Herb / Mineral of the Month

Shilajeet

Botanical Name :- Asphaltum
English Name :- Mineral Pitch

Shilajeet is an exudates that is pressed out from layers of rock in the mountains. It is composed of humus and organic plant material that has been compressed by layers of rock.

Source:

Shilajeet is obtained from rocks in the Himalayan region. It is a form of mineral that drips from the cracks of the rocks during hot weather. It is decomposition of the plant matter in the rocks centuries before. The bio-transformed plant matter is extruded from the rocks by geothermal pressures. It is collected in raw form for further purification. Walking high in the Himalayan Mountains, a thick rich paste oozing out from the rocks in the towering cliffs is Shilajeet.

Shilajeet is the most important drug of Ayurvedic and folk- medicine systems. In the raw form it is a bituminous substance, which is a compact mass of vegetable organic matter composed of dark red gummy matrix. It is bitter in taste.

In the Ayurvedic texts it is called as silajatu or shilajatu, but is commonly known as Shilajeet. Its Sanskrit meaning is "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness."

Discovery of Shilajeet:

Shilajeet has been used for thousands of years and for as many different health problems. It is listed as a healing agent in ancient Sanskrit writings and is used today in Ayurvedic health practices. The discovery is said to be made by Himalayan villagers observing large white monkeys migrate to the mountains in the warm summer months. The monkeys were seen to be chewing a semi-soft substance that flowed from between layers of rock. The villagers attributed the monkey’s great strength, longevity and wisdom to the substance. They began to consume it themselves and reported a broad spectrum of improvements in health. It seemed to give them more energy, relieve digestive problems, Increase sex drive, improve memory and cognition, improve diabetes, reduce allergies, improve the quality and quantity of life and it seemed to cure all diseases.

Processing of Shilajeet

Approximately 40% of the raw material remain after extraction. Proper extraction is very important to guarantee a consistent high level of active ingredients, remove inactive substances, remove harmful free radicals and mycotoxin producing fungi and fungal toxins. Good quality Shilajeet is then standardized to guarantee consistent levels of the active ingredients.

Attributed Medicinal Properties / Healing Properties :

Enlarge Prostate :

Shilajeet has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda as an adjunct to a healthy prostate and urinary tract. It help maintain the balanced flow of testosterone & help maintain the urine’s flow.

Urinary problems:

Shilajeet is used in kidney function. It is effective in treating burning urine, incontinence of urine due to enlarged prostate or stone in the bladder or kidney.

Increase sex drive:

Shilajeet in India, is an aphrodisiac. It is well known that Shilajeet would return the libido of people to a level of teenagers. Shilajeet increases the core energy responsible for sexual and spiritual power.  The use of Shilajeet for renewing vitality.

Diabetes:  for more details click here...

High blood sugar is a growing (literally) health problem today. Millions of people around the world have some degree of high blood sugar and are progressing on to diabetes. Shilajeet has long been used for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in Ayurvedic medicine.

Antioxidant:

Antioxidants can safely neutralize a free radical without becoming a free radical them self. Shilajeet is a powerful antioxidant that has the added benefit of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Anti-inflammatory:

Shilajeet is a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It has been shown to reduce acute chemically induced edema by 77%. The antioxidant properties also help to prevent inflammation.

Anemia:  for more details click here...

Iron is required to make red blood cells. Shilajeet is a good source of trace minerals and contains iron. The fulvic acids help carry the iron into the body making it bio-available.

Arthritis: for more details click here...

It literally means joint inflammation. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to decrease and relieve joint inflammation and pain. The effects on the neurotransmitters in the brain also seem to help relieve joint pain.

Cholesterol: 

Shilajeet was found to lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum phospholipids in test subjects feed high cholesterol diet.

Shilajeet amplifies the benefits of other herbs by enhancing their bio-availability. It helps transport nutrients deep into the tissue and removes deep-seated toxins. Shilajeet improves memory and the ability to handle stress. Shilajeet reduces recovery time in muscle, bone and nerve injuries. Shilajeet stimulates the immune system and reduces chronic fatigue. It is adaptogen (Rasayana) that helps to combat immune disorders, urinary tract disorders, nervous disorders and sexual dissatisfaction. It promotes strong bones and heals damages muscle tissues, osteoarthritis and porous.

Dosage:

The recommended amount for general use and to maintain optimal health is 2 Tab or 2 capsules thrice daily

Ayurvedic Supplements that contains Shilajeet :