Shilajit is also spelled by few names as Shilajeet, Silajit, or Shilajatu and also known as Asphaltum in English, that is mineral pitch used in ayurveda as health supplement. Shilajeet is an exudate and natural substance collected from Himalayans Mountains present between India and Nepal. In ayurveda, Shilajit is a famous RASAYAN DRAVYA (rejuvenative remedy) and aphrodisiac agent. The principle component in Shilajit is fulvic acid, which provides it anti-anxiety, anti-stress and anti-inflammatory properties.
When a substance is nicknamed the fountain of youth and the destroyer of weakness, you know it means business. This sticky resin has an unusual nutritional makeup which is unlike anything else found on earth. It is formed from a diverse range of plant matter that contains alkaloids, saponins and chlorophyll. This plant matter turns into a dark gummy resin after it is naturally compressed over thousands of years. During the warmer summer months, the resin oozes out of rock crevices and is harvested and sold as shilajit or mineral pitch. Pure shilajit resin is an extremely rare and highly-sought after superfood which has incredible rejuvenating, healing and nourishing properties.
Shilajit is useful in several diseases of brain, nerves, kidneys, bladder, reproductive organs and endocrine glands. Especially, Shilajeet has influence on thyroid gland and improves its functions. Due to this reason, its unique preparation named as Chandraprabha Vati is used in thyroid gland disorders and throat cancer.
Ayurveda has always been a way of life in India. With people these days moving towards natural remedies for treating most of the health disorders, it has become all the more relevant to us. Shilajit is one such magical herb found in ancient Indian Ayurveda that has been applauded since ages for its numerous health benefits.
Shilajit is probably the only ‘ayurvedic herb’, which is not derived from any plant. On the contrary, it comes from the mountains of Himalayan region in the bitumen like tar form and is mostly found during the summer months. The dark charcoal black color of Shilajit differs it from other natural herbs used in ancient Ayurveda.
With most of the ayurvedic formulas using Shilajit as a main component to derive health-boosting concoctions, it becomes all the more important to know about its many advantages on our health and well-being.
Composition Of Shilajit
The composition of Shilajit (Asphaltum) is very complex. It is a phyto-complex, which contains HUMIC SUBSTANCES (HS) like FULVIC ACID, HUMINS and HUMIC ACIDS. It also contains selenium and other minerals in traces. In addition to this, Shilajit also contains small amount of dibenzo-α-pyrones (metabolites derived from plants, fungi, animal feces or mycobionts). Mainly, FULVIC ACID content is responsible for the therapeutic value of the Shilajit.
Benefits of Shilajith herb for health
Shilajit natural herb is generally useful as health tonic or traditional nutritional supplement. In addition to its supplementary uses, it is also beneficial for treating a variety of diseases. In ayurveda, it is widely used for its therapeutic value.
Reduces Stress disorders & Anxiety
Shilajit generally has significant anxiolytic property and anti stress characteristic. Due to this, it is highly beneficial in all types of stress disorders and anxiety. Shilajit contains fulvic acid, which is responsible anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of Shilajit. By regular use of shilajith capsules you can get rid of stress and anxiety.
Alzheimer’s disease
Shilajit can generally help in Alzheimer’s disease. These can also prevent further changes in behavior and personality and treat all symptoms including anxiety, depression, delusions, mood swings, aggressiveness and irritability. It requires to choose the right Shilajit for beneficial results. Other herbs may also help along with Shilajeet.
Obesity & Overweight
Shilajit is to purify it and make consumable for human. This process also increases its anti-obesity characteristics. Generally therapy with Shilajit significantly decreases skin fold thickness and circumferences of hip and waist. The effects of Shilajit are also observed on total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. There are no side effects were found during this therapy with Shilajit.
Shilajit can be included in weight loss supplements. Shilajit can help obese or overweight people in three ways:
Shilajit provides nutritional support in weight loss and prevents loss of energy during any weight loss program.
It also provides support to metabolism and conversion of cholesterol into the bile, which may assist people with obesity to decrease the risk of heart diseases.
Shilajit capsules also helps prevent re-gain of the body weight that you have lost during any weight loss program or weight loss diet.
For people who are indicated in High Cholesterol & Triglyceride Levels
Shilajit has cardioprotective action. It reduces serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL & VLDL Cholesterols and improves the level of good cholesterol (HDL). As you know that 2 grams Shilajit (containing 6.61% Fulvic Acid) per day reduces LDL cholesterol by 22.6%, VLDL cholesterol by 20.6% and triglycerides by 21.7%. Furthermore, it increases good cholesterol (HDL) by 5.8% after 45 days.
However, strong evidences are available for Shilajit effects in heart diseases, and you should know that it is effective in combination therapy as used in ayurveda. For lowering cholesterol level, it can be used along with Trikatu, Arjuna, Guggul, Pushkarmool (Inula Racemosa) and Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuifolium or Ocimum Sanctum).
For Atherosclerosis
Shilajit is reported beneficial for people with atherosclerosis. As we know that low-grade inflammation in the blood vessels is underlying cause and not the high lipids in the blood. Deposition of plaque only occurs when inflammatory lesion is present in the arteries.
Shilajit acts as anti-inflammatory and reduces this inflammation in the blood vessels. It also reduces cholesterol and lipids levels, which further prevents plaque deposition. However, these effects are only observable after 3 to 6 months therapy with Shilajit. It also reduces thickness and stiffness of blood vessels and provides more flexibility and elasticity. For enhance its action, Shilajit is used with following herbs.
