What Is Shilajit?

Shilajit, or "Mumiyo", is a mineral pitch found all over the world, especially in parts of Asia and the Himalayas. It is formed from organic vegetable matter, and oozes out of the cracks of rocks and cliffs during the summer months. It is then collected, cleaned and purified into a resin and has a gummy-like texture, with a smokey taste. 

In Ayurvedic Medicine, it is often heralded as "The Conqueror Of  Mountains" and "The Destroyer Of Weakness", such is the esteem that it is held. It has been treasured for thousands of years for its ability to rejuvenate the body, promote energy and well-being.

Shilajit’s mineral-rich make-up is due to the unusual way that the resin is formed. The areas where it is found are home thousands of different plant species, many of which do not grow anywhere else on earth. The diversity of plants contain a wealth of oils, saponins, chlorophyll and alkaloids, which when compressed create a pure substance unlike any other supplement around.

The Origin Of Shilajit

Legend has it that Shilajit was made famous by Himalayan villagers, who once observed white monkeys licking a dark substance from the rocks. The monkeys showed great strength, wisdom, clarity and vitality. 

The villagers, amazed, began to consume the substance themselves, and immediately their energy levels, memory, digestion and well-being all improved. The word spread across the village, and Shilajit was born. 

A Brief History Of Shilajit

Shilajit, also known as mineral pitch, has been used for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners view shilajit as one of the most potent jing tonics. According to tradition, jing is the essence stored in the kidneys that is responsible for the physical nature of our bodies. The ancient ayurvedic book, the Charaka Samhita, refers to shilajit as a rasayana, which is a term given to describe substances that are believed to have powerful rejuvenating properties.

In Ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle wrote about shilajit (moomiyo) and how it should be prepared with grape juice, honey and milk. Emperors and powerful leaders such as Alexander the Great were said to ingest shilajit as a ‘secret weapon’ which helped to increase their stamina, concentration and energy levels.

In the Soviet Union during the 1980s, the USSR National Sports Committee were awarded a large grant to study moomiyo and how it could be used to help athletes to prepare for the 1988 Moscow Olympic Games.

Nowadays, shilajit is causing waves in the health scene. Even the National Bureau of Cosmonauts recommend that astronauts should take shilajit during and after long space journeys to support their immune system and speed up recovery times.

Shilajit Nutritional Profile

Shilajit is blessed with the presence of up to 85 vital trace minerals (preserved in their ionic form), vitamins, sterols, triterpenes, and other health compounds. It’s rich in vitamins A, B-complex, C, terpenoids, zinc, manganese, iron, pyrones and polyphenol.

While these minerals and vitamins make it a worthy supplement on its own, what truly makes shilajit a superfood superstar is the high amount humic substances that it contains, in particular fulvic acid. Fulvic acid is an electrolyte which is used by the body in every stage of cellular metabolism. The low molecular weight of fulvic acid in shilajit means that it can be easily absorbed through the digestive tract to effectively fight free radical damage.

The resin has higher antioxidant levels than blueberries and noni fruit, plus it displays powerful anti-inflammatory properties, so it may be a beneficial supplement for people who have arthritis.

Shilajit is classed as a yogi wohi, which means that it can enhance the body’s ability to process and absorb nutritional compounds from other substances. One study showed that the absorption of nutrients from CoQ10 was enhanced by 29% when it was taken in conjunction with shilajit.

The Health Benefits Of Shilajit

• Energy-Boosting: Stimulates mitochondrial respiration for increased energy and stamina

• Mental Alertness: A natural mental performance and clarity enhancer

• Memory Enhancer: Can improve memory and aid concentration

• Anti-Inflammatory: Has the ability to reduce inflammation in the body

• Antibacterial: Research suggests shilajit can fight bacterial infections including streptococci

• Anti-Anxiety: May help to reduce stress and feelings of anxiousness

• Anti-Aging: Can promote healthy cell regeneration and counteract free radical damage

• Antioxidants: Scores high on the ORAC scale

• Aid Detoxification: Can help to speed-up the removal of toxins from the body

• Improved Sexual Function: Ayurvedic practitioners prescribe it to treat low libido

• Hangover Cure: May help to prevent and reduce the effects of hangovers

• Balance Mood: Promotes emotional stability and balance

• Nutrient Absorption: Amplifies nutrient absorption in the body

• Safe: Natural, pure shilajit resin is safe to use and has no reported side-effects

How To Use Shilajit

This supplement packs a mighty nutritional punch, so you’ll only need to use a pea-sized amount for each serving. Simply pinch off a small amount of the resin, place it into a mug of warm water, and then stir to create a delicious warming tea with a deep, smoky flavour. If you’re feeling fancy, you can blend in some fresh almond milk, a pinch of cinnamon and a dash of sweetener of your choice for a creamy vegan shilajit latte.

The Charaka Samhita states that ‘he who takes shilajit regularly will witness a hundred summers on earth, free from disease and decay’. We can’t promise you’ll live to see 100, but we do know from scientific studies and customer feedback that shilajit is a highly harmonizing supplement which has incredible healing and energizing properties.

Care has to be taken when purchasing shilajit, as many sellers offer powder formats and tinctures which are diluted or mixed with additives, gums or fillers. We carefully source the highest quality pitch-black resin direct from the mountains of Siberia. The pure resin is packed into Miron violet glass containers to immediately preserve its freshness and bioavailability. Our shilajit is 100% natural, with nothing added or taken away, so you can reap the nutritional benefits of this true destroyer of weakness.  

To get The Highest Quality, Genuine, Purified Shilajit Mineral Pitch Resin visit here - www.hybridherbs.co.uk/shilajit

Sources

[1] https://examine.com/supplements/shilajit/

[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/

[3] http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/students/Shilajit

[4] Atreya: Charaka Samhita

[5] S. Ghosal: Shilajit in Perspective