Shilajit

Shilajit is a mineral pitch, a resinous exudate from rock, used after purification. No dedicated WHO monograph.

Key facts
Substance type	Mineral or metal preparation, not a plant
Pharmacopoeia status	No dedicated WHO monograph. Referenced in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as Shilajatu. USP (United States Pharmacopeia) standards referenced for quality testing. Classified as Rasayana (rejuvenative) in classical Ayurvedic texts including Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Mineral pitch

How does it work?

Fulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs) act as electron shuttles in mitochondria, accelerating electron transport at Complex I and Complex III for enhanced ATP production
DBPs function as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, working in tandem with CoQ10 in the electron transport chain
Fulvic acid chelates minerals enhancing bioavailability and facilitating transport across cell membranes
Fulvic acid blocks tau protein self-aggregation, relevant to Alzheimer’s disease pathology
Reported in chronic fatigue research to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
Preserves mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and stabilizes complex enzyme activities preventing mitochondrial dysfunction
Reverses mitochondrial oxidative stress: normalizes NO concentration, lipid peroxidation, SOD, and catalase activities
Neuroprotection via cAMP/NO signaling pathway modulation and anti-neuroinflammatory activity

What do recent studies show?

Stohs SJ 2014. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 23733436 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5018
Review of shilajit safety and efficacy literature covering chronic fatigue syndrome, high-altitude sickness, cognitive decline, and infertility. Generally mild adverse events (GI discomfort, headache); no serious adverse events reported.
Das SS, Ramkumar M, Singh H and others 2026. Pre-clinical Evaluation of Shilajit in Cancer: A Systematic Review. Cureus. PMID 41640940 · doi:10.7759/cureus.101736
Systematic review found promising preclinical anticancer evidence but no randomized controlled clinical trials or human studies evaluating Shilajit as a primary anticancer therapy.
Basavaraja D, Katkar R, Dhaka P and others 2025. Chemical Analysis of Native Himalayan Shilajit: An Evaluation of an Ayurvedic Formulation. ACS omega. PMID 41404054 · doi:10.1021/acsomega.5c05533
ACS Omega publication providing detailed chemical characterization of Himalayan Shilajit identifying dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, fulvic acids, humic acids, trace minerals, and heavy metal profiles.

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

Processed Shilajit possibly safe at 500 mg daily for up to 48 weeks or 2 g daily for 45 days based on clinical evidence
Adverse events generally mild and transient: gastrointestinal discomfort, headache - no serious adverse events reported in the review literature
CRITICAL: Raw, unpurified Shilajit may contain arsenic, lead, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals (~65 heavy metals identified including Cu, Al, Pb, As, Cd, Hg)
Thallium contamination identified in some Shilajit supplements (2025 PMC study) - potential risk from unregulated products
Drug interaction: may potentiate hypoglycemic agents causing dangerously low blood sugar
Drug interaction: may interfere with anticoagulants (warfarin) increasing bleeding risk
Drug interaction: may potentiate blood pressure medications causing excessive hypotension
Drug interaction: may affect thyroid medication efficacy
Fulvic acid can bind metals and influence iron uptake - separate dosing from iron supplements by 2-3 hours
Contraindicated in hemochromatosis and individuals prone to kidney stones due to mineral content
Not monitored by FDA for quality or purity - third-party testing (USP, NSF) recommended

What is it made of?

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Shuddha Shilajit (purified resin), Capsule, Tablet, With milk

Standard Dosage: 250–500 mg twice daily; traditional: pea-sized amount with warm milk

Optimal Timing: Morning and evening with warm milk; empty stomach or with meals

Storage: Cool, dry place; resin in glass jar; avoid direct sunlight

Marker Compounds: Fulvic acid (60–80%), Humic acid, Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs), Iron, Zinc, 40+ trace minerals

Vehicle (Anupana): Warm milk (premier vehicle); honey; Ashwagandha Churna

Synergistic Combinations

Ashwagandha (Rasayana synergy)
Loha Bhasma (iron enhancement)
Gokshura (kidney/reproductive support)
Safed Musli (Vajikarana)

Stability Notes

Resinous form is inherently stable. Hygroscopic. Protect from moisture. Tablet/capsule forms need moisture barrier packaging

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.

The evidence at a glance