10 possible health benefits of shilajit

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in natural methods of promoting health and well-being, and it is in this context that more and more people are turning to elements of Eastern medicine. One of them is  shilajit, a brown-black resin known for its high number of potential benefits. In this article, we will explore shilajit in more detail, its history, processing, and its much-vaunted benefits for the human body and mind.

What exactly is shilajit?

Shilajit is a natural resinous substance found in the mountains, mainly in the Himalayas, Altai, Caucasus and other mountainous regions of Asia. This powder is formed over millennia by the decomposition of organic materials , such as plants, mosses and microorganisms, under the influence of mountain pressure and heat.

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The historical context of shilajit refers to a long tradition in traditional healing systems, especially in Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, it was known as “ice cure” or “karmic resin” – this school considers it an adaptogen, which means that it helps the body adapt to stress and improves overall vitality and immunity. In Tibet, shilajit is known as “brag‑ shun” and also has a long history of use in support of energy, vitality and general health (for example for the function of the heart and blood vessels). However, its importance can also be noted in other Asian cultures, such as Kyrgyzstan or Georgia, where it was used in the treatment of various health conditions problems and to support overall vitality.

Today, shilajit is still a very popular natural product and is being studied by modern science for its potential health benefits. It is available on the market in the form of powder, capsules or extracts.

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Origin and acquisition

As we mentioned above, shilajit has its origin in a natural process that takes hundreds to thousands of years – it is created by the decomposition of organic materials. This process is accelerated by mountain pressure, heat and other geological factors. However, each of the deposits can produce shilajit with different properties and a different composition of individual elements. This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the standardization of this resin, which is why it is important to know the origin of a particular product when choosing it – shilajit from the Himalayas is known for its high content of fulvic acids, in contrast, Caucasian shilajit has a higher content of certain minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium or calcium (the potential benefits of Himalayan Shilajit are mainly mentioned below).

10 possible health benefits of shilajit

• Improved cognitive function: compounds found in shilajit may be helpful for brain function – a study in the  International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease even noted that shilajit is traditionally used to achieve longevity and slow aging. Compounds in it may help control cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research and clinical trials are still needed.
• Increasing testosterone levels: in a clinical study of male volunteers aged 45 to 55 years, half of the participants were given a placebo and half were given a dose of 250 milligrams of purified shilajit. After 90 days, the control group had a significantly higher level of testosterone compared to the placebo group.
• Help protect against viral diseases: the wide range of minerals and compounds found in shilajit can also help fight viruses. A research study noted that in an isolated environment, shilajit can also deal with some herpes viruses. However, more studies in living organisms are needed to support these claims.
• Reducing CFS symptoms: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term condition causing weakness and extreme fatigue. Scientists believe that taking shilajit can effectively reduce these symptoms and increase energy levels. In a 2012 study, researchers gave lab rats shilajit for 21 days and then induced CFS by making them swim for 15 minutes for 21 consecutive days. Based on these results, naturally boosting the body’s mitochondrial function with shilajit supplements may help improve energy levels.
• Help with weight management: a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food noted that overweight people taking an oral supplement of purified shilajit responded better to exercise than those who didn’t—researchers noted that shilajit appeared to activate genes that psychologically help muscles quickly adapt to a new training.
• Anti-aging: due to the fact that shilajit is rich in fulvic acid (a powerful antioxidant), there is the possibility of some protection against free radicals and thus cell damage. As a result, regular use of shilajit can contribute to a slower aging process and overall better health.
• Alleviating the symptoms of altitude sickness: this is usually caused by low atmospheric pressure, lower temperatures or high wind speed. Scientists hypothesize that shilajit can help overcome problems with high altitude. Shilajit contains fulvic acid and more than 84 minerals, so it offers numerous health benefits. It can act as an antioxidant to improve your body’s immunity and memory. Because of these benefits, shilajit is thought to help counteract many of the symptoms associated with higher altitudes.
• Alleviating the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia: this is caused by a low iron diet, blood loss or the inability to absorb iron. However, shilajit can gradually increase these iron levels – one study in rats revealed that when given 500 mg of shilajit for 11 days, rats had significantly higher hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell levels compared to rats in other groups.
• Help with male infertility: in one study, a group of 60 infertile men took shilajit twice a day for 90 days after meals. At the end of this period, more than 60% of the participants showed an increase in their total sperm count. In more than 12%, there was an increase in sperm motility.
• Improved cardiovascular function: researchers tested the heart performance of Shilajit in laboratory rats. After pretreatment with shilajit, some rats were injected with isoproterenol to induce cardiac damage. The study subsequently found that these rats had fewer heart lesions.

Possible risk and side effects

You should definitely consult your doctor about its use  – this supplement can cause intolerance (rash, increased heart rate or dizziness). At the same time, it is also necessary to consider potential contraindications with various drugs and other supplements, as shilajit contains a really high amount of minerals that can affect their effectiveness. Last but not least, you should not supplement with shilajit if you have sickle cell disease, hemochromatosis (too much iron in the blood), or thalassemia.

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Although this resin is considered safe , you should not consume it in its unprocessed form  – it could contain heavy metal ions, free radicals, fungi and other nausea-causing contamination. So whether you buy online or in brick-and-mortar stores, make sure that shilajit is manufactured and processed to the highest standards.

Vilgain Shilajit

What to take from it?

Shilajit, a natural resin from the mountains of Asia, has a long history in traditional medicine and offers a range of potential benefits, including improving cognitive function, increasing testosterone levels and boosting immunity. Nevertheless, consult your doctor or other specialist before supplementing it , especially if you regularly take certain medications (for example, for high blood pressure) or if you have experienced a higher sensitivity to certain dietary supplements in the past.