Shilajit has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and India and is treasured supplement and medicine for health and healing. It is a potent and natural mineral that exudes from the ancient rocks of the Himalayan mountains.
Shilajit is a humic substance, meaning it is a natural material that is formed when soil microorganisms decompose organic material into elements used by plants.
Over Many millions of years, 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 causes the plants to be transformed into a rich mineral mass known as shilajit.
Shilajit is known as a panacea for its strengthening and rejuvenative qualities and is also used to improve the potency and effectiveness of other herbs.
Shilajit contains fulvic acid and more than 84 minerals, so it offers numerous health benefits. It can function as an anti-inflammatory, an energy booster, and an antioxidant to improve the body’s immunity and brain health.
Today many health issues can be traced to mineral or nutrient deficiencies. Intensive chemical farming (through pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, etc.) and poor irrigation methods have removed natural minerals and beneficial microbes from our agricultural land and the plants that grown on it.
Shilajit contains many of the vital minerals and trace elements needed for energy reactions in our cells and the growth of new cells.
Shilajit is commonly consumed in supplement form as a tablet but often taken as a paste in its purer form. Ayurveda recommend tasting the herb to adsorb the qualities.
When taking the paste, it is recommended to take no more than a pea size. It is suitable in small doses for almost everyone on a regular basis and can be used in higher doses for those who seek to increase vigor, vitality and strength. Please consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to suggest the right usage and daily amount for you.
Here is a list and summary of some of Shilajit’s benefits as well as Shilajit’s uses.
There are several studies and research on Shilajit – see links below.
- Promotes overall rejuvenation & detoxification
- Boosts brain function and cognitive function
- Supports healthy aging
- Enhances the potency and bioavailability of other herbs
- Maintains balanced blood sugar levels already in normal range
- Supports healthy absorption of nutrients
- Enhances vigor, vitality, strength & stamina
- Revitalizes the libido and reproductive system
- Increases healthy fat metabolism
- Rejuvenates the tissues of the body
Ayurveda And Shilajit Uses For Vata Pitta & Kapha
Shilajit can be good for all dosha types and constitutions but can be heating so in excess may increase Pitta. Ayurveda practitioners recognize its ability to maintain the body’s metabolism at an optimum rate which naturally slows down with age. Shilajit also balance hormone levels that change and cause stress as we age.
Shilajit has been used in Ayurveda to stimulate the growth process of skin cells at a molecular level and give people a healthy appearance and youthful glow.
Traditionally, Shilajit is known as yoga vahi—which means “joining carrier”—because of its ability to carry and drive nutrients deep into the body so they can work more effectively. Thus, therefore it can be taken with other herbs and supplements to enhance their effectiveness.
In Sanskrit, Shilajit means “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness. Overall Shilajit has the unique ability to enhance the essence on any of the tissue systems (dhatus). 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.
It’s best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor that can recommend the right dosage and usage for your constitution and lifestyle.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21785188
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijad/2012/674142/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23997917
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23131823
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26865744
https://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/1990/pdf/6207×1285.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27414521
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22529672
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22771318
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23733436
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26395129
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/