Shilajit

Names in Different Languages

English	Shilajit
Urdu	شلاجیت
Hindi	शिलाजीत
Farsi	شیلاجیت
Unani	Shilajit
French	Shilajit
German	Shilajit

Traditional Uses

In Ayurveda, purified shilajit has been used for centuries as a Rasayana tonic for strength, stamina, reproductive health, urinary health and healthy ageing, traditionally dissolved in warm milk or water.

Modern Research

Human evidence is thin: the best-known trial (Pandit et al. 2016) gave 250 mg of purified shilajit twice daily for 90 days to healthy men and reported a significant rise in total and free testosterone, and a small study in men with low sperm count reported improved sperm parameters (Biswas et al. 2010). A 2014 systematic review (Stohs) concluded purified shilajit was well tolerated at recommended doses, but long-term and large-scale human data are lacking, and NCCIH notes Ayurvedic approaches have few well-designed trials. Effects are modest and preliminary, not curative.

Uses

• Male vitality and testosterone support
• Energy, stamina and fatigue support
• Male fertility and sperm-quality support
• General rejuvenating tonic in Ayurvedic practice

Benefits of Use

• Testosterone support: one 90-day trial reported higher total and free testosterone with 250 mg twice daily in healthy men aged 45-55
• Male fertility support: a clinical evaluation in men with low sperm count reported improved sperm count and motility with processed shilajit
• Energy support: small trials and animal studies suggest less fatigue and better physical performance, though human evidence is limited
• Antioxidant support: fulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones show antioxidant activity in laboratory and animal studies

Safe Dose & Overdose (mg/g)

Side Effects

• Mild stomach upset, nausea or diarrhoea, especially at high doses or on an empty stomach
• Headache or dizziness in some users, mainly at higher doses
• Restlessness, raised heart rate or trouble sleeping in sensitive users
• Heavy-metal poisoning (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) from raw or unpurified shilajit - the main real-world risk
• Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding: no safety data; also avoid with haemochromatosis (iron overload) or gout

Interactions

• Diabetes medicines: may lower blood sugar and add to their effect
• Blood pressure medicines: may affect blood pressure; monitor when starting
• Iron supplements: shilajit contains iron and may raise iron levels; avoid with iron-overload conditions
• Blood thinners (anticoagulants): caution is advised, as interactions have not been well studied

Sources

• Pandit et al. - Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels (PubMed)
• Stohs - Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo) (PubMed)
• NCCIH - Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth
• Supplement Scored - Shilajit: Benefits, Dosage & Top Picks