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Introduction
Shilajit (purified) is an Ayurvedic drug used in the indigenous system of Indian medicine.1 Shilajit has been known and used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is a blackish-brown powder or exudate obtained from high mountain rocks in the Himalayan mountains between India and Nepal. It is also found in Afghanistan, Tibet, Russia, and north Chile. In north India, it is known as shilajatu, salajit, mummiyo or mimie.2
Shilajit is an important drug listed in the Ayurvedic Materia medica and is extensively used by Ayurvedic physicians for managing a range of diseases. Shilajit is regarded to carry the healing powers of great mountains. It is composed of rock minerals, rock humus, and organic substances that have been compressed by layers of rock.1
Chemical Components of Shilajit
Shilajit is composed of humins, humic acid and fulvic acid. Fulvic acid is the major component that accounts for 60 to 80% of its nutraceutical components. Other components present in Shilajit are fatty acids, resins, albumins, polyphenols, phenolic lipids, triterpenes, sterols, aromatic carboxylic acids, coumarins, latex, gums and amino acids.2
Shilajit also contains more than 84 minerals, including silver, copper, zinc and iron.3
Therapeutic Uses of Shilajit
- The significant component of Shilajit, fulvic acid, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, memory enhancing and anti-Alzheimer properties.2
- Therapeutic uses of Shilajit include its benefits in diabetes, diseases of the urinary tract, tumours, oedema, insanity, and epilepsy.
- It has cardioprotective, liver protective and anti-asthmatic properties.1,4
- In Ayurveda, Shilajit is used for the management of male reproductive disorders.1 It is also used as the ingredient of many Ayurvedic medicines.2
- Traditionally, Shilajit has been consumed by the people of north India and Nepal. Common traditional uses include its uses in digestive disorders, jaundice, nervous disorders, enlarged spleen, anaemia and chronic bronchitis. Shilajit has also been used in the management of haemorrhoid kidney stones and anorexia (lack of appetite).2
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Benefits of Shilajit
1. Benefits of Shilajit for Anti-Anaemia Property
Anaemia is characterised by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or the standard quantity of haemoglobin in the blood. Iron deficiency anaemia is a common type of anaemia during pregnancy. Shilajit contains iron. When taken as a dietary supplement, it increased the haemoglobin level in an animal study. Taking Shilajit as a dietary supplement might be beneficial in the management of iron deficiency anaemia.4
2. Benefits of Shilajit for Male Reproductive Health
The benefits of Shilajit in enhancing the release of testosterone were evaluated in a clinical trial. It was found that oral administration of purified Shilajit in the form of capsules increased the levels of total testosterone in the volunteers.1
3. Benefits of Shilajit for Muscle Fatigue
Shilajit supplementation might be beneficial in improving exercise performance by enhancing fatigue-related metabolic characteristics and increasing muscle mass and strength. In a clinical study, supplementation with Shilajit had favourable effects on retention of muscular strength after a fatiguing task.5
4. Benefits of Shilajit for the Heart
Various experimental studies have proven the beneficial effects of Shilajit on lipid profile. Shilajit showed prominent cardio-protective (heart-protective) action against injuries to the heart muscles in an animal model. It lessened the harmful effects on heart tissue in rats.6
Also Read: 8 Incredible Foods That Are Good For Your Heart
5. Benefits of Shilajit for People Living at High Altitude
The common problems associated with people who ascend to high altitudes from places of low altitudes are high altitude pulmonary oedema (fluid retention in lungs), acute mountain sickness, high altitude cerebral oedema (swelling of the brain), lack of appetite, hypoxia (lack of enough oxygen in the tissues), insomnia, lethargy, stomach upset, physical and mental depression.
