Shilajit is an ancient herbal substance containing a wide spectrum of minerals and trace elements the human body needs to function optimally and fulvic acid which helps the body absorb these minerals at a cellular level. Shilajit has been consumed as a dietary supplement and super food for thousands of years in India and Asia because of the many benefits it provides.
It has been used in the traditional Ayurvedic wellness system of India for thousands of years for a variety of health benefits and is considered to be an important Rasayana (rejuvenator). Shilajit is a Sanskrit word meaning “rock-invincible”, “conqueror of mountains”, or “destroyer of weakness”. It is believed to be a powerful adaptogen, which balances and strengthens the body allowing it to function at an optimal level. Ancient texts also refer to Shilajit as the “elixir of evergreen life”.
Ayurveda also considers Shilajit to be an adaptogen, or an herb that supports the body’s natural resistance to stress. It has also been used by many traditional Ayurvedic practitioners as a catalyst to boost the strength of other herbal supplements.
The potency of Shilajit is considered to be dependent upon the area, altitude, type and color of rock it is collected from, as well as the purification technique used to separate the shilajit from the rock.
What does modern scientific research say about Shilajit?
Scientific research has identified micro minerals, trace elements and organic humic/fulvic acids in shilajit as well as antioxidant properties. These elements validate the health supporting characteristics long ascribed to shilajit by Ayurveda.
Essential minerals and trace elements are well established as vital to many different functions and processes in the body. Fulvic and humic acids have more recently been discovered to enhance bioavailability of nutrients.
What do ancient texts say about Shilajit?
The Charaka Samhita (5000 year old Ayurvedic text) address Shilajit in a chapter on rejuvenation therapy (rasayana). It claims that Shilajit is effective for all imbalances when used at the right time and in combination with appropriate herbal formulas. It also mentions that when a healthy person consumes shilajit it results in strength, stamina and energy.
The Sushruta Samhita (3000 year old Ayurvedic text) echoes these benefits and states that, when Shilajit is taken regularly, it promotes a complexion and strength of the body.
The Astanga Hrdayam (essence of the eight branches of Ayurveda) also details the many benefits of Shilajit and declares that it is the best rejuvenator.
Is Shilajit vegan?
Yes. Shilajit is 100% vegan.
How is it made and purified?
Many millions of years ago, plants and organic matter were trapped by layers of rock in mountainous regions of India and Tibet. The pressure from the weight of the mountains and the extreme temperature changes of the Himalayas causes the plants to be transformed into a rich mineral mass that flows out of the rocks. This is Shilajit. This process takes many millions of years to produce the rich resinous substance. We like to think of it as the diamond of the herbal universe.
In the summer months Shilajit can be seen glistening on the surface of the steep rocky cliffs. For millennia, the mountain peoples of the Himalayas have carefully hand collected this very special gift of nature. It is then purified according to traditional Tibetan methods using only spring water to produce the ultra pure Authentic Shilajit™. We never use any solvent extraction, standardization, commercial processing or adulteration.
There are several purification techniques, but the traditional Tibetan technique produces the purest resin. The rocks containing Shilajit are broken up and then soaked in pure mountain spring water. Shilajit, which is water soluble, dissolves into the water and then the sediment is filtered out. The liquid is then put out in the sun to evaporate the water content. This process is repeated 7 times until the Shilajit is ultra pure. In the final process the Shilajit is heated to remove any remaining moisture and destroy any possible microbes and spores that may be present. Minerals and fulvic acids are not affected by heat. As pure Shilajit is millions of years old there are no valuable nutrients or enzymes to be “killed off”.
*Beware of Shilajit brands that claim their products to be raw. Raw Shilajit may contain microbes and spores that can be dangerous.
Lotus Blooming Herbs tests all purified Shilajit at a third party, cGMP, USFDA Registered Laboratory for safety and purity. Links to our most recent tests can be viewed in the “Safety and Purity” section.Where do you source your Shilajit from?
Our Founder, Johann, personally sources, selects and imports the fulvic acid-rich mineral resin from a remote, high altitude region of the Himalayan mountains along the Tibetan border with India. This region is well-known by Ayurvedic practitioners to yield the most powerful rasayana, Gold Grade Shilajit.
Are there different grades of Shilajit?
Yes! The purity and potency depends upon the location and altitude the Shilajit is harvested from, the purification techniques used and, most importantly, the grade of the Shilajit.
Very few people are aware that there are in fact four different qualities of Shilajit. Only the highest grade (Gold Grade) is considered to have all of the legendary properties Shilajit is famous for. When any of the four grades of Shilajit are purified the result will be a black tar like resin. In order to identify the grade, one must first see the color and type of rock the raw Shilajit is found in before it is purified. The most effective Shilajit comes from the highest points of the Himalayas, approximately 16,000 – 18,000 feet above sea-level, which is where we at Lotus Blooming Herbs source our Shilajit. The highest grade is found in red/gold colored rock pictured.
Because we personally travel to the source and have partnered with the people who have the best understanding and most experience with Shilajit, we are able to obtain the highest quality and most potent grade. Lotus Blooming Herbs the only source for authentic, gold grade Shilajit outside of the areas where it is collected. Check out our blog for pictures and stories of our journey.
How does Shilajit work?
