Is Tongkat Ali effective for treating hair loss?

Tongkat Ali for Hair Loss

There is no scientific evidence supporting the use of Tongkat Ali as an effective treatment for hair loss. Based on current guidelines and research, Tongkat Ali is not mentioned or recommended in any established treatment protocols for any type of alopecia.

Evidence-Based Treatments for Hair Loss

Types of Hair Loss and First-Line Treatments

• For androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss), the first-line treatments are:

  • Men: finasteride 1 mg daily, dutasteride 0.5 mg daily, and topical 5% minoxidil twice daily 1
  • Women: topical 1% minoxidil twice daily 1

• For alopecia areata:

  • Limited patchy hair loss: Intralesional corticosteroids 2
  • Extensive patchy hair loss: Contact immunotherapy 2
  • Alopecia totalis/universalis: Contact immunotherapy (though with lower success rates) 2

• For telogen effluvium:

  • Addressing the underlying cause (stress, medications, nutritional deficiencies) 3

Treatment Efficacy and Evidence

• Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride have the strongest evidence base and FDA approval for treating androgenetic alopecia 2, 1

• Injectable autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) have shown promise for androgenetic alopecia by:

  • Inducing proliferation of dermal papilla cells
  • Increasing perifollicular vascularization
  • Accelerating telogen-to-anagen transition 2

• Low-level laser therapy (655-nm) has demonstrated efficacy for androgenetic alopecia when used three times weekly 2

Natural Compounds and Hair Loss

While some natural compounds have been investigated for hair loss treatment, Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is notably absent from the scientific literature on hair loss treatments:

• Several medicinal plants have shown potential for reducing hair loss through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, including:

  • Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)
  • Serenoa repens (saw palmetto)
  • Vitis vinifera (grape)
  • Pygeum africanum
  • Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) 4

• However, Tongkat Ali is not mentioned in any of the research or guidelines for hair loss treatment 2, 4, 1

Clinical Implications and Recommendations

• Patients seeking treatment for hair loss should be directed toward evidence-based therapies with proven efficacy rather than unproven supplements 3

• The psychological impact of hair loss can be significant, affecting quality of life, causing anxiety and depression, which makes using treatments with proven efficacy particularly important 3, 4

• For those interested in natural approaches, recommend options with at least some scientific evidence rather than those without any supporting research 4

Conclusion on Tongkat Ali

Given the complete absence of Tongkat Ali from hair loss treatment guidelines and research, patients should be advised to pursue established treatments with proven efficacy rather than this supplement. The psychological and quality-of-life impacts of hair loss make it particularly important to recommend treatments with demonstrated effectiveness 3.