What is Shilajit: Benefits, Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Shilajit is a pale-brown to blackish-brown mineral extract made of sticky material. It can be discovered in the rocks of the Himalayas. Shilajit includes fulvic acid, organic plant components, and humus. It comprises over 84 different minerals, such as lead, copper, zinc, silver, and iron.

Moreover, it may also affect our sexual wellness and promote better metabolism. This aids in managing diabetes-related chronic fatigue, exhaustion, and lethargy. It is well known that Shilajit raises testosterone levels and increases male fertility. It also helps with memory loss and anaemia.

Did You Know If you continue to consume the ayurvedic remedy as per your healthcare provider’s recommendations, you are bound to see changes in your fertility. Since Shilajit contains antioxidant properties, it can help kill the free radicals emitted from chemotherapy. A 2022 study found that postmenopausal women with low bone density saw improved bone health after taking Shilajit daily for 11 months, likely due to its ability to speed up cell turnover. In a 90-day trial, participants took 100 mg of shilajit twice daily. By the end, 28 individuals showed significant improvements in sperm count, quality, and mobility. An eight-week study found that daily doses of 500 mg and 1,000 mg of Shilajit significantly improved type 1 collagen synthesis compared to a placebo.

 

Types Of Shilajit

Shilajit is a substance found oozing out of certain mountain rocks. There are a few different types of Shilajit based on the rocks they come from:

Gold Rock Shilajit

This Shilajit comes from rocks containing gold. It is reddish, like a hibiscus flower. In Ayurveda, it is described as having a sweet and bitter taste.

Silver Rock Shilajit

This variety comes from rocks with silver. It is whitish in appearance. It has a pungent, bitter taste.

Copper Rock Shilajit

This oozes out of copper-containing rocks. It looks bluish-purple, like a peacock's throat, and it tastes bitter.

Iron Rock Shilajit

This kind comes from iron rocks. It looks similar to the sap of the guggulu plant. It has a bitter and salty taste. This is considered the best type of Shilajit.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the different Shilajits have different healing properties. However, more research is still needed to confirm this. 

Common Names of Shilajit

Asphaltum	Girija
Silajatu	Gaireya
Asmaja	Shilajatu
Memiya	Kanmandam
Black Bitumen	Saileya Shilaja
Moomiyo	Punjabinum
Adrija	Asmajatuka

Chemical Composition of Shilajit

Component	Percentage (%)
Organic matter	60-80%
Mineral matter	20-40%
Trace elements	5%
Humus substances	60-80%
Fulvic acid
Humins
Humic acids
Triterpenes
Sterols
Ichthyol
Ellagic acid
Resin
Aromatic carboxylic acid
3, 4-Benzocoimiarins
Amino acids
Phenolic lipids
Silica
Iron
Antimony
Lithium
Manganese
Calcium
Copper
Molybdenum
Phosphorus
Sodium
Zinc
Selenium
Dibenzo-α-pyrones

List of Shilajit Benefits

• Eliminates risk of low Testosterone levels
• Reduces Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Eradicates high Altitude sickness
• Helps combat Infertility
• Better Heart health
• Helps with Ageing
• Prevents Alzheimer’s disease
• Eliminates Iron deficiency Anemia
• Prevents with Cancer
• Eliminates Respiratory Tract infection
• Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
• May Prevent Bone Loss
• Shilajit for Respiratory Tract Infection
• Might Improve Exercise Performance
• Manages Diabetes
• Shields From Intestinal Troubles
• Facilitates Weight Loss
• Sperm Count
• Collagen Synthesis
• Prevents Anemia
• Treats Wounds And Ulcers

1. Eliminates risk of low Testosterone levels 

Testosterone is a male hormone that helps build a good sex drive. It may help manage muscle mass, fat distribution, and even strength in the body. In other cases, it may also help produce sperm and red blood cells in the body. This means that a low level of this male hormone in the body could disrupt all these functions that it has to offer to the body. 

As a result, you may start experiencing low sex drive, loss of muscle mass, and even more muscle fat. Apart from this, you may also start to experience hair loss and exhaustion that may be hard to combat. 

With Shilajit, it becomes easier to eliminate the risk of low levels of testosterone. Shilajit benefits may allow you to also avoid the risk of erectile dysfunction, which is a common impact of low testosterone levels. 

2. Reduces Chronic fatigue syndrome

We all feel tired every once in a while. Especially after working for long hours, we are bound to feel exhausted. But if you start feeling fatigued for no apparent reason, it may be a sign of a chronic health condition. 

In many cases, chronic fatigue syndrome may also occur. This is a long-term health problem wherein a person is bound to feel exhausted all the time. It might occur due to a considerably low level of energy in their body. 

With Shilajit benefits for males and women, the likelihood of reducing chronic fatigue syndrome effects is possible. When consumed in the right doses, one can easily avoid its impacts for a long. 

