A whole mythology has developed around Tongkat Ali: from "Malaysian Viagra" to "herbal alternative to steroids". Some of these claims have weak scientific basis, some are exaggerations of marketers, and some have no evidence at all. The editors collected the most common myths and verified them according to clinical research data.
Where do myths come from
Tongkat Ali has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in Malaysia and Indonesia as a tonic for men. Traditional usage in itself is not proof of effectiveness, but it creates a powerful "cultural background" that marketers are eager to turn into advertising promises.
The second source of myths is preclinical research. In studies on rats, extracts of Eurycoma longifolia improved sexual behavior and influenced hormonal parameters. Animal results are often cited without specifying that the doses, conditions, and physiology of rodents differ significantly from those of humans.
A third source is research funded by manufacturers of standardized extracts. This is normal practice for the nutritional supplement industry, and such works can be qualitative. However, their results should be evaluated taking into account possible conflicts of interest and small samples.
Finally, social networks and "biohacking" content play their role. Personal stories of "energy surges" and "testosterone doubling" spread quickly, but are rarely accompanied by before-and-after tests, placebo controls, or even information about the specific product and dosage.
Myths about testosterone and muscles
Myth 1: "Tongkat Ali is a natural steroid." This is the loudest and least substantiated statement. Anabolic steroids are synthetic testosterone derivatives that, in supraphysiological doses, directly activate androgen receptors. Tongkat ali does not contain testosterone and does not act like its analogue; the possible mechanisms are associated with the influence on the synthesis of own hormones and binding of testosterone to blood proteins.
Myth 2: "The supplement doubles testosterone." A meta-analysis by Leisegang et al (2022) did show a statistically significant increase in total testosterone in men taking the extract. But the effect was most noticeable in men with a reduced initial level of the hormone, such as in late-onset hypogonadism, and in healthy men with normal testosterone it was much more modest or absent.
A study by Tambi et al. (2012) in men with late-onset hypogonadism recorded normalization of testosterone levels in a significant part of the participants. However, this is an open study without a placebo group, so its results should be taken with caution. It is incorrect to extrapolate them to young athletes with normal hormones.
Myth 3: "Tongkat ali significantly increases muscle mass." There is no direct qualitative evidence of pronounced muscle growth in trained people. In a pilot study by Henkel et al. (2014), grip strength increased in physically active older adults, but this is a small work and the result cannot be compared to the effects of hormonal drugs studied, for example, in the classic Bhasin studies.
| Statement | Editorial verdict | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| "Natural steroid" | False | Does not contain androgens and does not act as their analog |
| "Doubles Testosterone" | Exaggeration | Moderate effect, mainly at a reduced initial level |
| "Significantly increases muscle" | Not proven | There are not enough data in trained people |
| "Reduces stress" | There are preliminary data | One study of cortisol and mood |
| "Absolutely safe" | False | There are contraindications, interactions, contamination risks |
Myths about libido and potency
Myth 4: "Tongkat ali is malaysian viagra that works after an hour." Drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil, have a well-studied mechanism - inhibition of the PDE-5 enzyme - and work within an hour of administration. No such rapid action has been described for Tongkat Ali: in clinical studies, effects on sexual function were assessed after weeks of regular intake.
If a "herbal" supplement gives a pronounced effect on an erection within an hour, this is an alarm signal. Regulators of various countries have repeatedly found hidden synthetic PDE-5 inhibitors and their analogues in "natural" male products. Such an admixture is dangerous, especially for people who take nitrates for heart disease.
Regarding libido, the data are mixed. In a randomized study by Ismail et al (2012), an aqueous extract improved quality of life and sexual well-being in men compared to placebo. In a six-month study by Leitão et al. (2021) in men with signs of age-related androgen deficiency, the combination of the extract with exercise was also evaluated for erectile function and testosterone.
Therefore, a moderate effect on subjective indicators of sexual well-being may exist, especially in middle-aged and older men. But it is not a substitute for treatment of erectile dysfunction, which is often an early sign of cardiovascular problems and requires examination.
Myths about safety and quality
Myth 5: "Once it's a plant, it's safe." Tongkat ali was well tolerated in short-term studies, but it has contraindications: pregnancy, childhood, hormone-dependent tumors. Effects on the bioavailability of propranolol have also been described, and no long-term safety data are available. Natural origin does not cancel pharmacological activity.
Myth 6: "The higher the extract ratio, the stronger the product." The marks "100:1" or "200:1" only describe the amount of raw materials used to obtain the extract and do not guarantee the content of active compounds. A more reliable indicator is standardization by marker substances, confirmed by a certificate of analysis.
Myth 7: "You can take it continuously for years." The longest clinical trials span months, not years. Claims about the safety of long-term use have no scientific basis. If a person is taking the supplement for a long time, it is wise to periodically check the health, liver parameters and, if necessary, the hormonal profile.
Myth 8: "Tongkat ali is prohibited in sports." This is not true: the plant is not included in the Prohibited List of WADA. However, the risk lies in something else — in the possible contamination of the product with prohibited substances. Athletes should choose supplements with independent certification, as advised by the IOC consensus (Maughan et al., 2018).
What research really shows
If you discard the myths, the picture is more modest, but more honest. A moderate increase in total testosterone is confirmed by a meta-analysis, but it is most pronounced in men with reduced levels of the hormone. There is preliminary evidence of an effect on measures of stress: in a study by Talbott et al. (2013), cortisol decreased and mood improved in moderately stressed adults.
The mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. Hypotheses include stimulation of steroid hormone synthesis, decreased binding of testosterone to sex hormone-binding globulin (SGH), and effects on aromatase and phosphodiesterase, as described in laboratory work by Low et al. (2013) for eurycomanone. None of the hypotheses has been conclusively proven for humans.
- Most studies are small — tens, not hundreds, of participants.
- Mostly standardized aqueous extracts were used, not any products from the market.
- Duration — weeks or several months.
- Part of the work was financed by extract manufacturers.
These limitations do not invalidate the results, but put them in perspective. Tongkat ali is a supplement with a moderate and selective evidence base, not a miracle cure.
Editorial conclusion
Most of the hype about Tongkat Ali is either an exaggeration or a myth. It is not a steroid, not an analogue of Viagra and not a tool for rapid muscle building.
At the same time, the plant is not a "pacifier": there are data on a moderate increase in testosterone in men with reduced levels of the hormone and preliminary data on stress and sexual well-being. For healthy young athletes, expectations should be modest.
Real risks are related to contraindications, drug interactions and product quality. This is what you should pay attention to, not the promises of advertising.
We recommend also reading "Tongkat Ali: What it is and how it works", "Who should not take Tongkat Ali" and "Fadogia or Tongkat Ali: What is the difference".
References
- Leisegang K, Finelli R, Sikka S, Panner Selvam MK. Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) improves serum total testosterone in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(8):1047.
- 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):226â230.
- Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):28.
- Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, et al. Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors â a pilot study. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):544â550.
- Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WMZ, 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. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:429268.
- Leitão AE, Vieira MCS, Pelegrini A, et al. 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 (ADAM). Maturitas. 2021;145:78â85.
- Low BS, Choi SB, Abdul Wahab H, et al. Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increases spermatogenesis by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase and aromatase in steroidogenesis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013;149(1):201â207.
- Maughan RJ, Burke LM, Dvorak J, et al. IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(7):439â455.
