Quick answer
Tongkat Ali is the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a shrub from South-East Asia, sold in the UK as a concentrated root extract in capsules. It is a food supplement, not a medicine. In human studies it is most often looked at for perceived stress, everyday energy and, in men with low baseline levels, testosterone — with modest and inconsistent results.
The plant and its names
Eurycoma longifolia is a slender evergreen shrub that grows in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The root is the part used. You will see it sold under several names, which causes a lot of confusion when comparing products.
| Name | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tongkat Ali | The Malay common name; the usual name on UK supplement labels. |
| Longjack | An English trade name for the same root, common in US products. |
| Eurycoma longifolia | The botanical name; look for this on a well-labelled product. |
| Malaysian ginseng | A marketing name. It is not a ginseng and is unrelated to it. |
| Pasak bumi | The Indonesian common name for the same plant. |
How supplements are made from it
Raw root is woody and bitter, so supplements use an extract. Water extraction is the method used in most of the published human research, because the quassinoids of interest dissolve in water. The extract is then dried and standardised — that is, tested so that each batch contains a consistent percentage of a marker compound, usually eurycomanone.
A ratio such as 100:1 or 200:1 describes how much raw root went in per unit of extract out. On its own it is close to meaningless, because it says nothing about what survived the process. Standardisation is the more useful number.
What it is used for
In South-East Asia the root has traditional uses for fatigue and vitality. In modern research it is studied mainly for perceived stress, mood and subjective energy, and for testosterone in men who start with low levels. Results are modest and studies are mostly small.
In UK law it is a food supplement. That means it may support general wellbeing, but it may not be sold as something that treats, cures or prevents any condition — and no reputable UK seller will tell you otherwise.
Is it safe?
In studies at typical doses of 200-400mg a day of a standardised extract, reported side effects are usually mild — restlessness, irritability or mild stomach upset. Long-term safety at high doses has not been well studied.
It is not suitable for under-18s, or for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. If you take prescription medication or have a diagnosed condition, ask your GP or pharmacist before starting.
How to buy it sensibly in the UK
- Look for the botanical name and a stated standardisation on the label.
- Check the dose per serving and how many capsules a serving is.
- Buy from a seller with a UK address, real support and a returns policy.
- Ignore percentage claims about hormones — they are not permitted here.
Common questions
Sources
Where this page refers to research, guidance or consumer rules, these are the references used. We link to the source so you can read it yourself.
This page is general information about food supplements and is not medical advice. Drivenol is a food supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a health concern, or you take prescription medication, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
