Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a Southeast Asian herb that has been traditionally used in Malaysia as an adaptogen for general well-being. As one of its popular names, longjack root, suggests, it is best known as a powerful aphrodisiac for men. But tongkat ali just expanded its resume. This new study shows that it is also a powerful herb for menopause.
This new double-blind study gave women with menopausal symptoms either a placebo or 100mg of tongkat ali extract for 12 weeks.
On the MENQOL assessment, total score improved significantly more in the tongkat ali group than in the placebo group. The tongkat ali group improved by 33.9% versus 23.3%. The herb group had a significantly greater improvement in the physical and sexual domains.
Women taking tongkat ali had a 33.4% improvement in hot flashes and night sweats, a 36.4% improvement in physical symptoms, a 36.3% improvement in sexual symptoms and a 26.8% improvement in psychological symptoms.
On the POMS assessment of psychological symptoms, including tension, depression, anger, fatigue, vigor, and confusion, total score improved more in the tongkat ali group than in the placebo group: tension improved by 21.7%, depression by 31.9%. anger by 13.8%, fatigue by 36.9%, confusion by 20.5% and vigor by 5.7%.
Tongkat ali was safe, with no adverse events, no effect on hormones, blood pressure, liver enzymes or kidney function, an important possible advantage over hormone therapy.
This is the first study to show that tongkat ali, which is traditionally used as a male aphrodisiac, is also an important herb for women that can safely help with menopause.
World J Clin Cases. 2025 Nov 6;13(31):109113.