Few natural substances have travelled as far, under as many names, as shilajit. Indian physicians called it shilajit or shilajatu. Persian physicians wrote about momiai. In Russia and Central Asia it is mumijo, and older English books call it mineral pitch.
This article traces that history, from legend to the first chemistry papers. It describes what people believed and how they used shilajit, not what has been proven.
What is the legend of shilajit’s origin?
Hindu tradition links shilajit to the story of Samudra Manthana, the churning of the ocean. Gods and demons churned the cosmic sea to win amrita, the nectar of immortality. The serpent Vasuki was wound around Mount Mandara and used as the churning rope.
In the version told about shilajit, the sweat of gods and demons mixed with the nectar. Where it fell on the mountains, shilajit appeared. It is a story, not history, but it shows how highly the resin was valued.
How is shilajit used in Ayurveda?
In Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine system, shilajit is classed as a rasayana. A rasayana is a rejuvenating remedy, believed to support long life and vitality.
A 2011 review of classical texts and formularies found shilajit in 20 traditional formulations and 24 branded Ayurvedic products. It traced the earliest use to hill tribes in mountain regions, who first recognised the resin.
The great Sanskrit medical texts mention it too. According to a 2010 review, the Charaka Samhita describes shilajit as “stones of metal like gold”. The Sushruta Samhita calls it “a gelatinous substance”. Ayurvedic practice often combined it with honey, ghee or herbs.
What was momiai in Persian medicine?
Persian physicians knew shilajit as moomiaii, or momiai. It appears in the works of Rhazes, who lived from 854 to 925 CE, and in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine. Avicenna lived from 980 to 1037 CE.
Persian medicine classed momiai as a “hot and dry” remedy. The best quality was said to be black, shiny and free of bad smells. It was taken as a syrup or applied as a poultice. Its best-known traditional use was for broken bones and dislocations.
Was shilajit used to embalm Egyptian mummies?
Probably not, although the words “mummy” and “momiai” are connected. A review of Persian medicine explains that the medicinal resin was a different substance from Egyptian embalming resins. The two were similar only in shape, thickness and colour. Over time the names became confused.
How was mumijo used in Russia and Central Asia?
Mumijo has long been a folk remedy in Russia, the Altai mountains, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In Kazakh tradition, where it is called tasmayi, it was used for broken bones.
That fracture tradition interested Soviet researchers. Russian-language papers from the 1960s and 1970s studied mumie and bone repair. Only their titles are available in English, so their findings can’t be reported here.
In 2020, researchers in Tehran tested the same tradition in a placebo-controlled trial of 160 adults with a broken shin bone. They reported shorter average healing times in the momiai group. It is a single trial and has not been repeated.
What colours and names does shilajit have?
Shilajit ranges from golden brown to deep black, and Ayurvedic practice has traditionally preferred the black kind. Over the centuries it has picked up vivid names, including “mountain blood”, “rock sweat” and “stone oil”. In Tibet it has been called “rock juice”.
When did modern science start studying shilajit?
Chemical analysis began in earnest in the 1970s, with a 1976 paper on its chemical constituents. Since then, chemists have found that shilajit is mostly humic substances, such as fulvic acid, plus minerals. Our page on what shilajit is covers its make-up.
Human trials came much later and remain few and small. A 2011 review concluded that, despite its long history, shilajit “lacks scientific evaluation and systematic documentation”. Long use tells us what people valued, not whether it works. For the current state of research, see why people take shilajit today.
Hilasti’s shilajit is sold as a raw resin from the Nepalese Himalayas; see the shop.
This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or have a health condition.
