N/A (mineral pitch)
Shilajit
Asphaltum bituminosum
⚠ Use with Caution
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: Himalayan, Tibetan, Altai, Caucasian mountains
Also known as: Mineral Pitch, Black Asphaltum, Shilajeet, Mumio
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Exudate
Therapeutic Uses
Chronic fatigue, altitude sickness, testosterone enhancement (clinical trial — 23% increase), cognitive decline, Alzheimer's (fulvic acid blocks tau aggregation), anemia (iron absorption enhancement), infertility.
Herbal Actions
Mitochondrial energy enhancer (fulvic acid + CoQ10 synergy), adaptogen, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, androgenic, nootropic, antidiabetic
Active Constituents
Fulvic acid (60–80% of dry weight — primary active), humic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs), minerals (60+ trace minerals), amino acids, vitamins
Preparation Methods
💊 CapsuleDissolved in water
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 300–500mg dissolved in warm water or milk, 1–2x daily |
| Tincture | Purified resin: 300–500mg daily. Standardized 50% fulvic acid: 200–400mg daily. |
| Notes | Must be purified — raw shilajit may contain heavy metals, mycotoxins, fungal spores. Purchase from reputable source with heavy metal testing. For testosterone: 250mg 2x daily (Pandit Shastri study). For altitude sickness: 500mg before and during high altitude. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
⚠ Use with Caution
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (androgenic). Purified forms only — raw may contain contaminants. Caution with uric acid conditions (increases uric acid). Avoid in gout.
Side Effects: Increases uric acid (gout risk). GI discomfort. Heavy metal contamination (poor quality products). Androgenic effects.