If you spend enough time on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok you’ve probably heard of Shilajit. Or, you’ve heard about it through a friend that is bombarded with paid ads for it. But what exactly is Shilajit and is it as amazing as everyone says it is? Does it make a difference if you use the resin or take capsules? We’re here to give you all the tea on Shilajit and our honest opinion of whether it’s worth supplementing. 

What is Shilajit?

Shilajit has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-aging compound. It is not a herb, but is actually a natural tar-like substance that is formed by the gradual decomposition of certain plants in the Himalayan and Tibetan mountains. Although it is found in high amounts between India and Nepal, it can also be found in Russia, Tibet, Afghanistan, and north of Chile, which is known as Andean Shilajit. 

Shilajit can vary in colour, but the black is known to be the most dense in nutritional value. Shilajit is potent with fulvic acid; it can account for 60% to 80% based on the plants that have decomposed to produce it. Fulvic acid is soluble at all pH levels unlike humic acid which is only soluble at alkaline pHs, meaning it is easily absorbed by our intestinal tract. Fulvic acid is known to be a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, a memory enhancer, and anti aggregation of tau protein (potential anti-Alzheimer’s disease molecule, PMID: 22482077).

Origin Use of Shilajit

Shilajit is considered a rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine. A rayasana’s characteristics are to increase physical strength and promote human health. Shilajit was first referred to as the “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness” over 3,000 years ago in ancient Sanskrit texts. It has become a staple not just in India, but in many Asian countries, and has also been known to be used as an aphrodisiac. 

In Eastern scriptures, they have texts on how to utilize shilajit and prepare it with a multitude of herbs for various diseases. It has also been referred to as Mumiyo in the Eurasian countries as it was discovered in the mountains of Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and the Middle East. Mumiyo is considered slightly less potent than Shilajit from the Himalayas, its name is a variation of the Greek word “mumie” which means “to save or preserve the body”.

The traditional use of Shilajit primarily focused on diseases of the urinary tract, diabetes, edema, tumors, muscle wasting, epilepsy, and insanity. Over time and in the modern age it showed to be beneficial for all systems of the body but most noteworthy for the reproductive system and nervous system. 

Benefits of Shilajit

The internet will tell you a multitude of benefits that Shilajit is able to provide, based off of our research from clinical study papers and client testimonials these are the most notable benefits:

• Potentially preventing or slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
• Raising testosterone 
• Improving energy levels
• Anti-inflammatory benefits
• Improving athletic performance 
• Reducing altitude sickness 

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is an unfortunate disease that many families are affected by. Alzheimer’s Disease has the pathological indicators of extracellular plaques, composed of fibrillar amyloid-beta, and neurofibrillary tangles inside neurons, composed of Tau protein (PMID: 35596819). The Tau protein and Tau aggregation have become a new focus for researchers in relation to Alzheimer’s Disease. Tau proteins are an important part of the nervous system and provide stability, but a build up of them can trigger brain cell damage, which can lead to Alzheimer’s Disease. Although more studies and trials need to be conducted, it is recognized that the primary ingredient of Shilajit, fulvic acid, has the ability to prevent the accumulation of tau protein and reduce inflammation. 

Increase Testosterone

Low testosterone levels are becoming a growing issue for men. Testosterone levels typically begin to decrease around the age of 40 and gradually lower by 1-3% per year, but some men can experience this earlier on. Typical signs of low testosterone can include:

• Low sex drive
• Hair loss
• Loss of muscle mass
• Difficulty building muscle mass
• Fatigue
• Increased body fat 

Clinical studies have found that individuals supplementing shilajit in comparison to placebo groups showed a significant increase in testosterone levels. The different studies used doses of 250mg, which is considered to be a low dose, and 500mg, which is considered to be a high dose. A study also demonstrated that the higher dose of 500mg was favourable for muscle and connective tissue adaptations PMID: 30728074. PrimaVie® Shilajit was specifically used in the study for muscle and connective tissue adaptations. To experience the most beneficial effects it would be required to take it minimally for 8-12 weeks, but benefits can be observed earlier depending on the individual.

Improved Energy Levels

Our energy levels can lower for a multitude of reasons. Whether it be due to lack of sleep, high stress levels, hormonal imbalances, or lack of micronutrients from poor nutrition - we can all experience fatigue. Chronic fatigue can cause difficulty in our day to day life, making even simple tasks difficult let alone work or school. Research has found that the supplementation of Shilajit can reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue and improve energy levels. 

Shilajit has the ability to work on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and mitochondrial function. The HPA axis is responsible for the body's stress management and creates a feedback loop of hormones for nervous system stimulation. HPA is what eventually triggers the release of cortisol - which we’re sure you’ve heard about by now. HPA dysfunction can lead to various health conditions such as:

• Immune system dysfunction 
• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorder
• Metabolic diseases
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Vascular damage

The supplementation of Shilajit can aid in reversing chronic fatigue by modulating the HPA axis as well as prevent chronic fatigue that is induced by mitochondrial dysfunction. By improving overall mitochondrial function and functioning as an antioxidant, Shilajit can improve cellular health and reduce oxidation of the cells and potentially aid in preventing health conditions that are caused by dysfunction of the HPA axis. 

Anti-Aging Properties

Who doesn’t want to feel and look young forever? Shilajit has the potential to aid in reducing the symptoms of aging because of the fulvic acid it is composed of. As fulvic acid is a humic substance which has many benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have observed that it can improve dementia symptoms, improve sleep quality, apetite, and overall physical performance in older individuals. By taking Shilajit early on you can give your body the potential to avoid these symptoms as you age. 

Supporting Research 

Aillaud, I. and Funke, S.A. (2023) Tau aggregation inhibiting peptides as potential therapeutics for alzheimer disease, Cellular and molecular neurobiology. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10006036/ (Accessed: June 6 2024). 

Carrasco-Gallardo, C., Guzmán, L. and Maccioni, R.B. (2012) Shilajit: A natural Phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity, International journal of Alzheimer’s disease. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/ (Accessed: June 10 2024). 

Keller, J.L. et al. (2019) The effects of shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6364418/ (Accessed: June 5 2024). 

Pandit, S., Biswas, S. and Jana, U. (no date) Clinical evaluation of purified shilajit on testosterone levels ... Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/and.12482 (Accessed: June 8 2024).