Shilajit is a mineral resin that has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years as a revitalizer, to heal everything from osteoporosis to anemia to increasing levels of testosterone. It seems to work by enhancing the production of ATP. However, many false claims are made by people selling minerals that are not real Shilajit. You need to know how to find the “real” Shilajit.
What is shilajit?
Shilajit is a mineral found as an exudate in cracks of high mountains the Himalayas, Hindukush and in Siberia. It is also known as Moomiyo or Mumie. It contains a mixture of organic humic acid and plant and microbial metabolites from the rock of its natural habitat. Shilajit has been used as a rejuvenator and an adaptogen for thousands of years. Shilajit contains dibenzo-α-pyrones and fulvic acid. It has been part of traditional systems of medicine in Ayurvedic Medicine and in the Soviet Union. Many therapeutic properties have been ascribed to it and been verified by modern scientific research.
What can shilajit treat?
Shilajit has been attributed with many healing properties and research has validated the many of these health claims. Mental benefits include reducing stress, increasing mental performance and balancing the emotions. In the body, Shilajit can build bone, repair muscles, help recovery from sports injuries, increase testosterone, help with weight loss, increase immunity, and prevent jet lag. Classified by Pubmed as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, and anti-dyslipidemic properties, shilajit has been shown to increase spermatogenesis and raise testosterone levels.
How to find the real shilajit?
Read the ingredient label carefully and make sure the products are sourced well. It’s also important that the resin is processed with low temperatures so that the natural constituents are not destroyed. Also, acids used in processing can destroy or oxidize the mineral’s nutrients. Many people selling Shilajit as a powder mix is with fulvic acid fertilizer or inexpensive fillers. Read labels to make sure you’re getting the real Shilajit. Ask to see the manufacturer’s Certificate of Analysis.
About the author:
Melanie Grimes, CCH, is a writer, health educator and homeopath. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. She has taught at Bastyr University and lectured internationally. Follow her blog at MelanieGrimes.com. To order professional quality vitamins, visit her online vitamin shop at https://www.healthwavehq.com/welcome/mgrimes.
Sources include:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23733436
https://purblack.com/shilajit-powder/
https://www.ayurtimes.com/shilajit-asphaltum-benefits-uses-dosage-side-effects/