3. Eradicates high Altitude sickness 

When one reaches a high altitude in a flight or a helicopter, nausea and feelings of sickness or stress are common. Your head may start to feel dizzy, and the body may feel pain. You may also experience Insomnia, lethargy, and Pulmonary Edema in certain cases. But that is not all. 

Certain people may also experience Hypoxia and Dementia as common symptoms of high altitude sickness. This implies that there is a dire need for the right treatment. Shilajit makes it possible. 

Shilajit benefits for female and male individuals may be possible in this case. Make sure you speak to the doctor before you consume this ayurvedic treatment for relief. 

4. Helps combat Infertility 

Cases of infertility in both men and women are quite common today. In fact, the statistics continue to grow due to poor lifestyle choices, eating habits, and lack of sufficient exercise. Thankfully, Shilajit can help make a difference in this case. 

The benefits of women and men allow individuals to combat problems of infertility while there is still time. If you continue to consume the ayurvedic remedy as per your healthcare provider’s recommendations, you are bound to see changes in your fertility. In men, it can help improve sperm count significantly. 

5. Better Heart health

Heart conditions are also common today among all other problems. Since cardiac arrest and strokes can be fairly deadly for the human body, it is important to prevent them as much as possible. Shilajit can help with that, too. 

Shilajit usage allows it to act as a dietary supplement against poor heart health. However, if you have active heart disease, it is recommended to avoid taking these medications at all. If you do, make sure you visit your healthcare expert as soon as possible to avoid any health complications. 

6. Helps with Ageing 

Cellular damage and free radicals become common when aging. Although aging is a natural process that every human body undergoes, it is important to slow the signs so that one can age gracefully. This is especially useful in the case of women who are often afraid to experience the fast process of aging. Shilajit helps improve longevity. It may also help you to age more gracefully and naturally. Thus, your process of ageing grows slower.

Also, do check

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7. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder wherein a person may experience poor thinking, memory loss, and deteriorated brain functions. Their behavior may also be distorted in this process. Although there are many drug treatments available to help cure Alzheimer’s, many of them come with potential side effects that may worsen the condition. Shilajit, on the other hand, is safer for use. 

Since Shilajit contains antioxidants, it can help prevent Alzheimer’s. So, make sure you leverage it while you can if you suffer from the same brain disorder. 

8. Eliminates Iron deficiency Anemia 

When you experience Iron deficiency Anemia, you are more likely to experience blood loss and a low-iron diet. This may also lead to your body failing to absorb sufficient amounts of Iron. As a result, you may begin to experience fatigue, irregularity in your heartbeat, and cold hands. You may also experience cold feet, weakness, and headaches. Shilajit helps improve iron levels in the body. This automatically helps eliminate Iron Deficiency Anemia. 

9. Prevents with Cancer 

During cancer Chemotherapy, free radicals are generated. These free radicals may be very harmful to the body. It can be painful. With Shilajit, the destruction of free radicals is possible and may sometimes trigger cancer symptoms. Since Shilajit contains antioxidant properties, it can help kill the free radicals emitted from chemotherapy.

The tissue damage that occurs in cancer can also be treated using Shilajit. That is why we continue to talk about its benefits. If you think you might want to reduce the risks of cancer spreading too, this ayurvedic remedy can help.

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• Let's understand about Ayurvedic Viagra

10. Eliminates Respiratory Tract infection 

Children commonly experience respiratory tract infections. Shilajit can work well against HRSV, so it can help eliminate respiratory tract infections. Since Shilajit contains antiviral properties, it can eliminate this virus on time. 

If there are any respiratory tract blockages, Shilajit may also eliminate them. This way, it may also improve immunity in no time. So, speak to your doctor urgently and find out if you need Shilajit. Once your doctor approves, you can leverage the effects of this ayurvedic remedy on time.

11. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

Shilajit is a substance derived from rocks in mountain areas. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine. It seems to help reduce swelling and act as an antioxidant. Antioxidants fight against free radicals that can damage cells.

Some research shows that taking shilajit:

• May help cells regenerate more quickly
• Might tell the body to make more collagen. Collagen is a protein that keeps skin and muscles flexible.
• Could slow down oxidative stress. This is the damage done by free radicals.

Shilajit might help people stay healthier as they age. It may also help skin stay flexible and young-looking. However, more research is still needed to know for sure.

12. May Prevent Bone Loss

Shilajit might be beneficial for bone health. According to a 2022 study, after taking shilajit supplements daily for 11 months, postmenopausal women with osteopenia—low bone mineral density—saw a noticeable increase in bone density. The researchers postulated the ability of shilajit to accelerate cell turnover as the possible cause of this effect.

On the other hand, to help heal a bone fracture, a small amount of Shilajit (130 mg) is boiled in ghee and given regularly until the fracture is fully healed.

