HomeBenefitsStress and mood

Tongkat Ali for stress and mood

In moderately stressed adults, cortisol fell 16% against placebo on 200mg a day, and tension, anger and confusion eased.*

Reviewed by the Biotropics research team · Updated October 2026

The evidence

What the studies found

Studied in men and women. Evidence: 3 placebo-controlled studies.

−16%Cortisol against placebo*63 moderately stressed adults, 200mg a day, 4 weeksTalbott et al. 2013, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
−11%Tension. Anger down 12%, confusion down 15%.*The same studyTalbott et al. 2013, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
−36%Cortisol to testosterone ratio, a marker of stress balance*The same studyTalbott et al. 2013, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
−32%Cortisol after a 24-hour mountain bike race, in a pilot study*30 men aged 26 to 52, a single 100mg doseTalbott and George 2024, Andrology
In plain terms

What the research means

Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone. Kept high for long periods, it is linked to poor sleep, low mood and lower testosterone. In the 2013 study, people taking Tongkat Ali had lower cortisol, higher testosterone and better mood scores after 4 weeks.

A longer study gave 93 stressed adults 50mg a day with a multivitamin for 24 weeks. Physical stress scores fell 15%, but the difference from placebo was not statistically significant. George et al. 2018, Food and Nutrition Research

What the studies used

Daily dose
200mg
Who took part
Moderately stressed adults, men and women
How long
4 weeks
Extract
Standardized water extract of root
Good to know

Before you start

  • Ongoing stress or low moodSpeak to a doctor if stress or low mood is affecting daily life.
  • Medication and health conditionsSpeak to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take prescription medicine or have a long-term health condition.
  • PregnancyAvoid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Common questions

Is Tongkat Ali an adaptogen?

It is often grouped with adaptogens because of its effect on cortisol. The human evidence is the cortisol and mood data on this page.

Will it help me sleep?

No study has measured sleep directly.

Can I take it with other supplements?

The 24-week study combined it with a multivitamin. Ask a pharmacist about other combinations.

Published by Biotropics Malaysia Berhad, maker of Physta®. Most studies on this page tested Physta, and several were funded by Biotropics. How this guide is written

Other areas of research

Studied in menEnergy and fatigue1 placebo-controlled trialFatigue scores fell by about half in men aged 50 to 70 taking 200mg a day for 12 weeks.Studied in men and womenTestosteroneA meta-analysis and 4 placebo-controlled studiesTestosterone rose against placebo, most clearly in men with low testosterone.Studied in men and older adultsStrength and exercise2 placebo-controlled studies and 1 uncontrolledMen aged 40 to 59 who trained for 6 months gained more strength on 200mg a day.Studied in men and womenSexual health3 placebo-controlled trialsErectile function and sexual desire improved against placebo in men aged 40 to 59 over 6 months.Studied in womenMenopause2 placebo-controlled trialsSymptom scores fell 33.9%, against 23.3% on placebo, in women taking 100mg a day for 12 weeks.Studied in men and womenHealthy aging2 placebo-controlled trials and 1 uncontrolledOverall immune cell score rose 5% in middle-aged adults taking 200mg a day for 4 weeks.