Shilajit has been used in Ayurveda for centuries, by men and women alike. Modern marketing often promises women hormone balance, energy and glowing skin. The research tells a much quieter story.
Most human trials of shilajit have studied men. Only two have focused on women. This article sets out what those trials looked at, what other research exists and where there is simply no evidence.
Which shilajit studies included women?
Two trials stand out. One followed 60 postmenopausal women with low bone density for 48 weeks. The other looked at skin in 45 women aged 30 to 65 for 14 weeks. A 2016 study of muscle gene activity also included 10 women among its participants.
That is a small base. It means most claims aimed at women borrow results from studies in men, or from animals.
What did the bone density trial find?
In India, 60 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 with osteopenia took 250 mg or 500 mg of shilajit extract a day, or a placebo. Osteopenia means bone density lower than normal, but not yet osteoporosis.
Over 48 weeks, bone density in the spine and hip fell in the placebo group, as is normal after the menopause. It fell less in both shilajit groups, and less again at the higher dose.
It is a single, small trial that hasn’t been repeated. It measured bone density, not fractures. It also didn’t study osteoporosis, and shilajit is no substitute for prescribed treatment. See shilajit and bone health.
What about skin?
In a US trial, 45 healthy women took a standardised extract or a placebo twice a day for 14 weeks. Researchers measured blood flow in the skin and changes in gene activity, and both shifted at the higher dose.
Skin hydration, elasticity and barrier function showed no difference from placebo. No study has measured wrinkles. The extract’s maker supplied the capsules and part-funded the work. See skin and collagen.
Has shilajit been studied for periods or hormones?
Not in women, as far as we know. We found no human trial of shilajit and menstrual cycles, period pain or hormone balance in women. The hormone research that exists was in men aged 45 to 55, where testosterone was measured.
What about fertility?
There are no human studies in women. One rat study found more female rats ovulated after shilajit: seven of nine, against three of nine controls. That is far too small to apply to people. See shilajit and fertility.
If you are trying to conceive, it’s sensible not to start shilajit. You may be pregnant for several weeks before you know.
Energy, iron and tiredness
The one human study measuring tiredness included only men, had no placebo group and was run by the manufacturer. Shilajit contains small, variable amounts of iron. The only human study that measured haemoglobin found no change after 45 days.
Tiredness in women often has a cause worth finding, such as iron deficiency from heavy periods. If you’ve felt tired for weeks, see your GP for a blood test rather than self-treating.
What about stress and mood?
Traditional medicine describes shilajit as a rejuvenator and adaptogen. No human trial has tested it for stress, anxiety or mood. That description is history, not evidence.
Is shilajit safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Its safety is unknown, so it is best avoided. No study has tested shilajit in pregnancy or breastfeeding. The only published case describes a pregnant woman who developed high blood pressure and low potassium after six months of mumijo, the Russian name for shilajit.
Lead contamination is a further worry, because lead can harm an unborn baby. Whatever you buy, check for a recent heavy-metal test. Our batch results are on the lab results page. Read more on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The bottom line
Research on shilajit in women is thin. One trial looked at bone density after the menopause, and one looked at skin. Most other claims have no trial in women behind them. For an overview of every area researched, see shilajit benefits: what the research says.
Hilasti’s shilajit is sold as a raw resin; 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.
