Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali
Two herbal 'testosterone support' supplements with real small human trials behind them — a mineral-rich resin with a genuine contamination risk, and a root extract with the more consistent evidence base.
Short answer
Neither shilajit nor tongkat ali needs a prescription, and both have human data, so the goal decides it. Shilajit is marketed for testosterone, energy and fertility; tongkat ali is the choice for readers interested in testosterone and vitality. The table below compares their FDA status, route, headline human result and main safety signal side by side.
Shilajit
Mumie, moomiyo
A 90-day RCT in healthy middle-aged men reported higher total and free testosterone on purified shilajit — a real but small and short signal, sold under a real contamination risk (heavy metals) that varies by source and purification.
Full Shilajit evidence reviewTongkat Ali
Eurycoma longifolia
Small RCTs of standardized extract show modest free-testosterone rises and cortisol/stress reduction — but effects are small, trials are often industry-linked, and product standardization varies enormously.
Full Tongkat Ali evidence reviewShilajit vs Tongkat Ali: head to head
- FDA status / approved use
Shilajit
Sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed usesTongkat Ali
Sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed uses- Marketed for
Shilajit
Testosterone, energy, fertilityTongkat Ali
Testosterone, vitality- Outcome areas
Shilajit
Testosterone / male hormones; Mitochondrial / cellular energyTongkat Ali
Testosterone / male hormones; Mood / anxiety / stress- Evidence grade
Shilajit
Clinical dataTongkat Ali
Clinical data- How it works
Shilajit
Fulvic acid acts as an antioxidant and carrier; also supplies trace mineralsTongkat Ali
Proposed to free bound testosterone and support the body's own androgen production- Route and dosing
Shilajit
Purified resin, 250 mg twice daily in a 90-day trialTongkat Ali
Oral standardized root extract, about 200 mg daily- Headline human result
Shilajit
Higher total and free testosterone vs placebo after 90 days in one small trial of healthy men aged 45 to 55Tongkat Ali
Share of 76 hypogonadal men with normal testosterone rose from 35.5% to 90.8% after one month at 200 mg/day (open-label)- Strongest evidence
Shilajit
Pandit 2016 testosterone RCT, AndrologiaShilajit evidence reviewPubMed 26395129Tongkat Ali
Talbott RCT, JISSN 2013Tongkat Ali evidence reviewPubMed 23705671- Key safety signal
Shilajit
Unpurified product can contain lead, arsenic and mercuryTongkat Ali
Contamination in poorly sourced products; caution with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions- How it is obtained
Shilajit
Over the counter as a dietary supplementTongkat Ali
Over the counter as a dietary supplement
| Shilajit | Tongkat Ali | |
|---|---|---|
| FDA status / approved use | Sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed uses | Sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed uses |
| Marketed for | Testosterone, energy, fertility | Testosterone, vitality |
| Outcome areas | Testosterone / male hormones; Mitochondrial / cellular energy | Testosterone / male hormones; Mood / anxiety / stress |
| Evidence grade | Clinical data | Clinical data |
| How it works | Fulvic acid acts as an antioxidant and carrier; also supplies trace minerals | Proposed to free bound testosterone and support the body's own androgen production |
| Route and dosing | Purified resin, 250 mg twice daily in a 90-day trial | Oral standardized root extract, about 200 mg daily |
| Headline human result | Higher total and free testosterone vs placebo after 90 days in one small trial of healthy men aged 45 to 55 | Share of 76 hypogonadal men with normal testosterone rose from 35.5% to 90.8% after one month at 200 mg/day (open-label) |
| Strongest evidence | Pandit 2016 testosterone RCT, AndrologiaShilajit evidence reviewPubMed 26395129 | Talbott RCT, JISSN 2013Tongkat Ali evidence reviewPubMed 23705671 |
| Key safety signal | Unpurified product can contain lead, arsenic and mercury | Contamination in poorly sourced products; caution with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions |
| How it is obtained | Over the counter as a dietary supplement | Over the counter as a dietary supplement |
marks a row where the two differ. “Not established” marks a cell the available evidence does not answer. Evidence grades come from our evidence matrix, which grades each molecule on the human data for the use it is marketed for.
- Clinical data:
- Tested in humans — but investigational, discontinued, or proven only on a surrogate marker (not the marketed outcome).
Our verdict
Both have real, small positive human trials on testosterone: shilajit's 90-day trial in healthy middle-aged men, tongkat-ali's several small studies. Tongkat-ali's evidence base is somewhat broader and more consistent across trials; shilajit's unique risk is purity — heavy-metal contamination varies significantly by source and purification method, a risk tongkat-ali doesn't carry in the same way. Neither produces a dramatic testosterone change, and both are marketed well beyond what their modest trial data shows.
Shilajit fits if
You want additional claimed benefits (fertility, general vitality) beyond testosterone, and you verify third-party purity testing before buying.
Tongkat Ali fits if
Testosterone support specifically is the goal and you want the more consistent, better-replicated evidence base without a heavy-metal purity concern.
Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali: common questions
- Is either shilajit or tongkat ali FDA-approved?
- No. Shilajit is sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed uses. Tongkat ali is sold as a supplement; not FDA-approved for any of its marketed uses.
- Which has stronger human evidence, shilajit or tongkat ali?
- Neither clearly. Both have human clinical data. The key source for shilajit is Pandit 2016 testosterone RCT, Andrologia; for tongkat ali, it is Talbott RCT, JISSN 2013.
- What are the main safety concerns with shilajit and tongkat ali?
- With shilajit, unpurified product can contain lead, arsenic and mercury. For tongkat ali, watch for contamination in poorly sourced products; caution with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions.
Key studies behind each
Shilajit
- Stohs SJ. (2014). Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res. PubMed 23733436
- Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. (2016). Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. PubMed 26395129
- Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, et al. (2010). Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. PubMed 20078516
- Park JS, Kim GY, Han K. (2006). The spermatogenic and ovogenic effects of chronically administered Shilajit to rats. J Ethnopharmacol. PubMed 16698205
Tongkat Ali
- Tambi MI, Imran MK, Henkel RR. (2012). Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism? Andrologia. PubMed 21671978
- Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, et al. (2014). Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors — a pilot study. Phytother Res. PubMed 23754792
- Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. (2013). Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. PubMed 23705671
- Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WM, George A, 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
The full evidence reviews
- Shilajit benefits: a few small studies, and a real purity problem
Shilajit is a mineral-rich mountain resin marketed heavily for men. One small trial reported higher testosterone in healthy men and another better sperm quality — but the evidence is small and short, and unpurified shilajit can carry lead, arsenic and mercury.
Updated August 2026
- Tongkat Ali: a real but modest testosterone signal, and a standardization problem
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia, longjack) is marketed hard as natural TRT. Standardized extracts modestly raise testosterone, lower cortisol and nudge libido — but effects are small, and eurycomanone content varies wildly between products.
Updated August 2026