PlainPill

Ashwagandha vs Tongkat Ali for libido

Short answer: For libido, more users report improvement with Tongkat Ali — 79% of 234 reports, versus 62% of 127 for Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha has 48 meta-analyses and 59 randomized trials on PubMed; Tongkat Ali has 7 and 6.

Based on 2,447 reports about Ashwagandha and 842 about Tongkat Ali. Not medical advice.

Ashwagandha
Supplement
Tongkat Ali
Supplement
Users say it helped44%helped1,321 reports · high confidence44%helped455 reports · high confidence
Verdict
Mixed
Mixed
ResearchAResearch: StrongBResearch: Moderate
Meta-analyses / RCTs48 / 597 / 6
Mainly used for
Anxiety
% reporting improvement
88% (881)69% (35)
Mood
% reporting improvement
53% (446)70% (115)
Libido
% reporting improvement
62% (127)79% (234)
Sleep
% reporting improvement
77% (233)30% (33)
Hormones
% reporting improvement
77% (87)72% (164)
Common side effectsanhedonia, drowsiness, fatigue, depressionjoint pain, insomnia, nausea, hair loss
Typical dose reported800-1600 mg / after dinner300 mg / daily
Ashwagandha
Latest review conclusion

The current systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs revealed a beneficial effect in both stress and anxiety following Ashwagandha supplementation. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plant.

Phytother Res, 2022 ↗
What a user said
“I paired it with maca and ashwaganda and it legit felt like a steroid cycle.”
Full Ashwagandha profile →
Tongkat Ali
Latest review conclusion

longifolia supplementation for enhancing testosterone production. Although more research is required before its use in clinical practice, this may represent a safe and promising therapeutic option, particularly in hypogonadal men.

Medicina (Kaunas), 2022 ↗
What a user said
“I decided to go cold turkey and quit (although I did take a natural supplement, Tongkat Ali, to boost). I am absolutely shocked by my results.”
Full Tongkat Ali profile →

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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate