What are the Health Benefits of Shilajit and How to Use it?

Shilajit, or mineral pitch, is a sticky substance commonly found in the Himalayan rocks. The slow decomposition of plants over the centuries is likely to create these. Originally sourced in India and Tibet, shilajit is now available across the globe. It is often used in ayurvedic medicine as it has multiple health benefits.

Are you interested to know more about the benefits of shilajit? Then, keep reading this article to get a clearer idea.

There can be multiple advantages of shilajit for improving your overall health conditions. Some of these are as follows:

1. Helps Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder which can cause complex problems related to memory, thinking and behaviour. While therapy and drug treatments are available, there is hardly any way of curing this condition. However, as per the molecular composition of shilajit, it is often believed to be capable of managing its symptoms and preventing the disease from worsening.

Shilajit contains an antioxidant known as fulvic acid, which contributes to cognitive health. Tau protein is a part of your nervous system, which can trigger brain cell damage if there is a buildup. Fulvic acid prevents the accumulation of tau protein and reduces inflammation.

2. Addresses Low Testosterone Level

A clinical study from 2015 found that shilajit can be capable of enhancing testosterone levels in men. It is a primary male sex hormone whose levels can differ individually. Low testosterone can be identified with symptoms like reduced sexual drive, loss of muscle mass, fatigue, increased fat, etc.

The earlier study was conducted among men between 45 and 55. While half of them were given a placebo, the remaining were given 250mg of shilajit. After about 90 days, it was observed that the participants who consumed shilajit had a higher testosterone level than those who got the placebo.

3. Manages High Altitude Sickness

Many people suffer from sickness while climbing a high altitude. For example, a higher altitude might trigger symptoms like insomnia, lethargy, body ache, hypoxia, pulmonary oedema, etc. In addition, issues like cold temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, or high wind velocity in such altitudes trigger these health problems.

Shilajit is rich in over 84 minerals, including fulvic acid. It often functions as an antioxidant to improve your body’s immunity and memory. Moreover, it can also act as an energy booster and a diuretic, removing excess fluid from your body. It also has anti-inflammatory components.

4. Controls Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Anaemia is a health condition generated because of a lack of blood. For example, iron deficiency can cause low blood levels, resulting from a low-iron diet, inability to absorb iron, and blood loss. In this regard, Shilajit supplements can enhance iron levels, which is proved by a study conducted among rats.

5. Reduces Infertility

Shilajit is considered a safe supplement for male infertility. This is evident from a study conducted among 60 infertile men.In that study, men had to take shilajit doses twice daily for about 90 days after meals, and this resulted in a nearly 60% increase in sperm count among the participants. Also, there was about a 12% increase in sperm motility.

6. Treats Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term condition resulting in extreme fatigue, weakness and tiredness. Moreover, it can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which causes a failure in your cells to produce sufficient energy. This is also confirmed by a study, where researchers gave shilajit doses to lab rats.

7. Improves Heart Health

Clinical researchers also believe that shilajit supplements can be effective for improving heart health. For example, a recent study conducted among lab rats found that shilajit can improve heart conditions. Researchers induced heart injury in these rats with isoproterenol and then treated them with shilajit. As a result, they had relatively fewer cardiac issues with this treatment.

Animals with cardiac injury were capable of reducing heart damage when they received shilajit doses regularly. However, it is advisable to avoid shilajit doses if you have active heart diseases, as it can increase blood pressure levels in some cases.

8. Prevents Ageing

Another significant advantage of shilajit is its ability to maintain youth by preventing ageing. It is rich in fulvic acid, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, it protects your body from free radicals and cellular damage. All these properties allow shilajit to provide longevity and a slower ageing process.

Daily shilajit supplementation is likely to contribute to developing overall vitality, thereby slowing the process of ageing. It can help you maintain your youth and fitness for a long time.

9. Stimulates Brain Functions

A recent study found that shilajit has chances of dealing with brain functions and activities. As discussed already, it is a potent way of managing the symptoms of Alzheimer's, which is a disorder closely related to brain functions.

