Shilajit is naturally high in iron and other valuable minerals, making it very helpful for all wasting, degenerative diseases, especially diabetes, chronic urinary tract problems, impotence and infertility. It promotes strong bones and therefore is good for the healing of fractures, osteoarthritis and spondylosis. It is famous for its anti-diabetic properties, reducing blood sugar and countering diabetes in the early stages.
Botanical Name
Asphaltum
Part Used
Resin
Common Names
Mineral Pitch, Jew’s Pitch, Mineral Wax, Salajeet, Brag-shun, Shilajita, Moomio, Mumie, Mumijo, Mumiyo.
Brief History
This is the natural exudate of certain rocks and stones found in the Himalayas. It very much resembles and smells like asphalt, which is the English name for it. In its natural state, shilajit is eaten by rats and monkeys. In Ayurveda, it is considered the urinary tonic par excellence. It is dark black in colour and corresponds to those herbs considered kidney/adrenal tonics in Chinese medicine.
Shilajit is obtained by pulverising the black, greasy-looking stones and boiling them in water. After the boiling, a creamy film develops, and this is removed and dried in the sun.
To purify shilajit, and thus aid its assimilability, the stones are boiled in a decoction of Triphala or Ashwagandha.
Constituents
Therapeutic Properties
Tonic
Vitalist Properties
Temperature: Warm
Moisture: Drying
Therapeutic Indications
Infertility, CFS, Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes, Altitude Sickness, Anemia.
Primary Uses
Male Infertility
In otherwise normal rats, Shilajit at 25, 50, or 100mg/kg daily for 6 weeks found dose-dependent increases in sperm count in the testes and epididymis up to 130.4% and 378%, respectively at the 100mg/kg dose, independent of changes in testicular weight
Blood Glucose
One human intervention with 200mg (54.8% Fulvic Acid) Shilajit daily for 90 days was associated with a decrease in blood glucose by 6.8% relative to baseline in otherwise healthy males relative to their own baseline. A reduction in blood glucose was not observed with 2g (6.61% Fulvic Acid) Shilajit over 45 days in otherwise healthy persons.
Testosterone.
One human intervention with 200mg Shilajit (54.8% Fulvic Acid) daily for 90 days in infertile men was associated with an increase in testosterone by 23.5% (4.85ng/mL to 5.99ng/mL) in serum.
Dosage (Divided Daily)
• Dried Powder: 500 – 1,000mg
• Standardised Extract (50% Fulvic Acid): 200mg
Contraindications
None known
Side effects
None known
Interactions with other drugs
None known
Bibliography
- https://examine.com/supplements/shilajit/
- Herbalpedia (2013)
- Tierra, M., & Frawley, D. (1988). Planetary Herbology: an integration of Western herbs into the traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic systems (1st ed.). Twin Lakes, Wis.: Lotus Press.
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