13. Shilajit for Respiratory Tract Infection

Shilajit aids in removing the respiratory tract blockage. Vata and Kapha are the primary doshas linked to respiratory issues. The imbalanced Kapha dosha and vitiated Vata combine in the lungs to impede the respiratory tract.

Shilajit facilitates the removal of respiratory tract blockage and Vata-Kapha equilibrium. Because of its Rasayana (rejuvenating) qualities, it also aids in boosting immunity to fight against infection.

14. Might Improve Exercise Performance

A growing number of studies suggest that shilajit may benefit physical activity. According to some research, athletes who take shilajit supplements can achieve peak muscular strength more quickly and experience less post-workout tiredness.

Shilajit has been shown in several studies to support muscle suppleness and regeneration during an exercise program. According to some experts, these results show promise for Shilajit's potential advantages for CFS sufferers.

15. Manages Diabetes

When combined with diabetic drugs, shilajit's exceptional hypoglycemic capability helps control blood glucose levels and lipid profiles in people with diabetes. When taking shilajit formulations, the pancreatic β-cells start producing insulin. It assists in lowering the rate at which starch is converted to glucose, which lowers blood glucose levels.

Shilajit mixed with mica oxide, after being heated, can be used to help treat diabetes. It can help manage common diabetes symptoms like frequent urination and excessive thirst.

16. Shields From Intestinal Troubles

Shilajit's strong anti-inflammatory and purgative characteristics help suppress Helicobacter pylori, a harmful bacteria, and stop it from proliferating in the stomach. Its potent laxative properties and peristaltic actions soften faeces and make it easier for the body to pass through, preventing constipation and piles. Additionally, it prevents intestinal gas, flatulence, colic, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and intestinal fluid from drying up in the colon.

17. Facilitates Weight Loss

The purified Shilajit's amount of active ingredients helps the body lose extra weight more quickly. Regularly using Shilajit pills can be very beneficial for weight loss because they help curb unexpected cravings and reduce overindulgence. They also help the body respond favourably to exercise by activating genes that improve metabolism and help the body maintain a healthy weight. LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, are harmful cholesterol that accumulates in the body.

18. Sperm Count

A 2010 study examining the effects of shilajit on sperm in 35 infertile males was published in the journal Andrologia.

The trial participants consumed 100 milligrams (mg) of processed shilajit in capsule form twice daily for ninety days. Upon completion of the trial, 28 individuals exhibited noteworthy improvements in their total sperm count, quantity of healthy sperm, and sperm motility (a measurement of sperm mobility).

19. Collagen Synthesis

The body produces large amounts of collagen, a protein essential to bone, skin, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. As we age, collagen synthesis plays a crucial role in preserving the health of our muscles, joints, and skin.

A new eight-week study compared the impact on type 1 collagen synthesis of daily treatment with 500 mg and 1,000 mg of Shilajit to placebo. Compared to the placebo, the study's authors found that shilajit at both dosages enhanced the synthesis of type 1 collagen.

20. Prevents Anemia

Anaemia is a disorder characterised by a decrease in the number of red blood cells, haemoglobin, or defective red blood cells in the blood. This herbomineral compound's high humic acid and iron content is very helpful in raising haemoglobin levels and red blood cell count and ultimately resolving iron deficiency anaemia.

21. Treats Wounds And Ulcers

Canker sores, mouth ulcers, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and other ulcers can all be effectively treated using Shilajit's bioactive components' anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer qualities. Additionally, it encourages tissue regeneration, speeding up wound healing.

Shilajit Dosage

• For a healthy individual, 150 mg of good quality Shilajit is ideal.
• Patients who have recently suffered from Trauma or an accident should take 250 mg twice a day.
• For chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and asthma, 150 mg of Zandu Shilajit once or twice daily is recommended, with no need for a cycle.
• The optimal dosage of Shilajit varies based on factors like body weight, overall health, age, and personal molecular makeup.
• First-time users should start with a small amount, about the size of a rice grain, and gradually increase to a pea-sized dose (around 350 mg) until noticeable effects are felt.

Note: You can always consult the Ayurvedic doctors at Zandu for advice on the right dosage.

Precautions

There has not been enough research on shilajit yet. So, we don't know whether it interacts with any medications. But it's possible, so you should be careful.

Certain people should avoid taking shilajit:

• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding moms
• Children
• People with too much iron in their blood
• People worried about their testosterone levels

It's important to read the label on any Shilajit supplement bottle. Check what ingredients are in it and how much of each. Then, show the bottle to your doctor. Ask them if it seems OK for you to take it with your other medicines and health conditions.

Uses of Shilajit

Shilajit Powder:

• Take 2-4 pinches of Shilajit powder.
• Mix it with honey or lukewarm milk.
• Consume twice a day after meals.

