Shilajit is a nutritional supplement that is dark brown plant-based asphalt. The Sanskrit phrase "the conqueror of rocks" (iljatu/shilaras/shilajit) has this meaning. It is also referred to as "the rock" in Tibet and Mongolia and "the sweat of the mountain" in Myanmar, Arabia, and Tibet. Their Latin name is Asphaltum punjabinum, and they go by the names mumiyo, moomio, and mumijo throughout Europe. But Shilajit is the most popular name.
It is considered as a superior remedy for the treatment of wounds. It is efficient in curing wrinkles, inflammation, and fractures. As a result, traditional medicine in nations like Bhutan, Russia, Tibet, India, Kazakhstan, and others employed shilajit extensively.
Chemical Composition Of Shilajit
Shilajit typically has an organic composition of 60-80% and a mineral content of 15-20%. In sources of iron-containing plants, humic and fulvic acid makes up about 60%-80% of the total organic content.
Shilajit is therefore abundant in mineral salts, amino acids, fulvic acid, and other nutrients. Other organic components include latex, albumin, fulvic acids (myristic acid, humic acid, sterols, aromatic carboxylic acids, and amino groups acids), 85 different types of trace minerals, and other organic substances.
Shilajit has apparently been in use for a very long time. Shilajit exports were also prohibited during the Soviet Union era due to their rarity.
Formation Method Of Shilajit
Shilajit is formed by the long-term decomposition of microorganisms, which is then moved to the mountain by the orogenic movement. During the summer, it seeps out of crevices in alpine rock or the Himalayas, which are 4000 meters above sea level. It has good stability, is resistant to corruption and deterioration, and can be kept for a long time.
Origin Of Shilajit
produced in high regions with an elevation of 1000–5000 meters, including the Himalayas, Tibet Plateau, Caucasus Mountains, Altai Mountains, Siberian Mountains, and other mountainous regions. It can currently be found in a number of places, including Bhutan, China, Europe, America, Tibet, India, Russia, and the Caucasus.
Shilajit is extracted from the Himalayan mudstone. Climbing the rock wall by hand is required to get the local harvest. Sand and other impurities should be removed, then the material should be stirred in clean water and left to stand for a while. The supernatant should then be taken, heated, and concentrated into a paste. Additionally, it is stable, resistant to low temperatures, difficult to spoil, and long-lasting in storage.
Can Shilajit Consume Safely?
Shilajit and its benefits can be consumed without risk, according to scientific investigations. Fleck published a study in 2013 in the Journal of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry in which dogs with arthritis issues were given pure shilajit twice daily for 150 days. The dog's pain index considerably decreased on day 90. The dog's behavioral skills, such as his ability to run, jump, and even climb stairs, have significantly increased during the past 150 days. Body temperature, heart rate, weight, and other parameters are unaffected by the treatment.
To Check Systemic Toxicity
People between the ages of 16 and 30 who participated in the human trial for "Ancient science of life" in 2003 received shilajit daily for 45 days in a row, and their heartbeat, blood pressure, weight, blood composition, liver function, and kidney function were tracked. After 45 days of shilajit consumption, no appreciable alterations were discovered.
Sidney J. Stohs also noted in Phytotherapy Research in 2014 that after providing shilajit twice daily to healthy individuals for 90 straight days, he found no evidence of liver, kidney, vital signs, or blood composition.
U.S. Food Management’s Classification and Related Regulations for Shilajit
Shilajit is classified as a "dietary supplement" in the US (for relevant legislation, see the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, or DSHEA Act). The DSHEA Act defines dietary supplements as being helpful to the human body because they can complement inadequate nourishment and aid in disease prevention.
The US FDA just needs to be informed of the dietary supplement industry's safety approval process before the product is allowed to hit the market, under the Act's stipulations. Additionally, dietary supplements must bear the statement "The FDA has not reviewed this product's claim that it is used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness."
European Countries’ Regulations On Shilajit
Shilajit is categorized as a "food supplement" in European nations, according to the study and survey report of the "Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries" (Netherlands) on the European market of shilajit. (Food supplement)
The United Kingdom On Consuming Shilajit
Shilajit was deemed a "non-medical product" by the British authorities because the tar-like material created by plant decay is not recognized as a herbal medication under British drug standards. In Ayurveda, it was utilized.
Shilajit goods supplied in the UK must likewise rely on imports since there is no source of shilajit manufacture there. Shilajit is considered a nearly edible food supplement in the UK from the standpoint of British food supplements and import management techniques.
Modern Medical Perspective
Humic acid and fulvic acid rank as Shilajit's two most significant functional organics. Shilajit is currently used as an anti-inflammatory and to heal ulcers, according to the records of Indian Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine, Kazakh medicine, and modern clinical research.
The standard medical dosage to treat digestive ulcers is 0.3 g every day for 20–25 days. Shilajit can also lessen pain, speed up healing, and avoid wound inflammation in burn wounds. Shilajit can effectively treat stomach ulcers in rats when administered twice daily at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and at a dose of 50 mg/kg, it can effectively treat edema brought on by inflammation in rats.
Reduces Cholesterol
Studies have shown that ingesting 2 grams of Shilajit Resin daily for 45 days considerably lowered the levels of triglycerides, high-density fat, and cholesterol in the blood. This effectively increases the antioxidant strength in the blood and has the ability to significantly lower cholesterol.
Diabetes
Shilajit has the ability to remove free radicals from the body. Rats fed 100 mg/kg shilajit for 28 days can significantly lower the value of elevated blood sugar, according to animal research. As a result, the study discovered that shilajit can ward off Type 2 diabetes.
Anti-allergy
In anti-allergic studies on animals, it was discovered that feeding mice 10 mg/kg of fulvic acid from Shilajit for two weeks would significantly lessen the impact of mast cells that trigger allergic reactions, attaining anti-allergic results.
Treats Neuralgia
Shilajit is often paired with other medicines to treat neuralgia, and these combination medicines have been shown to have a considerable impact on patients. This has been noted by numerous researchers.
Immunomodulatory
Shilajit has been proven to be beneficial in reducing serotonin and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid in rats when fed to them for five days. It has also been discovered to boost dopamine in the brain, which is thought to increase body fluids. an immunological reaction.
Promotes Metabolism
According to studies, athletes can speed up the synthesis of various organs by consuming 0.3–0.6 g of shilajit resin twice daily for roughly 30–40 days at a time for about 2–2.5 months. The production of proteins and nucleic acids boosts the liver's metabolic efficiency and encourages the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus by the bones.