Study Shows Tongkat Ali Reduces Cortisol 16 Percent While Raising Testosterone 37 Percent

About this episode

Health researcher Thomas DeLauer examines emerging research on Tongkat Ali, an herbal supplement experiencing renewed scientific interest for its ability to simultaneously reduce cortisol while dramatically increasing testosterone. The episode centers on a recent Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition study showing 200 milligrams daily produced a 16% cortisol drop and 37% free testosterone increase in 63 moderately stressed adults over four weeks. DeLauer explains that cortisol suppresses testosterone production at three distinct levels—the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and Leydig cells—creating a cascading bottleneck effect that most testosterone supplements fail to address. The disproportionate testosterone increase relative to cortisol reduction indicates Tongkat Ali works through multiple mechanisms: reducing sex hormone binding globulin that locks up testosterone, inhibiting aromatase enzyme conversion to estrogen, and removing cortisol-induced production blocks. DeLauer shares personal experience taking 600 milligrams daily, which doubled his testosterone from the 250s to around 500 but caused hair thinning from DHT conversion, leading him to reduce dosing while maintaining gains. He recommends liposomal delivery forms for enhanced cellular uptake and suggests timing doses 60-90 minutes after waking to avoid blunting beneficial morning cortisol spikes. The episode also covers how adding pumpkin seeds provides zinc to support testosterone conversion to the more potent DHT while potentially protecting against hair loss. DeLauer cites additional research from Andrologia and the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showing SHBG reduction and aromatase inhibition, plus hypogonadism studies where normal testosterone prevalence increased from 35.5% to 90.8% after supplementation.