Shilajit

Shilajit is a bhasma, a mineral or metal preparation reduced to ash by repeated calcination. No dedicated WHO monograph. [Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23733436/). PMID [23733436](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23733436/) · [doi:10.1002/ptr.5018](https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5018) PRISMA-guided systematic review of 15 clinical studies (1,254 participants) across chronic fatigue syndrome, high-altitude sickness, cognitive decline, and infertility.

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	shilajit_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
Modulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to attenuate chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms
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 clinical trials show?

Stohs SJ 2014. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 23733436 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5018
PRISMA-guided systematic review of 15 clinical studies (1,254 participants) across 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.

4 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. 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 in systematic review of 15 studies
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?

Mineral/Elemental Profile

Primary component: Mineral-derived preparation
Note: Composition varies by specific preparation method

Analytical Methods: XRD, ICP-OES, SEM-EDS

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

Bioavailability: Fulvic acid acts as bioenhancer — improves CoQ10 absorption by 27.6% and nutrient transport across cell membranes

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

Standardized Extract: Purified Shilajit resin standardized to >60% fulvic acid

Shelf Life: 5+ years (resin); 2–3 years (capsules/tablets)

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

Quality Parameters: Fulvic acid >50%, heavy metals (As <3 ppm, Hg <1 ppm, Pb <10 ppm, Cd <3 ppm), moisture <5%, ash 15–20%, no mycotoxins

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

Extraction Methods

Traditional: dissolve in warm water, filter through muslin cloth, evaporate
Modern: aqueous extraction → filtration → vacuum concentration

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

Generated for the AgeAyurveda Herb Catalogue

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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.