Does tongkat ali damage DNA?
Does tongkat ali damage DNA?
A very small amount of research looking into tongkat ali’s potential risk factors identified a possible effect on DNA in the GI tract. But that research established an oblique correlation, far from any evidence of causation.3 Much more research is needed to clarify the issue, but it’s worth noting that the doses used in that research far exceed typical doses used in nutritional supplements.
Why you should trust us
At Innerbody Research, we do everything we can to get reliable information about supplements, prescription treatments, and other products and services that you might want to incorporate into your regimen. Our efforts include poring over seemingly countless pages of scientific literature, talking to experts in related fields, and even trying products for ourselves.
In the case of tongkat ali, we reviewed more than 50 scholarly articles pertaining to the substance itself and the ailments it may be able to help treat. We scoured the marketplace to identify which products offered the best extracts for the best prices, and then we ordered and tried them for ourselves. Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy and will continue to be monitored for updates by our editorial team.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
Who is tongkat ali for?
Owing to all of its potential applications, tongkat ali may be suitable for a wide variety of consumers. Perhaps most notably, it makes sense as a supplemental approach to treating various sexual disorders in men, including low testosterone and libido, fertility issues, and poor erectile performance.
It may also be a helpful component of a larger anti-anxiety effort, combined with either other botanicals and supplements or things like talk therapy or meditation.
What Colour Should It Be?
There are many opinions regarding what colour Tongkat Ali (TA) extract should be. Some say very dark brown. This is not true and is normally propagated by sellers of inferior quality TA.
In fact, the purest form of Tongkat Ali extract is white! The main active ingredient of TA is a compound called Eurycomanone. Eurycomanone is snow white in its purest form.
The colour of the dried Tongkat Ali powder after extraction varies according to many of the elements of the extraction process, such as the amount of time that the roots have been dried, and how finely they are chipped. The extraction method itself – whether the chipped root is soaked in cold water, hot water, or alcohol, boiled, or repeatedly boiled, for example. Other factors that affect the final product are whether it is filtered or centrifuged, or concentrated before drying by repeated boiling.
Ours is a sandy brown, partly due to the rice bran powder, which helps the extract flow through the capsule filling machine.
Current Best Before Date: 03/2025
* Product reviews are the opinions of customers. Individual results may vary from person to person
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When used as directed, Tongkat Ali is generally safe. However, it's always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or are taking medication.
Can tongkat ali treat ED?
Can tongkat ali treat ED?
Tongkat ali can’t “cure” ED, per se, but it can help treat underlying causes of ED, like anxiety or low testosterone.30 5 And eliminating an underlying cause of ED is about as close to a cure as you can get.
Tongkat ali vs. ashwagandha
We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the literature investigating tongkat ali and a similar botanical ingredient called ashwagandha. Both are well-regarded for their abilities to increase testosterone and other aspects of male wellness, and both have research behind them indicating that they can ameliorate stress and anxiety.
So, which one should you take?
Well, the good news is that they don’t appear to be mutually exclusive of one another. You can take both together. It’s up to you whether to seek out a standalone ashwagandha supplement or try to find a single product that combines tongkat ali and ashwagandha.
Innerbody’s Testosterone Support actually combines them alongside nine other ingredients, and it does so using clinically relevant doses of both. It contains 400mg of tongkat ali and 600mg of a branded, standardized ashwagandha extract called KSM-66.
If you absolutely had to take one and not the other, we’d probably steer you toward ashwagandha at this time, as it boasts a little more research, especially into the anti-anxiety potential.13 14 That said, if you were more concerned with sexual health symptoms (ED, testosterone, libido), tongkat ali may be slightly superior. That’s even more true if you have any thyroid issues or take medication to manage your thyroid hormone levels, as ashwagandha may influence those.15
For most people consuming doses recommended on the bottle (typically 100-500mg), tongkat ali should be perfectly safe. Studies looking into these dose ranges only seem to report occasional adverse GI effects, which are extremely common among dietary supplements.
Larger doses of tongkat ali have been associated with more serious effects, including the potential to damage DNA in the GI tract. However, a close examination of the relevant study reveals several important caveats:3
In more responsible doses that have shown efficacy in studies, we often see few to no adverse effects reported. One study on Physta’s potential immunomodulation used a 200mg daily dose for four weeks and reported that “the frequency of reported [adverse events] did not statistically differ between the [tongkat ali] and [placebo] groups.”16 There’s even a study looking into tongkat ali-infused coffee, like the one available from Akarali, that indicates no adverse effects at doses below 14g. For reference, the serving size for Akarali’s coffee is 3.3g.17
Ultimately, this all paints a picture in which there are some theoretical risks associated with tongkat ali at very high doses, but those doses are far higher than the amount you’d need to experience the effects of a tongkat ali supplement.
Best single-ingredient tongkat ali supplement
Photo by Innerbody Research
Nootropics Depot manufactures a wide assortment of supplements, including a pair of tongkat ali options that are standardized extracts. These aren’t patented or branded extracts the way Akarali’s Physta is, but they are made by Nootropics Depot, and we haven’t found a comparably strong alternative to its 10% formulation.
The two available tongkat ali strengths from Nootropics Depot are 2% and 10% eurycomanone. Again, eurycomanone is thought to be one of the more important constituent parts of tongkat ali, responsible for the lion’s share of its positive effects. What’s less clear from the research we’ve reviewed is whether or not it can also be credited with any potential side effects. If it can, that 10% formulation may have a higher incidence of GI upset. But if it’s not the case, then a 10% concentration in a smaller overall dose could actually mitigate side effects.
Here’s how the two concentrations compare:
As you can see, Nootropics Depot delivers its more concentrated formula in a lower overall dose (100mg versus 200mg). That makes for smaller capsules and fewer of the ingredients that aren’t eurycomanone (90mg versus 196mg).
Akarali pricing and returns
Akarali doesn’t sell single bottles of Physta. A 60-dose two-pack of bottles is the smallest possible order. There are some bundles that can save you a little money, though.
Here’s how the pricing works out for the company’s most recommendable products:
Shipping from Akarali costs $8, and the company doesn't accept returns unless a product arrives damaged or defective. That’s not as generous as some of the other return policies in the space, like Innerbody’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ingredients per 400mg Capsule
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for varied diet. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or under medical supervision, please consult a doctor before use. Discontinue and consult a doctor if adverse reactions occur.
Recommended for adults.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Whether you’re searching for a natural remedy to enhance sexual performance, raise testosterone levels, or reduce stress, you may have heard about tongkat ali, also known as longjack. There’s certainly some clinical evidence to support the idea that this botanical ingredient could make a difference.1
But you can get tongkat ali/longjack from an endless parade of manufacturers out there, some of whom claim to use special patented extracts that are more potent or consistent than others. We wanted to cut through all the noise, look at the science, try these supplements ourselves, and let you know which ones might be worth your time and effort.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at what we found — what’s best for you really depends on your budget and goals:
Is tongkat ali the same as ginseng?
Is tongkat ali the same as ginseng?
Tongkat ali is sometimes called Malaysian ginseng, but it’s not actually a part of the ginseng family. The respective effects of tongkat ali and ginseng, while purportedly similar in traditional medicine’s anecdotal reporting, are very different within the scientific literature.
