taking 400mg daily for five weeks. Another study focused on healthy young men who did an eight-week strength-training program. The group that took 100mg/day of Tongkat Ali saw increases in muscle mass and maximal strength (1-RM) compared to the placebo group.

How Does Tongkat Ali Boost Testosterone?

Tongkat Ali’s ability to boost testosterone production may not be just folklore. One study found that the herb increased men’s T levels by 37% after only four weeks of use (2). Another found that taking the herb boosted study participants’ total testosterone levels by 15% and their free testosterone levels by 34% (3).

The possible mechanism? A bioactive ingredient in the herb, called eurycomanone, activates the adrenal and pituitary glands, which results in the production of more total testosterone, says Jandes. She adds, “Free testosterone is the form that is not attached to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or other serum proteins. Tongkat Ali may reduce the amount of total T bound to SHBG thereby increasing Free T.”

Eurycomanone has also been linked to higher levels of total testosterone and DHEA, a precursor to testosterone. “DHEA is an androgen that converts to testosterone or estrogen (estrogen is made from testosterone),” says Jandes.

Chinnappan and colleagues separated 105 men with low testosterone (less than 300 ng/dL) ranging from 50 to 70 years old into three groups. For twelve weeks, one group took a placebo, another group took 100 mg of EL, and the other group took 200 mg of EL. Compared to the placebo, both 100 and 200 mg of EL increased total testosterone, which includes testosterone bound to proteins.

Free testosterone was not different between the placebo group and both EL groups. However, free testosterone increased within each of the EL groups, while it did not significantly change in the placebo group. Free testosterone is not bound by proteins and is therefore available to bind androgen receptors, allowing for testosterone’s effects, including the promotion of muscle growth and strength.

Can Tongkat Ali Reverse Male Aging?

A recent meta-analysis reports studies showing that Tongkat Ali increases testosterone in older adults with low testosterone and middle-aged adults with low testosterone, suggesting that Tongkat Ali is effective for those with low testosterone. However, Tongkat Ali does not seem to increase testosterone in middle-aged males who exercise, suggesting that exercise may have similar effects to Tongkat Ali. Therefore, Tongkat Ali may be beneficial for sedentary older adults with low testosterone and may alleviate certain aspects of aging, such as muscle weakness.

Conclusion

So, is Tongkat Ali effective for low testosterone, or is it just more internet hype? While there is promising research indicating potential benefits for testosterone levels, it’s essential to approach Tongkat Ali with realistic expectations. It may offer some men a natural and alternative option to address low T, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Ultimately, the best approach to managing low testosterone is a comprehensive one that includes medical evaluation, lifestyle changes, and, if necessary, the guidance of a healthcare provider or urologist like us here at Austin Urology Institute. Tongkat Ali may have its place in this strategy, but it’s not a universal remedy. As with any supplement or herbal remedy, always prioritize safety, quality, place of origin, and consult with a medical professional before making significant changes to your health regimen.