Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali: Which Is Better for Testosterone?

Last reviewed: April 16, 2026 · By Dr. Ekta Gupta · Evidence tier labels apply on every claim (see our editorial policy)

Shilajit and tongkat ali are the two natural supplements Indian men most often weigh up for testosterone, libido and energy. Both have human trials behind them, but the evidence is not equal, and they suit different goals. This guide compares shilajit vs tongkat ali on what the research actually shows, how each works, safety, dose and cost, so you can decide which fits you.

Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali at a Glance

ShilajitTongkat Ali

What it is	Mineral-rich resin from high-altitude Himalayan rock	Root of a shrub native to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
Key compounds	Fulvic acid, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, minerals	Eurycomanone and other quassinoids, eurypeptides
Best human evidence for testosterone	1 randomised trial (healthy men 45–55)	Meta-analysis of 5 randomised trials
Sperm quality evidence	Human study: sperm count +61.4% in low-count men	Uncontrolled human study in infertile men
Cortisol / stress	Little human data	Cortisol −16% in a stressed group
Doses used in studies	100–250 mg twice daily	200–400 mg standardised extract daily
Study length	90 days	4–12 weeks
Main safety concern	Heavy-metal contamination in unpurified resin	Restlessness or poor sleep (anecdotal); variable extract quality

What the Research Shows for Testosterone

Tongkat ali

The strongest evidence is a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis by Leisegang and colleagues. It pooled five randomised trials and found a significant increase in total testosterone in men taking tongkat ali, with the clearest benefit in men who had low testosterone to begin with [Meta-analysis]. The authors also said more research is needed before it is used in clinical practice (Leisegang 2022).

Individual studies point the same way:

• In 76 men with age-related low testosterone, 200 mg a day of a standardised extract for one month raised the share with normal testosterone from 35.5% to 90.8%. There was no placebo group, so this is weaker evidence (Tambi 2012).
• In 63 moderately stressed adults, four weeks of a hot-water root extract improved testosterone status by 37% and cut cortisol exposure by 16% compared with placebo, measured in saliva [RCT] (Talbott 2013).
• In 25 physically active adults aged 57 to 72, 400 mg a day for five weeks raised total and free testosterone and grip strength in both men and women. This was a small pilot study without a placebo group (Henkel 2014).

Shilajit

The key trial is by Pandit and colleagues (2016). Healthy men aged 45 to 55 took 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day for 90 days. Compared with placebo, total testosterone, free testosterone and DHEAS rose significantly, while the pituitary hormones LH and FSH stayed stable [RCT] (Pandit 2016).

A second study, in men with low sperm counts, also recorded a 23.5% rise in serum testosterone after 90 days of 100 mg processed shilajit twice daily. It had no placebo group (Biswas 2010). See our full guide to shilajit for testosterone for more detail.

How the evidence compares

Tongkat ali has more human trials and a meta-analysis, so its testosterone evidence is stronger overall. Shilajit's evidence rests mainly on one well-designed trial plus a supporting uncontrolled study. For both, the studies are small, several use a single branded extract, and results in men with normal testosterone tend to be modest. Neither is a substitute for testosterone treatment prescribed by a doctor.

How Each One Works

The two appear to work in different ways, which is why people consider combining them.

• Tongkat ali is thought to increase free testosterone partly by lowering sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the protein that binds testosterone and makes it unavailable. In the Henkel study, SHBG fell significantly in women taking it [Mechanism].
• Shilajit appears to support the body's own production. In the Pandit trial, testosterone rose while LH and FSH stayed steady, which suggests an effect at the testes rather than a push from the pituitary [Mechanism]. Its fulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones are also linked to mitochondrial energy production in laboratory and animal work (Stohs 2014).

Libido and Erectile Function

Libido is where tongkat ali is most often recommended. In a 12-week randomised trial of 109 men aged 30 to 55, 300 mg a day of a standardised water extract improved erectile function scores, and sexual libido rose 14% by week 12 compared with placebo [RCT] (Ismail 2012).

The picture is less clear-cut than marketing suggests, though. A 2015 meta-analysis found only two eligible trials and no significant overall improvement in erectile function; a benefit appeared only in men who started with worse scores (Kotirum 2015).

