Tongkat ali is the Malaysian name for Eurycoma longifolia, a slender evergreen shrub that grows in the lowland rainforests of South East Asia. Its root has been used in traditional remedies across the region for generations, and today it is one of the best known herbal ingredients to come out of Malaysia.
Where tongkat ali grows
The plant is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of Laos and Cambodia. It grows slowly and can reach several metres in height, with long compound leaves and small reddish flowers. In Indonesia it is known as pasak bumi, and in Vietnam as cây bá bệnh. Because it takes years for the root to reach a useful size, wild harvesting has put pressure on natural stocks, and much of the root used today comes from cultivated plantations.
How it has traditionally been used
In traditional Malay medicine the root is boiled to make a bitter drink, which has been taken as a general tonic for energy and wellbeing, after childbirth, and for fevers. It also has a long folk reputation as a tonic for men, which is where much of its modern fame comes from. Traditional use tells us how a plant has been valued by people over time, but it is not the same thing as scientific evidence, and these uses are not authorised health claims in the UK.
How tongkat ali supplements are made
Most supplements start with the dried root. It can simply be ground into a powder, but more often it is extracted in hot water and then dried, which concentrates the plant's natural compounds into a smaller amount of material. That is why you will see ratios such as 100:1 or 200:1 on labels. The root contains a group of bitter compounds called quassinoids, of which eurycomanone is the best known, along with small proteins and peptides sometimes called eurypeptides.
Malaysia has published a national standard for tongkat ali water extract, which sets out how the extract should be prepared and tested. Products made to a recognised standard, with a certificate of analysis for each batch, give you more confidence that you are getting what the label says.
Safety and quality
Tongkat ali is generally sold as a food supplement in the UK, but as with any herbal product, quality varies a great deal between suppliers. Studies of herbal products bought online have found some sold as tongkat ali that contained little of the plant, others contaminated with heavy metals, and some secretly mixed with prescription drugs. Buying from a seller who can show independent batch testing is the simplest way to reduce that risk.
Tongkat ali is not suitable for children or for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. If you take medication or have a health condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before trying any herbal supplement. Our guide to buying supplements safely in the UK explains what to look for in more detail.
Common questions
Is tongkat ali the same as Malaysian ginseng?
Tongkat ali is sometimes sold as Malaysian ginseng, but it is not related to true ginseng from the Panax family. The nickname comes from its use as a general tonic in the same way ginseng is used in East Asia.
What part of the plant is used?
Supplements almost always use the root, which is dried and then either ground into a powder or extracted, usually with hot water, to make a more concentrated product.
What does 100:1 or 200:1 on a label mean?
It is an extraction ratio, meaning roughly 100 or 200 grams of dried root were used to make one gram of extract. Ratios are not standardised between manufacturers, so they are a rough guide rather than a precise measure of strength.
Who should not take tongkat ali?
Tongkat ali supplements are not suitable for children, or for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Anyone taking medication or living with a medical condition should speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.
Last reviewed 2 November 2026