Apart from that, it is effective for longevity and to slow ageing. Moreover, it is capable of preventing cognitive disorders. These properties prove that shilajit can improve brain functions.

10. Manages Antiviral Infections

Shilajit contains a wide variety of minerals, which helps it to fight off viruses and bacteria. A recent study showed that shilajit is a potent method for fighting and killing different viruses in an isolated environment, such as herpes. While it might seem that shilajit can fight viruses, more research might be necessary to prove this point strongly.

11. Helps to Treat Liver Cancer

Shilajit contains multiple health benefits. One of these allows it to fight against cancer. Notably, it can help treat liver cancer. A recent study shows that shilajit helps to destroy the cancerous cells in the liver.

The study also observed that shilajit intake helped patients stop the cancerous cells from multiplying and growing in their bodies. According to the researchers, shilajit is likely to have some anti-cancer effects, but there should be more research in this field.

12. Controls Obesity

Obesity is a significant health concern lately, related to irregular muscle mass and weight problems. Carrying extra weight and body mass can tire your muscles while putting stress on the bones. According to recent research and studies, shilajit has evolved as an excellent means of handling obesity.

These studies revealed that obese patients who took oral supplements of purified shilajit responded to the obesity treatment better than the others. This is because Shilajit activates genes in your body to help the skeletal muscles adapt to the new workout.

13. Reduces Stress and Anxiety Levels

Shilajit is likely to enhance dopamine secretion in your brain. When you are stressed and anxious, dopamine helps calm your nerves. This property, therefore, makes it capable of reducing stress levels. Moreover, it has a calming effect because of the high potassium and magnesium levels. These components help to soothe your nerves and muscles, which can be relaxing during times of stress.

Now that you know the benefits of shilajit, you should be aware of the ways to use it. There are multiple ways to do so. Shilajit is commonly available in both powder and liquid forms. If you purchase it in a liquid form, you can have it by dissolving a small portion in water. The portion should be the size of a rice grain. You can drink this liquid about thrice a day.

On the other hand, you can also use Shilajit in powder form. In this case, you need to add shilajit powder to milk and drink it about twice a day. The recommended dosage is about 300-500 mg. However, you should consult a doctor before starting this intake or determining the dosage.

While shilajit has multiple health benefits, there can also be some side effects. You should be aware of these while taking it. Here are the common side effects you should keep in mind to avoid health adversaries.

• Shilajit contains heavy metal ions and can also come with contaminations like fungus, radicals, etc. These might make you sick.
• There can be specific allergic reactions because of prolonged or excessive intake of shilajit. Therefore, you need to fix the dosage.
• It can cause itchiness and increased heart rate. Moreover, a high dosage of shilajit for a long time is also likely to cause nausea and dizziness since it is rich in vital minerals.
• An increased dosage of shilajit can end up increasing the level of uric acid in your body. As a result, it can be harmful and fatal for you.

A few of the precautions of using Shilajit include:

• You should not consume it in a raw or unprocessed form. This is because it contains multiple minerals and heavy metal ions.
• Use purified and ready-to-use shilajit.
• You should take some time to research the best brands and sources for purchasing shilajit.

There are not many complications with shilajit if you take the correct dosage. However, it is always advisable to avoid possible complications. Therefore, you should know the situations and conditions which can cause adverse effects on your health because of shilajit consumption. Here are the conditions under which you should avoid shilajit.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding a child, you should avoid shilajit consumption.
• People having concerns with testosterone should also avoid it.
• You should avoid shilajit if you have sickle cell anaemia, hemochromatosis or thalassemia. This is because you might be allergic to it in these conditions.
• If you develop a skin rash or increased heart rate, immediately stop consuming shilajit.

Hopefully, now you know all about the health benefits of Shilajit. This article pointed out that shilajit can make you fit and healthier with its minerals and components. However, you should consult the doctor regarding its dosage and avoid it in certain health conditions to avoid adverse effects.