A great many health issues can be traced to mineral or nutrient deficiencies. Intensive chemical farming (through pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, etc) and irrigation have removed natural minerals and beneficial microbes from our agricultural land and the plants that grow on it. Shilajit contains many of the vital minerals and trace elements needed for energy reactions in our cells and high percentages of fulvic acid to help transport these mineral molecules deep into the body. The minerals in Shilajit are in ionic form, which means that the body can more easily absorb and move them to areas where they are needed.
In Ayurveda, gold grade Shilajit is believed to be a rasayana or rejuvenation substance. Shilajit is said to have the unique ability to bring the essence of any tissue system (dhatu). For example, the essence of muscle (mamsa) is to give shape, the essence of blood (rakta) is to bring life, and the essence of the marrow/nervous system (maja) is to bestow knowledge.
Shilajit’s uses in Ayurveda are legendary. It is also commonly used for a myriad of supportive measures including increased energy, mental clarity and muscle recovery. It is famous in India for its support of a healthy reproductive system in both men and women.
How do I take Shilajit?
To consume, simply dissolve Shilajit in hot, non chlorinated water, tea or warm milk and drink. Alternatively one can dissolve it under the tongue or simply swallow a portion with water if the taste is too unpleasant.
We recommend starting with a rice grain to pea sized portion, one to three times a day for general well being. Amount can be increased for greater energy and effect.
*Traditional Ayurvedic instructions recommend that Shilajit be dissolved in hot organic milk or taken with ghee (clarified butter) or raw, unpasteurized honey to increase delivery to the body. If one is a vegan, one may substitute the previously mentioned products with sesame oil or coconut oil. Follow with a cup of hot water. If one has a Pitta constitution ghee is recommended, for Vata sesame oil, and for Kapha honey is best.
How long does Shilajit take to work?
Many people report experiencing benefits within 10 days. For maximum benefits, we recommend taking one to three portions of Shilajit per day over a 6-8 week period.
Results can vary. Many of our customers tell us they realize benefits within one to two weeks. Many others report feeling a difference immediately. Still others say that it calms them and promotes sleep. Shilajit is an adaptive substance and, depending on the individual, benefits can be very different and wide ranging.
Is Shilajit safe?
Absolutely- Shilajit has been used for centuries in Ayurveda for its benefits. Our product is naturally purified with filtered spring water and then laboratory tested for safety and purity.
We test each and every batch of shilajit at an independent, cGMP certified, FDA registered, third party laboratory here in the USA. Testing is done to California Prop 65 regulations which are the most rigid in the world for heavy metals. California Prop 65 limits are so tough that drinking water, vegetables and fruit were made exempt from testing because they cannot meet these standards.
Links to our most recent tests can be viewed in the “Safety and Purity” section.
The standard supplement disclaimer applies: If you are pregnant or lactating or under a doctor's care for any health condition you should consult with your physician before taking this or any other supplement.
Can I give Shilajit to my child?
Shilajit is a very potent and powerful substance. Therefore we do not recommend giving it to children.
Are there any contraindications?
Authentic Shilajit™ is very safe.
There is a very small trace amount of phenylalanine, an essential amino acid. All products containing phenylalanine are contraindicated in people who have been diagnosed with the genetic disorder PKU (phenylketonuria).
The standard supplement disclaimer applies: If you are pregnant or lactating or under a doctors care for any health condition you should consult with your physician before taking this or any other supplement.
How many servings are in one container of Shilajit?
Our 10 gram container of shilajit lasts 1-3 months depending on the dosage. We recommend a rice grain sized portion (approx 100mg) 1-3 times a day. There are approximately 100 rice grain sized portions in a 10 gram container.
What do I do if my Shilajit is very hard?
Pure Shilajit becomes very hard when cool and soft and gooey when warm. This unique quality of changing consistency in concert with ambient temperature is only found with 100% pure and genuine Shilajit and is an important indication of authenticity. If your Shilajit is hard, please put your container in your pocket and your own body heat should be enough to soften it after 5-10 minutes.
What is the fulvic acid percentage in your Shilajit?
Fulvic acid has been identified as one of the active nutrients in shilajit and many companies selling this “shilajit” advertise specific and standardized percentages of fulvic acid in their product.
We are often asked to produce lab results of the fulvic acid percentage of our shilajit. After conferring with several prominent laboratories we have discovered that there is no laboratory that can correctly measure fulvic acid percentages with any accuracy and consistency.
In both scientific literature and among scientists, there is no agreement on what the real size and molecular weight of the fulvic acid molecule is. There is no universal standard for the measurement of fulvic acid percentages.
In addition, there are so many minerals, vitamins, organic matter, amino acids, and unidentified acid chains also present in the fulvic domain that would need to be removed leaving just the actual fulvic molecules for testing.
To our knowledge, by altering the type of testing, wildly different fulvic percentages can be measured from the same sample. If five different tests are done from the same sample batch there will be five different results that will have dramatically different percentages. One test may show 15% and another 52% and still another 32%.
It is also important to note that genuine shilajit is a naturally occurring substance and therefore will never have a set percentage of fulvic acid. So how do some companies claim a set percentage that never changes from batch to batch?
Some wholesalers actually add fulvic acid (often the same fulvic acid used in fertilizers) to claim a standard percentage of fulvic acid. Beware of percentage claims by marketers.
We refuse to add external fulvic acid to our shilajit or get a series of useless tests only to pick the highest result in an attempt to mislead our customers.
This is why we do not make claims about fulvic acid percentage. In our opinion these types of claims are worthless and deceptive based on the scientific reality.
