Adaptogen
Tongkat Ali
A traditional herbal root used to support energy, mood, and hormonal balance.
KÖGN Health grades Tongkat Ali as B+ (Moderate evidence) and rates it 4.1 out of 5.
Last reviewed · June 2026
Primary effects
- Increased energy
- Improved mood
- Stress reduction
How it works
Supports testosterone balance and stress regulation, influencing energy and motivation.
Overview
Tongkat Ali is commonly used for its effects on hormonal balance and stress reduction. It may help reduce cortisol levels while supporting testosterone availability, indirectly influencing mood, motivation, and energy. While more commonly associated with physical performance, its stress-modulating effects can also support cognitive function under pressure.
The evidence
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a traditional adaptogen most studied for stress, mood and testosterone rather than cognition directly. A randomised trial in moderately stressed adults found a standardised extract lowered the stress hormone cortisol and improved tension, anger and confusion scores. Direct memory or focus evidence is limited; the cognitive case is indirect, via stress and wellbeing.
How to dose it
Trials commonly use 200–400 mg/day of a standardised water-soluble root extract.
When to take it
Chronic — studied over several weeks.
Safety & side effects
Generally well tolerated in trials; occasional restlessness or insomnia. Long-term and high-dose safety data are limited, and product quality varies.
Who should avoid it
Because it can raise testosterone, avoid it in hormone-sensitive conditions and discuss with a clinician if you take hormone therapy or have prostate concerns. Not for use in pregnancy. Heavy-metal contamination has been reported in some products — choose tested brands.
References
Related ingredients
Graded entries that target the same cognitive goals.
Categories
Draft — the dose, safety and evidence notes on this entry were prepared from the published literature and are pending editorial and clinical review.
Educational information, not medical advice. The evidence grade is KÖGN’s editorial assessment of published research, not a health claim. Speak to a qualified clinician before changing what you take.