For Breathing Trouble
Shilajit have double similar action as other herbs used in breathing troubles have. It may not dilate respiratory tract or provides instant relief in breathing difficulties. It only works when person has breathing difficulties due to physical weakness or frequent excessive physical exertion. Shilajeet provides strength to respiratory muscles and reduces weakness. It makes person capable for physical exertion and reduces breathing troubles. It requires a long-term use at least for few months to get these benefits.
In asthmatic patients, it has similar benefits. It reduces frequency of asthma attacks and helps in obstinate asthma cases. For effective results, the following herbs are beneficial with Shilajit.
Chronic Constipation
In chronic constipation, intestines become weak. Due to this, peristaltic movements also decrease. Many patients continue taking laxatives, which affects adversely and lead to chronic and obstinate constipation. In such type of constipation, patient actually requires remedies, which strengthen the intestines, restores the natural peristaltic movements and improves bile secretion from the liver and gallbladder.
Shilajit is also known as it is used as the liver tonic, but we do not know if it increases bile secretion from the liver. However, Shilajit provides strength to the intestines and improves natural peristaltic movements, which help passing stool with ease. These effects become visible after two to three weeks of shilajit therapy. Shilajeet is also helpful in chronic cases of intestinal gas, flatulence, dull type abdominal pain and abdominal heaviness after meal.
Uses for Arthritic Disorders
Shilajit has anti-inflammatory and anodyne action, which are more visible in joint and muscle disorders. It reduces pedal edema and mild pain. However, it may not alone effective in all cases of arthritis. Shilajeet is less effective in rheumatoid arthritis, but it is effective in osteoarthritis as well as in gout.
In osteoarthritis, it provides nutritional support to the joints and strengthens them. It reduces inflammation and joint pain. However, these effects of shilajit are not comparable with Boswellia Serrata, which is more potent and effective, but it does provide better support to the joints due to its supplemental property when used along with Boswellia Serrata and Guggulu compounds.
In gout, shilajit reduces uric acid levels. Chandraprabha is a common formulation of shilajeet used in ayurveda for raised uric acid levels and gout. Shilajatu or shilajit has mild diuretic action, which is more visible in first three weeks.
Chronic Dysmenorrhea or Pelvic Pain
However, shilajit does have antispasmodic action, and it also provides strength to the uterus and pelvic floor in women. It helps preventing all uterine diseases including dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain. It is effective only in chronic cases. In acute cases, patient requires some other ayurvedic remedies.
Controls Frequent Urination
By consuming shilajit capsules regularly for urination helps a lot. Generally, it corrects and also restores natural urination process, which helps combating with the frequent urination.
High Blood Pressure in Alcoholism
Everything in excess is bad. It is also applicable for heavy alcohol drinkers. Taking too much alcohol increases blood pressure or increases the risk of hypertension in the future. In case, blood pressure is raised due to excessive intake of alcohol, Shilajit or Chandraprabha Vati is good remedy in this condition.
Diabetes Mellitus
Shilajit, a mineral pitch, helps patients with diabetes. It is also effective for the prevention of strength, reducing the diabetic symptoms, treating diabetic complications and boosting the pancreas function and insulin sensitivity in the cells.
Shilajit is commonly used to reduce frequent urination occurring due to diabetes mellitus. It also prevents leakage of the sugar and albumin in the urine and effectively helps to treat mild to moderate type of glycosuria and proteinuria.
Shilajit also provides nutritional support in diabetes, which improves physical and mental well-being.
Delay aging & Maintain Optimum Health
Shilajit has antioxidant action, which is attributed to its active constituents such as benzopyrones and fulvic acid. Shilajit supplementation significantly increases the level of antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants helps to balance the free radicals and prevents oxidation in the body, which ultimately maintains optimum health and delay aging.
The significant increase is observed in the serum level of antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E and superoxide dismutase) with Shilajit supplementation for 45 days. Furthermore, fulvic acid in the Shilajit is an active constituent in it, which acts as electron donors & acceptors (bi-directional super antioxidant). Thus, it maintains the balance and reduces free radicals.
Tachycardia and Heart Weakness
The low dosage of Shilajit has the negative chronotropic effect that means it decreases the heart rate. However, the high dosage of Shilajit has the positive chronotropic effect that means it increases heart rate. The mechanism of these effects is yet unknown.
Shilajit has cardioprotective effects and it provides the strength to the heart and regulates the heartbeat. Consuming shilajith capsules twice daily is recommendable for treating tachycardia. It also improves the myocardial strength and prevents heart diseases, so indicated in cardiac weakness.
The effect of Shilajit is dose-dependent. Patient with tachycardia should not take Shilajit more than 1000 mg per day to prevent its negative effects. This dosage is likely to exert a positive chronotropic effect, which will increase the heart rate.
Uses for Infertility due to Oligospermia
Shilajit has spermatogenic action. It increases total sperm count and improves sperm motility. Shilajit treats oligospermia by increasing count and maintaining optimum health of reproductive system. Due to this, it is more famous in men. It also has aphrodisiac action and becomes a crucial ingredient in all men’s supplements.
The dosage of Shilajit varies according to patient’s age, body weight, diseases, and health conditions. The minimum effective dosage of Shilajit capsules in a day is recommended for better results. Now, most of the doctors prescribe Shilajit for better health. By regular use of shilajith capsules you to get rid of above diseases.