Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali: How They Compare, Plus Ashwagandha and Sea Moss

Shilajit, Tongkat Ali, Ashwagandha and Sea Moss turn up in the same conversations, often in the same gym bag. They're all natural, they're all popular with men looking for more energy and drive, and they're often sold as if they do the same job. They don't. They come from very different places, and the research behind each one says different things.

We sell Shilajit, so we're not neutral. What we can do is lay out what each one is and what the studies actually found, then let you decide. Where the evidence favours something other than Shilajit, we'll say so.

Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali at a glance

	Shilajit	Tongkat Ali
What it is	A mineral-rich resin that seeps from mountain rock	The root of a shrub, Eurycoma longifolia
Where it's from	Himalaya, Karakoram and other high ranges	Rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and nearby
Also called	Shilajeet, salajeet, mumijo, mineral pitch	Longjack, pasak bumi
Main active parts	Fulvic acid, humic substances, trace minerals	Plant compounds called quassinoids, including eurycomanone
Best human evidence	Testosterone in healthy men aged 45–55; strength; bone density in postmenopausal women	Testosterone, mainly in men whose levels were already low
Usual form	Resin, drops or capsules, once a day	Root extract capsules or powder

What is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is a shrub that grows in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Its root has been used for generations in Malaysia and Indonesia as a tonic for men, which is where the nickname "longjack" comes from. Today it's sold mainly as a standardised root extract, and nearly all of its marketing is about testosterone.

What is Shilajit?

Shilajit is a completely different kind of thing. It isn't a single plant but a sticky, dark resin that forms over centuries as plant matter breaks down between layers of mountain rock. Ours is collected by hand in Gilgit-Baltistan, purified in water and sun dried. Its main active part is fulvic acid, alongside a wide range of trace minerals, and its traditional use is broader: daily strength, stamina and general vitality for both men and women.

Shilajit vs Tongkat Ali for testosterone

This is the question most people are really asking, so here's what each has been shown to do.

Tongkat Ali has more studies. A 2022 review pooled five controlled trials with 232 men and found that Tongkat Ali raised total testosterone overall. But when the researchers split the results, the effect was clear in men who had low testosterone to begin with, and not statistically significant in healthy men. The authors also flagged a lot of variation between studies and signs of publication bias. [1]

Shilajit has fewer studies but a well-designed one. In a 90-day placebo-controlled trial of 75 healthy men aged 45 to 55, those taking purified Shilajit twice a day had significantly higher total testosterone, free testosterone and DHEAS than the placebo group. [2]

So which wins? Honestly, they can't be compared head to head, because no study has tested one against the other and they were tested in different groups of men. A fair summary would be that Tongkat Ali has more trials, mostly in men with low levels, while Shilajit has one solid trial in ordinary middle-aged men. Neither is a substitute for seeing a doctor if you think your testosterone is genuinely low.

Beyond testosterone

This is where the two really part ways. Tongkat Ali is studied almost entirely for male hormones. Shilajit has also been tested for holding on to strength during hard exercise and, in a 48-week trial, for slowing bone loss in postmenopausal women. [3] That makes Shilajit the more general daily supplement, and the one that makes sense for women as well as men. You'll find every study explained on our Shilajit benefits page.

Can you take Shilajit and Tongkat Ali together?

Lots of people do, and many "stacks" on the market combine them. But no study has tested the two together, so nobody can tell you whether they work better as a pair or what the right amounts are. If you want to try both, we'd suggest starting one at a time, for a few weeks each, so you know how each one affects you. And if you have a health condition or take regular prescriptions, talk to your doctor before combining supplements.

Ashwagandha and Shilajit together

Ashwagandha is a root from India and is best known for helping people feel calmer and less stressed. It has also been tested for testosterone: in one 16-week crossover trial, 43 overweight men aged 40 to 70 saw a 14.7% greater rise in testosterone on ashwagandha than on placebo, though their reported fatigue and vigour didn't differ significantly. [4]

Because ashwagandha is usually taken for calm and Shilajit for daytime energy, many people pair them: Shilajit in the morning and ashwagandha in the evening. It's a sensible-sounding routine, but again, there's no published trial of the two together. Ashwagandha also isn't suitable for everyone, including during pregnancy and for some people with thyroid conditions, so check the label and ask your doctor if you're unsure.

Shilajit vs Sea Moss

Sea moss is a red seaweed, usually Chondrus crispus, sold as a gel, capsules or gummies. It's popular because it contains minerals, iodine and fibre. The two get compared because both are pitched as "mineral" supplements, but they're very different. Sea moss is a food from the ocean whose iodine content can vary a lot from batch to batch, and there are very few human studies of sea moss supplements. [5] Shilajit comes from rock, is taken in much smaller amounts, and has more human trials behind it, though still not many.

If you eat little seafood or dairy, sea moss can add some variety to your diet, but watch your iodine intake, especially if you have a thyroid condition. If what you're after is a small daily supplement with some research behind it, Shilajit is the better-studied choice.

So which should you choose?

If your one goal is testosterone and you have reason to think yours is low, Tongkat Ali has more trials in exactly that group, and the first step should be a blood test with your doctor. If you want a calmer evening, ashwagandha is the better-known option. If you want one daily supplement for strength, stamina and general vitality, for men or women, with a long tradition and some good human trials behind it, that's where Shilajit fits.

Whatever you pick, quality matters more than the name on the label. Our guide to choosing the best Shilajit explains what to check before you buy, and our timing guide covers when to take it.

Questions people ask

Is Shilajit better than Tongkat Ali?

Neither is simply better. Tongkat Ali is more focused on testosterone, mainly in men whose levels are low. Shilajit has a broader range of research, including strength and bone health, and suits women as well as men.

Can I take Shilajit with Tongkat Ali?

Many people do, but the combination hasn't been studied. Start one at a time and check with your doctor if you have a health condition.

Can I take Shilajit and Ashwagandha together?

Many people take Shilajit in the morning and ashwagandha in the evening. No trial has tested the pair, so introduce them one at a time.

Is Shilajit or Sea Moss better for minerals?

They're very different. Sea moss is a seaweed with variable iodine; Shilajit is a mountain resin taken in tiny amounts and has more human research behind it.

References

1. Leisegang K, et al. Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) improves serum total testosterone in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Medicina. 2022. Read the study
2. Pandit S, et al. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. 2016. PubMed
3. Pingali U, Nutalapati C. Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Phytomedicine. 2022. PubMed
4. Lopresti AL, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha in aging, overweight males. Am J Mens Health. 2019. PubMed
5. News-Medical. Does eating sea moss provide health benefits? Read the article