Shilajit has been used in Ayurveda for centuries, and it has become a popular supplement across Europe and the UK.
Here is a more honest look at why people take shilajit today, and what the research does and doesn’t show.
Why do people take shilajit?
People come to shilajit for a few different reasons.
- Tradition. In Ayurveda, shilajit is classed as a rasayana, a rejuvenating substance. It also has a long history as mumijo in Central Asia and momiai in Persian medicine.
- Interest in natural products. Shilajit is a raw mountain resin, and many people like the idea of a supplement close to its natural form.
- Curiosity about the research. Headlines about small studies have brought shilajit to new audiences.
- Ritual. For some, dissolving a little resin in a warm drink has simply become part of the day.
What is shilajit, briefly?
Shilajit is a dark resin that seeps from rock in high mountains such as the Himalayas. It is mostly humic substances, especially fulvic acid, plus about 20% minerals. Calcium, potassium and magnesium are the main ones. Read what is shilajit for the full picture.
What have human studies looked at?
About a dozen human studies have tested shilajit on its own. Most involved fewer than 100 people and lasted 8 to 12 weeks. Researchers have looked at:
- Testosterone. A 2016 trial gave men aged 45 to 55 purified shilajit, 250 mg twice a day, for 90 days. It measured higher testosterone than placebo.
- Bone density. A 2022 trial followed 60 postmenopausal women for 48 weeks. Bone density fell less in those taking shilajit extract than in the placebo group.
- Fracture healing. A 2020 trial in Iran studied 160 adults with a broken shin bone. Average healing time was 129 days with shilajit and 153 days with placebo.
- Muscle strength. A 2019 trial in 63 young men measured strength during a tiring test. A difference was reported only in the stronger half of the group.
Each of these is a single trial, and none has been repeated by an independent team. Most tested one branded, purified extract, so the results may not apply to other products. Our shilajit benefits page covers each area, and every study is summarised in shilajit.uk’s research library.
What about the other claims?
Many popular claims rest on much weaker evidence. Some come only from lab or animal studies. Others have no studies at all.
Brain research on shilajit is mostly test-tube and animal work. The one human trial tested a blend of shilajit and B vitamins, so it can’t tell us about shilajit alone.
The “84 trace minerals” figure is also overstated. A 2024 review counted around 65 metals reported in research, many in tiny traces, and some of them toxic.
So what is the honest state of the evidence?
Shilajit has a long traditional history and a small, growing body of research. A 2011 review of its traditional use concluded that it “lacks scientific evaluation and systematic documentation”. That is still broadly true.
In the EU and UK, shilajit has no authorised health claims. So we don’t claim it does anything for your health. We describe what it is, where it comes from and what researchers have studied, and leave you to weigh it up.
What about safety?
Purified shilajit was well tolerated in human trials lasting up to about three months, with no serious side effects reported. The main risk is contamination. Shilajit forms in rock and can contain lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.
That is why we have our batch tested by an accredited laboratory. The results are on our lab results page. No study has tested shilajit in pregnancy, and nobody knows how it interacts with medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if either applies to you.
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.
