Shilajit is a natural resin that began forming during the late Triassic period, approximately 200 million years ago.
Ancient plant material and ammonites were trapped beneath sediment layers in regions such as the Himalayas, the Caucasus, the Altai Mountains, and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan.
Around 55 million years ago, as the Indian continental plate collided with the Eurasian plate, intense pressure and heat transformed this organic matter into shilajit. This nutrient-dense resin emerges from mountain crevices during warmer seasons.
Shilajit is a natural resin that began forming during the late Triassic period, approximately 200 million years ago.
Ancient plant material and ammonites were trapped beneath sediment layers in regions such as the Himalayas, the Caucasus, the Altai Mountains, and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan.
Around 55 million years ago, as the Indian continental plate collided with the Eurasian plate, intense pressure and heat transformed this organic matter into shilajit. This nutrient-dense resin emerges from mountain crevices during warmer seasons.
Shilajit has been a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,000 years, revered as a potent rasayana, or rejuvenating substance. Its name in Sanskrit translates to "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness," reflecting its esteemed status as a vitality booster.
Historical records suggest that both Aristotle and Alexander the Great recognized shilajit's benefits. Aristotle documented its applications, and Alexander is said to have included it in his soldiers’ rations to enhance their endurance and resilience.
Shilajit has been a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,000 years, revered as a potent rasayana, or rejuvenating substance. Its name in Sanskrit translates to "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness," reflecting its esteemed status as a vitality booster.
Historical records suggest that both Aristotle and Alexander the Great recognized shilajit's benefits. Aristotle documented its applications, and Alexander is said to have included it in his soldiers’ rations to enhance their endurance and resilience.
In recent years Shilajit has been the subject of various scientific studies which have indicated it's efficacy in a number of areas:
Effect on Testosterone
"Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo."
Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers
Andrologia, 2015
Link
Effect on Muscle Development
"Shilajit supplementation at 500 mg·d− 1 elicited favorable muscle and connective tissue adaptations."
The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2019
Link
Effect on Alzheimer's Disease
"Shilajit and its fractions can modulate neuronal function and promote neuritogenic effects (in terms of both length and number of processes)"
Scaling the Andean Shilajit: A Novel Neuroprotective Agent for Alzheimer’s Disease
Pharmaceuticals, 2023
Link
"Shilajit is a potent and very safe dietary supplement, potentially able to prevent several diseases, but its main medical application now appears to come from its actions in benefit of cognition and potentially as a dietary supplement to prevent Alzheimer's disease."
Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity
International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2012
Link
Effect on Cancer Cells
"Mummy (Shilajit) has profound activity against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 BC) cell lines but at the same concentration, only caused a little damage to normal cells (MCF-10A cell)"
Mummy (Shilajit) Induces Apoptosis Through Inhibiting of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Galen Medical Journal, 2020
Link
"To conclude, this study showed that Shilajit possesses potentiating properties that augment the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and abolish the effect of metastasis on liver and kidney functions and tissue architecture."
Shilajit potentiates the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and mitigates metastasis induced liver and kidney damages in osteosarcoma rats
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2022
Link
"Fulvic acid is shown to decrease proinflammatory markers but also activate the immune system to kill bacteria. It is shown to reduce oxidative stress and even induce apoptosis in hepatic cancer lines."
Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes
Journal of Diabetes Research, 2018
Link
Effect on Testosterone
"Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo."
Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers
Andrologia, 2015
Link
Effect on Muscle Development
"Shilajit supplementation at 500 mg·d− 1 elicited favorable muscle and connective tissue adaptations."
The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2019
Link
Effect on Alzheimer's Disease
"Shilajit and its fractions can modulate neuronal function and promote neuritogenic effects (in terms of both length and number of processes)"
Scaling the Andean Shilajit: A Novel Neuroprotective Agent for Alzheimer’s Disease
Pharmaceuticals, 2023
Link
"Shilajit is a potent and very safe dietary supplement, potentially able to prevent several diseases, but its main medical application now appears to come from its actions in benefit of cognition and potentially as a dietary supplement to prevent Alzheimer's disease."
Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity
International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2012
Link
Effect on Cancer Cells
"Mummy (Shilajit) has profound activity against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 BC) cell lines but at the same concentration, only caused a little damage to normal cells (MCF-10A cell)"
Mummy (Shilajit) Induces Apoptosis Through Inhibiting of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Galen Medical Journal, 2020
Link
"To conclude, this study showed that Shilajit possesses potentiating properties that augment the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and abolish the effect of metastasis on liver and kidney functions and tissue architecture."
Shilajit potentiates the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and mitigates metastasis induced liver and kidney damages in osteosarcoma rats
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2022
Link
"Fulvic acid is shown to decrease proinflammatory markers but also activate the immune system to kill bacteria. It is shown to reduce oxidative stress and even induce apoptosis in hepatic cancer lines."
Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes
Journal of Diabetes Research, 2018
Link