Shilajit Tablet/Capsule:

• Take 1 Shilajit tablet/capsule.
• Swallow it with lukewarm milk after meals, twice a day.

Shilajit Black Tea:

• Boil 1.5 cups of water in a pan.
• Add ½ teaspoon of tea and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Strain the tea and add 2 pinches of Shilajit powder.
• Stir well and enjoy the tea in the morning.

However, if you are using the Shilajit capsule, you can easily avail of that from Zandu Care right now. The price of 60 Zandu Shilajit capsules is Rs. 499* only. In fact, there is a buy one, get one free offer on the same.

To consume Zandu Pure Shilajit capsules, you need to take one or two capsules daily. You may also consult your medical expert before consuming these capsules to make sure you incur no health complications at all. This helps you stay on the safe end.

Ingredients in Shilajit Capsules

If you know about Shilajit, you will know about these capsules too. But the question is, what is it made of? Well, here’s the answer to it.

Shilajit Extract

We have already explained the Shilajit extract above. It is authentic, 100% vegetarian, and contains no added preservatives. Shilajit extract is known for a wide variety of benefits. Shilajit's benefits for skin are also well-known everywhere. It can help with slower ageing and promote better immunity.

It may also eliminate the risks of infertility and improve metabolism. Apart from this, it is bound to help improve strength and vitality and lower the risks of memory loss as well. That is why people consider Shilajit capsules as they are enriched with this extract. Team Zandu has listed different ways to identify pure Shilajit & guide to buy Shilajit product.

Are There any Side Effects of Shilajit ?

Shilajit is a herb. It is an ayurvedic medicine, so naturally, the side effects are minimal. However, it is advised not to consume this substance in its raw or unprocessed form. Since the raw form of Shilajit may have free radicals, fungus, and even heavy metal ions in it, the medication may do more harm than good. 

Whenever you purchase Shilajit online, make sure it is in its pure form. Saying of form, you can also check other forms known as Resin. Also, the brand you buy it from must be credible and reliable. Zandu Care is one such online store from which to purchase it. It is also advised that patients with sickle cell anemia abstain from consuming these capsules.

Conclusion

Your health is all that matters. If your health is perfect, you will have a good life. The stress will be minimal; you will be able to manage tasks properly and balance your family life, too. That is why if you experience any signs of exhaustion, weakness, or disease in the body, it is best not to leave it untreated. 

Shilajit acts as a protective shield for all those people who want to experience better health and well-being. It makes room for better mental health and physical health and also uplifts your spirit. Try it out now!

FAQs

1. What is Shilajit used for?

Shilajit has several health advantages because it has over 84 minerals and fulvic acid. It can act as a diuretic to flush out extra fluid from your body, an anti-inflammatory, an energy enhancer, and an antioxidant to strengthen your body's immunity and memory.

2. Why do men use Shilajit?

It is well known to improve male vigour and take care of a number of health issues. By encouraging normal sperm production and testosterone levels, shilajit may benefit reproductive health. Moreover, it has the ability to increase energy, which may enhance endurance and sports performance.

3. Is Shilajit safe to take daily?

In general, taking shilajit as a powder dissolved in liquid is easier. Between 250 and 1,000 mg of shilajit is a safe daily dose, but it's advisable to start small and observe how each person responds before progressively increasing the dosage.

4. What are the side effects of shilajit?

Many men have complained of weakness, weariness, and irregular heartbeats. If used in extremely high doses, it can be lethal and raise the level of uric acid in the blood. Furthermore, shilajit side effects worsen if you have thalassemia or an excess of iron in your body.

5. Can females take shilajit?

Although shilajit is typically safe for women, it is best to speak with a healthcare provider before usage, as each person's response is different. It is advised to keep an eye out for any negative reactions, as some individuals may encounter minor side effects, including stomach problems.

References

1. If you continue to consume the ayurvedic remedy as per your healthcare provider’s recommendations, you are bound to see changes in your fertility. (https://www.researchgate.net/)
2. Since Shilajit contains antioxidant properties, it can help kill the free radicals emitted
3. A 2022 study found that postmenopausal women with low bone density saw improved bone health after taking Shilajit daily for 11 months, likely due to its ability to speed up cell turnover. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/)
4. In a 90-day trial, participants took 100 mg of shilajit twice daily. By the end, 28 individuals significantly improved sperm count, quality, and mobility. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/)
5. An eight-week study found that daily doses of 500 mg and 1,000 mg of Shilajit significantly improved type 1 collagen synthesis compared to a placebo. (https://www.tandfonline.com/)
6. Moomiyo. (https://www.researchgate.net/)
7. When one reaches a high altitude in a flight or a helicopter, nausea and feelings of sickness or stress are common. (https://www.researchgate.net/)