Shilajit has no dedicated human trial on libido or erections. Any effect is likely to come indirectly through testosterone and energy.

Sperm Quality and Fertility

If you are trying to conceive, shilajit has the more specific human data. In the Biswas study, 28 men with low sperm counts who completed 90 days of processed shilajit had a 61.4% increase in total sperm count, a 12.4–17.4% improvement in motility and an 18.9% increase in normal sperm, with lower oxidative stress in semen. Liver and kidney tests stayed normal. Because there was no placebo group, these results need confirming (Biswas 2010).

Tongkat ali also has a fertility study: 75 men with unexplained infertility who completed three months of 200 mg a day showed better semen parameters, and 11 of their partners conceived naturally. It too lacked a control group (Tambi 2010).

Male infertility has many causes, so see a doctor for a semen analysis before relying on either. Our guide to shilajit for fertility covers the research in more depth.

Stress, Cortisol and Energy

Chronic stress raises cortisol, which can suppress testosterone. Tongkat ali has direct human data here: the Talbott trial found less tension, anger and confusion alongside the 16% drop in cortisol [RCT] (Talbott 2013).

Shilajit has no comparable human cortisol trial. Its reputation for energy rests mainly on animal and mechanistic studies of mitochondrial function, summarised in the Stohs review [Animal model]. For more on managing stress, see shilajit for stress and cortisol.

Side Effects and Safety

Tongkat ali

In published trials, safety markers were similar to placebo. In the Ismail trial, all safety measures were comparable to placebo over 12 weeks, and a six-week study in recreational athletes found no change in liver or kidney function at 400 mg a day (Chen 2014). Users commonly report restlessness, poor sleep and irritability, mostly at higher doses or with evening doses [Anecdotal]. Extract quality varies widely between products, so choose one that states its standardisation and publishes lab testing.

Shilajit

A review of the animal and human research described shilajit's safety as well documented (Stohs 2014). The practical risk is contamination: raw or poorly purified resin can contain lead, arsenic or mercury. Only buy shilajit with a published batch certificate of analysis. Our guide on how to read a shilajit COA shows what to check.

Who should talk to a doctor first

• Anyone taking prescription medicine, particularly for blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid or blood thinning
• Men with prostate cancer or another hormone-sensitive condition, since both supplements may raise testosterone
• People with iron overload (haemochromatosis), for shilajit
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, who should avoid both

Doses Used in the Studies

SupplementDose used in researchStudy length

Shilajit	250 mg purified shilajit twice daily (testosterone); 100 mg processed shilajit twice daily (sperm quality)	90 days
Tongkat ali	200 mg (low testosterone, infertility), 300 mg (libido), 400 mg (older adults, athletes) of a standardised water extract daily	4–12 weeks

Studies used specific standardised extracts, so results may not carry over to products made differently. Take tongkat ali in the morning to reduce the chance of sleep problems.

Can You Take Them Together?

There are no known interactions between shilajit and tongkat ali, and their different mechanisms make the combination logical. But no study has tested them together, so any extra benefit is unproven. If you want to try both:

1. Start with one for two to three weeks, then add the other, so you can tell what is working.
2. Take both in the morning, shilajit dissolved in warm water and tongkat ali with breakfast.
3. Stay within the doses used in studies.
4. Recheck total testosterone, free testosterone and SHBG after about 12 weeks.

Many people take tongkat ali in cycles, for example a few weeks off after two to three months, while shilajit is often taken daily. These habits come from practice rather than trials.

Cost and Quality in India

Price varies more with quality than with the herb itself. For tongkat ali, look for a stated standardisation (such as eurycomanone content or extract ratio) and third-party testing. For shilajit, look for purified resin with a published certificate of analysis covering fulvic acid and heavy metals. Yeti Life Shilajit Resin costs ₹849 a jar, and every batch certificate is published on our lab results page.

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose tongkat ali if your main goal is testosterone or libido, you want the option with more trials, and you tolerate a mildly stimulating supplement.
• Choose shilajit if you are trying to improve sperm quality, want a daily mineral and energy supplement, or prefer something less likely to affect sleep.
• Consider both if you are over 35 with low-normal testosterone and ongoing stress, and you are willing to introduce them one at a time and check your blood work.
• See a doctor first if you have symptoms of clearly low testosterone, such as persistent low libido, erectile problems, fatigue and loss of muscle. A blood test matters more than choosing a supplement. Men over 40 may also find our guide to shilajit for men over 40 useful.

