Shilajit is a tar-like substance made from decomposed plants.
Shilajit is found flowing from rocks in the Himalayan mountains. Locals discovered this mysterious substance and subsequently found that it can provide many health benefits.
Shilajit has been known and used for centuries by traditional Ayurvedic practitioners.
New research shows that it may have applications for a variety of health benefits, including brain function, testosterone support, and others.
In this article, we will look at the benefits of shilajit, its safety, and its history.
Table of Contents
What is Shilajit?
Shilajit is a thick, blackish-brown sticky substance that is made via the gradual decomposition of plants over the course of thousands of years.
It typically oozes out high mountain rocks when it’s warm. It’s especially found in the Himalayan mountains between India and Nepal, although variations can also be found in Russia, Tibet, Afghanistan, and northern China.
An indicator of finding true shilajit is the presence of the plant Sullu spurge (Euphorbia royleana) nearby. This cactus-like succulent plant grows in the Himalayan mountains and is often found near shilajit collection sites. It’s thought that this plant is one of the primary plants that makes up shilajit.
The word “shilajit” is a Sanskrit word that means “Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness” and ‘Winner of rock’. This gives a hint at its purported health benefits. This word is pronounced “shill-ahh-jit”
This resin goes by a few different names, including salajit, shilajatu, mimie, mummiyo, or simply mineral pitch.
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, shilajit was said to be a Rasayana herb, that is, a rejuvenating substance that helps to slow aging.
Modern research shows that it may have a variety of applications as an adaptogenic herb, including helping to fight fatigue, aging, and other health complaints.
How Is Shilajit Made?
Shilajit is composed of humus and organic plant materials that have been compressed by layers of rocks. Over the course of thousands of years, this created the dark tar-like substance we know as shilajit.
Due to its unique composition as a phytocomplex rich in fulvic acid, researchers hypothesize that shilajit is produced by the decomposition of plant material from species such as Euphorbia royleana (Sullu Spurge) and Trifolium repens (white clover).
Further studies have identified that several other plant organisms may generate shilajit, such as the molds Barbula, Fissidens, Minium, and Thuidium and other species like Asterella, Dumortiera, Marchantia, Pellia, Plagiochasma, and Stephenrencella-Anthoceros.
The decomposition process that creates shilajit seems to occur over the course of centuries, and on this basis, shilajit is considered a millenary product of nature.
What’s in Shilajit?
Shilajit resin contains an array of phytochemical compounds and nutrients.
It contains dibenzo-alphapyrones and related metabolites, small peptides, humic acid, some lipids, uronic acids, phenolic glucosides, amino acids, and fulvic acid.
Fulvic acid in particular is an important nutrient. It acts as a carrier molecule in the human system and helps in the transportation of nutrients into the deep tissues within the body. It also helps to remove deep-seated toxins from the body.
It also contains more than 84 minerals including copper, silver, zinc, iron, and lead in their ionic forms. Thus, it provides most of the essential minerals that the body needs on a daily basis.
A recent study on the composition of Andean Shilajit in Chile noted that it has an extremely high antioxidant value (ORAC score) that is substantially higher than noni and blueberries. This is due to its high fulvic acid content, which has strong antioxidant activity.
Benefits of Shilajit:
Shilajit has many purported health benefits. We’ve listed the top research-backed advantages below, based on our analysis.
1. May Support Hormone Health
Testosterone is a male sex hormone, it works to regulate sex drive (libido), bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm. In general, higher testosterone levels are desirable for males.
Shilajit may work to improve testosterone levels, similar to the herbs cistanche and tongkat ali.
Lower testosterone levels lead to a variety of health complaints, including:
- Loss of libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Diminished cognitive function
- Depression and lethargy
- Osteoporosis
- Loss of muscle mass & strength
A handful of clinical trials have looked at the benefits of shilajit for men, in particular for testosterone support.
A study showed that men aged 45 to 55 who took purified shilajit (250mg) over a period of ninety days had significantly increased levels of total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared to men receiving a placebo. The researchers also noted that gonadotropic hormone levels (LH and FSH) were well maintained.
Another clinical trial showed that shilajit may help to improve sperm count. Men with low sperm counts were given shilajit over the course of three months. Of the men who completed the study, 80 percent had improved sperm count, sperm motility, testosterone levels, and FHS levels.
Another study that involved 63 men compared the increase in muscular strength between men who took either 250mg or 500mg of shilajit daily. The study found that the group taking the higher amount (500mg daily) had better outcomes.
It should be mentioned, however, that shilajit is additionally thought to provide benefits for women’s hormone and reproductive health, which you can learn more about here.
Summary:
Shilajit shows evidence of being able to improve testosterone levels, but more research is needed to verify this finding.
2. May Help With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and impacts crucial mental functions. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of tau proteins in and around brain cells.
Due to the molecular composition of shilajit, researchers believe shilajit may prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Fulvic acid is an antioxidant present in shilajit. This powerful antioxidant is thought to contribute to healthy brain function by preventing the build-up of tau proteins in the brain. This was fleshed out by an in vitro (test tube) study that showed that fulvic acid worked to break down tau proteins.
This is thought to be the mechanism of action for shilajit’s supportive function for individuals with Alzheimer’s.
Summary:
Shilajit may be helpful in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research and clinical trials are needed to substantiate these claims.
3. May Prevent Altitude Sickness
Acute altitude sickness is a result of physical stress from difficulty adjusting to lower oxygen pressure at high altitudes. Typical symptoms feel like a hangover, this includes dizziness, headache, muscle aches, and nausea.
Scientists in India have conducted experiments to show that shilajit can help to remedy these complaints. It’s thought