Does Tongkat Ali cause hair loss?

Does Tongkat Ali Cause Hair Loss?

There is no scientific evidence indicating that Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) causes hair loss. The available research does not establish any connection between Tongkat Ali consumption and alopecia or hair loss conditions.

Understanding Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali is a traditional herbal medicine native to Southeast Asia with several reported health benefits:

• Used primarily for aphrodisiac effects, increasing libido, and treating sexual dysfunction 1
• Known for potentially improving testosterone levels (37% increase reported in one study) 2
• Used for reducing fatigue, improving mood, and decreasing stress hormones (16% reduction in cortisol) 2
• Additional traditional uses include treating malaria, diabetes, anxiety, exercise recovery, and as an energy supplement 1, 3

Hair Loss Mechanisms and Causes

To understand why Tongkat Ali is not linked to hair loss, it's important to understand common causes of hair loss:

• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition mediated by T lymphocytes targeting hair follicles 4
• Androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) is typically related to sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) 4
• Other causes of hair loss include:
  • Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) 4
  • Tinea capitis (fungal infection) 4
  • Telogen effluvium (stress-induced shedding) 4
  • Anagen effluvium (drug-induced) 4
  • Systemic conditions like lupus erythematosus 4

Tongkat Ali and Hormonal Effects

While Tongkat Ali may influence hormone levels, this doesn't translate to hair loss:

• Tongkat Ali has been shown to increase testosterone levels by approximately 37% in stressed individuals 2
• Unlike certain anabolic steroids that can cause hair loss by increasing DHT, there is no evidence that Tongkat Ali increases DHT production or sensitivity 2
• Research shows Tongkat Ali actually helps balance hormones by reducing cortisol and improving testosterone-to-cortisol ratio 2

Safety Profile of Tongkat Ali

The safety profile of Tongkat Ali has been studied:

• Acute toxicity studies show the oral LD50 of alcoholic extract is between 1500-2000 mg/kg in mice 1
• The aqueous extract has an LD50 of more than 3000 mg/kg 1
• Liver and renal function tests showed no adverse changes at normal daily doses and with chronic use 1
• No reports of hair loss as a side effect in clinical studies 1, 2, 5

Quality of Information Concerns

When researching herbal supplements like Tongkat Ali, be aware of information quality:

• A study evaluating websites containing information about Tongkat Ali found that most had low quality ratings despite low risk scores 6
• Many websites make unsubstantiated claims about herbal products 6
• Always seek information from reliable medical sources rather than marketing websites 6

Conclusion for Clinical Practice

When advising patients about Tongkat Ali:

• There is no established link between Tongkat Ali consumption and hair loss 1, 2, 5, 3
• If a patient experiences hair loss while taking Tongkat Ali, consider other common causes of alopecia 4
• For patients concerned about hair loss, proper diagnosis is essential to determine the specific type and cause 4
• For those using Tongkat Ali for its potential benefits, current evidence suggests it is generally safe when used appropriately 1