Shilajit: Uses, Benefits and Side Effects
Introduction
Shilajit (purified) is an Ayurvedic medicine used in indigenous systems of Indian medicine.1 Shilajit is a medicine that has been known and used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is a black-brown powder or seep found in rocks high in the Himalayan mountains between India and Nepal. It is also found in Afghanistan, Tibet, Russia and northern Chile. In North India it is known as Shilajatu, Salajit, Mummio or Mimi.2
Shilajit is an important medicine listed in Ayurvedic Materia Medica and is used by Ayurvedic practitioners for the management of a wide variety of diseases. Shilajit is known as a wonderful medicine carrying the healing powers of the divine mountains. It is composed of rock minerals, rock humus, and organic matter that has been compressed by layers of rock.1
Chemical components of Shilajit
Shilajit contains humins, humic acid, and fulvic acid. Fulvic acid is the major ingredient constituting 60 to 80% of the nutraceutical components of Shilajit. Other constituents present in Shilajit are fatty acids, resins, albumin, polyphenols, phenolic lipids, triterpenes, sterols, aromatic carboxylic acids, coumarins, latex, gums, and amino acids.2
Shilajit contains more than 84 minerals including silver, copper, zinc, and iron.
Properties of Shilajit
The merits of Shilajit are as follows:
- It may reduce inflammation
- It may have anti-oxidant properties
- It can help enhance memory
- It may help overcome Alzheimer’s disease
- It may have blood sugar-reducing properties
- It can help keep asthma under control
- It may have anti-tumor actions
- It can help in case of seizures
- It can be beneficial for heart, kidney and liver health
It may have properties that improve digestion.
Potential Uses of Shilajit:-
Great use of Shilajit for anemia
Anemia is a problem in which there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or the standard amount of hemoglobin in the blood. Iron deficiency anemia is a very common type of anemia. Shilajit contains iron. When taken as a dietary supplement in an animal study, it was found that Shilajit increased hemoglobin levels. Taking Shilajit as a dietary supplement may be beneficial in the management of iron deficiency anemia.4 However, this information is limited because this study was conducted only on animals. Therefore, there is a need to conduct large-scale studies in humans to suggest promising uses of Shilajit to overcome iron deficiency in humans.
Great uses of Shilajit for muscle fatigue:-
Taking Shilajit supplements may help get better results from workouts by increasing fatigue-related metabolic activities and increasing muscle mass and strength. In one clinical study, supplementing with shilajit had a positive effect on maintaining muscle strength after tiring work.5 However, further studies are needed to prove the benefits of shilajit for muscle fatigue.
Great uses of Shilajit for heart:-
Separate experimental studies found that Shilajit has beneficial effects on lipid profiles. Shilajit showed significant action experimentally in healing heart muscle injuries in an animal model. It reduced the harmful effects on heart tissue in rats.6 However, this study was conducted on animals, not humans. Therefore, more trials are needed in humans to determine the true benefits of Shilajit in humans.
Great uses of Shilajit for people living at altitude:-
Common problems associated with people climbing to altitude from low altitude places are high altitude pulmonary edema (fluid retention in the lungs), acute mountain sickness, high altitude cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), loss of appetite, hypoxia (decreased oxygen levels in the tissues deficiency), insomnia, lethargy, upset stomach, physical and mental depression.
Shilajit contains fulvic acid. Fulvic acid may help prevent hypoxia, produce energy, and make blood. It can also help deliver nutrients to the tissues and help relieve lethargy, fatigue and chronic fatigue. Shilajit can be used as a supplement by people traveling at high altitudes.3 However, before using Shilajit while traveling, please consult your doctors and never make the mistake of self-medicating .
Great uses of Shilajit for gastric ulcer:-
Peptic ulcer is a gastric (stomach) ulcer that forms when the gastric lining is exposed to aggressive agents. Gastrointestinal disorders are often caused by oxidative stress and free radical damage. Shilajit may have anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. Therefore, Shilajit may be a beneficial solution for stomach ulcers as a human gastroprotective agent.7 However, this information is not sufficient; Therefore, further research is needed on humans to determine the extent to which Shilajit is beneficial for human health.
Great uses of Shilajit for gastric ulcer:-
Fulvic acid found in Shilajit may have memory enhancing properties. Fulvic acid also helps prevent self-aggregation of tau proteins into filaments (a factor involved in the development of Alzheimer’s). Shilajit may also have the potential to work as a dietary supplement to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.2 However, this information is not enough and we need studies in humans to prove the benefits of Shilajit for brain health. More trials are still needed.
Although, different studies show excellent benefits of Shilajit in different health conditions, these studies are not enough and further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of Shilajit on human health.
How to use Shilajit?
ManMukh can take Shilajit with milk.
Shilajit is also sold in capsule form for use in humans.
Your Ayurvedic doctor will advise you to take the medicine in the right form and in the right dosage as per your requirement. Also, we advise you not to stop your ongoing medications or start taking any Ayurvedic/herbal preparation made from Shilajit without consulting an experienced doctor.
Side effects of Shilajit:
Consuming impure Shilajit may cause a feeling of intoxication due to heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury, mycotoxins, oxidant agents and free radicals.2
In some cases, it was found that consuming Ayurvedic products containing Shilajit could cause lead poisoning.2
However, if you experience any side effects after taking Shilajit, immediately go to the hospital and get proper treatment to overcome these side effects.
Precautions to Take With Shilajit:
Impure Shilajit may contain heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. Purified, ready-to-use preparations of Shilajit can be used in humans.
Shilajit should not be taken with pigeon meat, horse gram (Kulthi) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum).3
There is insufficient data available regarding the safe use of Shilajit during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and lactating women should not consume Shilajit.
Since there is no information about its safety, it should not be given to small children and even older adults.
Interaction of Shilajit with other medicines
There are no scientific reports available showing the interaction of Shilajit with other medicines. However, people should not assume that no interactions occur.
Therefore, it would be better if you follow the advice of your Manmukh Ayurvedic doctor. Only they can advise you on how to take it correctly.