Shilajit contains fulvic acid. The fulvic acid stimulates energy production, blood formation and prevents hypoxia. It is also beneficial in the transportation of nutrients to tissues and helps in overcoming lethargy, tiredness, and chronic fatigue. Shilajit can be used as a supplement by people travelling to high altitudes.3
6. Benefits of Shilajit for Gastric Ulcers
A peptic ulcer is a gastric (stomach) lesion that is developed when the gastric lining is exposed to aggressive agents. Oxidative stress and free radical damage are factors responsible for gastrointestinal disorders. Shilajit has been reported to possess anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. Shilajit might be used as a gastroprotective (stomach protective) agent in humans.7
7. Benefits of Shilajit for Alzheimer’s Disease
Fulvic acid found in Shilajit has memory-enhancing properties. Fulvic acid also prevents the self-aggregation of tau protein into a filament (a factor involved in the development of Alzheimer’s). Shilajit has the potential to be developed as a dietary supplement to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.2
How to Use Shilajit?
- Shilajit powder can be taken with milk.3
- Shilajit is marketed in capsule form for human consumption.3
Your Ayurvedic physician will prescribe you the form and dose as per your requirement.
Side Effects of Shilajit
- Consumption of impure Shilajit may lead to intoxication due to heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury, mycotoxin, oxidant agents, and free radicals.2
- Consumption of Ayurvedic products containing Shilajit has been associated with lead poisoning in some cases.2
Precautions to Take With Shilajit
- Impure Shilajit may contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. A purified, ready to use preparation of Shilajit is fit for human consumption.2
- Shilajit should not be used with pigeon meat, horse gram (Kulthi) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum).3
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid the use of Shilajit due to the lack of sufficient data related to its safe use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shilajit?
Shilajit is a blackish-brown powder or exudate obtained from mountains like the Himalayas and is used as Ayurvedic medicine.2
What is Shilajit used for?
Shilajit is used as an ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations. Shilajit is used as a nutritional supplement.2 It is also used for the management of male reproductive disorders.1
How to take Shilajit?
Shilajit powder can be taken with milk. Products containing Shilajit are also available in the market, for example, Shilajit capsules.3
Is Shilajit good for health?
Shilajit has many beneficial properties likeanti-inflammatory, antioxidant, memory enhancing, cardioprotective (heart-protecting), liver protective and anti-asthmatic.2,4
How to identify the original Shilajit?
As per the classical texts, an acceptable form of Shilajit should burn without smoke and puff upon being subjected to fire. Upon being added to water, it should not dissolve entirely but leave a trail as it disintegrates and travels from the surface of the water to the bottom of the container.8
What is Shilajit made of?
It is composed of rock minerals, rock humus, and organic substances that have been compressed by layers of rock.1 Shilajit is composed of humins, humic acid and fulvic acid. Fulvic acid is the primary component that accounts for 60 to 80% of its nutraceutical components.2
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References
1. Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia [Internet]. 2016 Jun 1 [cited 2022 Mar 23];48(5):570–5. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/
2. Carrasco-Gallardo C, Guzmán L, MacCioni RB. Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2022 Mar 23];2012. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22482077/
3. Meena H, Pandey HK, Arya MC, Ahmed Z. Shilajit: A panacea for high-altitude problems. International Journal of Ayurveda Research [Internet]. 2010 [cited 2022 Mar 23];1(1):37. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20532096/
4. Shilajit in management of iron deficiency anaemia [Internet]. [cited 2022 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288266508_Shilajit_in_management_of_iron_deficiency_anaemia
5. Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition [Internet]. 2019 Feb 6 [cited 2022 Mar 23];16(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30728074/
6. Joukar S, Najafipour H, Dabiri S, Sheibani M, Sharokhi N. Cardioprotective Effect of Mumie (Shilajit) on Experimentally Induced Myocardial Injury. Cardiovascular Toxicology 2014 14:3 [Internet]. 2014 Jan 22 [cited 2022 Mar 23];14(3):214–21. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12012-014-9245-3
7. Ghasemkhani N, Tabrizi AS, Namazi F, Nazifi S. Treatment effects of Shilajit on aspirin”induced gastric lesions in rats. Physiological Reports [Internet]. 2021 Apr 1 [cited 2022 Mar 23];9(7). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33818003/
8. Shilajit an unique drug of ayurveda [Internet]. [cited 2022 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276831443_SHILAJIT_AN_UNIQUE_DRUG_OF_AYURVEDA
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