PlainPill

Maca Root vs Tongkat Ali for libido

Short answer: For libido, more users report improvement with Maca Root — 90% of 39 reports, versus 79% of 234 for Tongkat Ali.

Maca Root has 3 meta-analyses and 1 randomized trials on PubMed; Tongkat Ali has 7 and 6.

Based on 90 reports about Maca Root and 842 about Tongkat Ali. Not medical advice.

Maca Root
Supplement
Tongkat Ali
Supplement
Users say it helped41%helped44 reports · medium confidence44%helped455 reports · high confidence
Verdict
Mixed
Mixed
ResearchBResearch: ModerateBResearch: Moderate
Meta-analyses / RCTs3 / 17 / 6
Mainly used for
Libido
% reporting improvement
90% (39)79% (234)
Hormones
% reporting improvement
50% (6)72% (164)
Energy
% reporting improvement
92% (12)70% (121)
Mood
% reporting improvement
62% (8)70% (115)
Performance
% reporting improvement
—90% (60)
Common side effectsstomach issues, fatigue, diarrhea, jitterinessjoint pain, insomnia, nausea, hair loss
Typical dose reported500 mg / 2x daily300 mg / daily
Maca Root
Latest review conclusion

In summary, there is some weak evidence to suggest that several botanical extracts may be effective in reducing the appearance of skin aging but no evidence that this effect is enduring. Independent replications with larger, more diverse samples, longer treatment durations and more rigorous study designs are required to validate these preliminary findings.

Drugs Aging, 2010 ↗
What a user said
“maca root majorly helped my anxiety, and is giving me the confidence I need to actively improve my life.”
Full Maca Root 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