Compare other options: Shilajit Vs Maca Root: Adaptogen Comparison (India 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for testosterone, shilajit or tongkat ali?

Tongkat ali has more evidence for raising testosterone, including a 2022 meta-analysis of five randomised trials. Shilajit has one randomised trial in healthy men aged 45 to 55 that found a significant rise over 90 days. No study has compared the two directly, so neither can be called better outright. Tongkat ali has the stronger testosterone data; shilajit has the stronger sperm-quality data.

Which works faster?

Tongkat ali studies have measured hormone changes after 4 weeks, while the shilajit studies measured results after 90 days. That suggests tongkat ali may show effects sooner, but because no trial tested both on the same timeline, treat this as a rough guide rather than a proven difference.

Can I take shilajit and tongkat ali together?

Many people do, and there are no known interactions between them, but no study has tested the combination. Start one at a time for two to three weeks so you can tell which one you are responding to, and speak to your doctor first if you take any prescription medicine.

Does tongkat ali have side effects?

In the published trials, side effects and blood safety markers were similar to placebo at 200 to 400 mg a day. Users commonly report restlessness, trouble sleeping or irritability, especially at higher doses or when taken late in the day, but these reports come from anecdotes rather than trials.

Is shilajit safer than tongkat ali?

Both looked safe at the doses used in their human trials. The bigger risk with shilajit is contamination: raw or poorly purified resin can carry heavy metals, so only buy products that publish a batch certificate of analysis.

Can women take shilajit or tongkat ali?

One tongkat ali study included women and found it reduced cortisol, but most tongkat ali research is in men and it is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Shilajit is widely used by women; see our guide to shilajit for women. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid both unless their doctor advises otherwise.

Do I need a blood test before taking either?

It is the best way to know whether you need them and whether they are working. Ask your doctor for total testosterone, free testosterone and SHBG before you start and again after about 12 weeks. If your testosterone is clearly low, get medical advice rather than relying on a supplement.

Evidence, Sourcing & Verification

Every claim about shilajit should be traceable to three things: peer-reviewed research. Verified geographic sourcing, and per-batch lab testing.

• Research: Our peer-reviewed shilajit research library catalogues every peer-reviewed paper we cite, with evidence tiers and PubMed links. The full evidence narrative lives in our complete shilajit guide.
• Sourcing: Our sourcing transparency page.
• Verification: Every batch tested by Eurofins — lab results archive.
• Editorial standards: How we research, fact-check, tier evidence, and correct errors is documented in our editorial policy.
• Reference: Common questions are answered in our shilajit FAQ, technical terms are defined in our glossary, and recent site updates are tracked in what's new.

Peer-Reviewed Research References

• Leisegang K, et al. (2022). Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) improves serum total testosterone in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Medicina (Kaunas). PubMed 36013514 [Meta-analysis]
• Pandit S, et al. (2016). Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. PubMed 26395129 [RCT]
• Biswas TK, et al. (2010). Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. PubMed 20078516
• Talbott SM, et al. (2013). Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. PubMed 23705671 [RCT]
• Ismail SB, et al. (2012). Randomized clinical trial on the use of PHYSTA freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the improvement of quality of life and sexual well-being in men. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. PubMed 23243445 [RCT]
• Tambi MI, et al. (2012). Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism? Andrologia. PubMed 21671978
• Tambi MI, Imran MK (2010). Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl. PubMed 20348942
• Henkel RR, et al. (2014). Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors: a pilot study. Phytother Res. PubMed 23754792
• Kotirum S, et al. (2015). Efficacy of Tongkat Ali on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. PubMed 26365449 [Meta-analysis]
• Chen CK, et al. (2014). Supplementation of Eurycoma longifolia Jack extract for 6 weeks does not affect urinary testosterone:epitestosterone ratio, liver and renal functions in male recreational athletes. Int J Prev Med. PubMed 25013692
• Stohs SJ (2014). Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res. PubMed 23733436 [Review]

 

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