Shilajit is a dark, sticky resin that seeps from rocks in the Himalayas and other mountain ranges. It is taken as a supplement for energy, testosterone, fertility and altitude tolerance. Its evidence is thin, and the main risk is contamination — heavy metals in unpurified material.
What is Shilajit?
Shilajit is an exudate — a tar-like substance that oozes from cracks in rock in high mountain ranges, chiefly the Himalayas, Altai and Caucasus. It forms over centuries from decomposed plant material compressed between rock layers, and it is collected, purified and sold as a resin, powder or capsule.
It is a traditional Ayurvedic preparation and is sold as a herbal supplement, not a registered medicine, so it does not appear in the South African Medicine Price Registry.
Its studied constituents include fulvic acid and humic acid — organic compounds from decomposed plant matter — along with dibenzo-α-pyrones, and a range of trace minerals. Fulvic acid is generally regarded as the main active component, with antioxidant activity and an ability to bind and transport minerals.
Purification matters more with shilajit than with almost any supplement, and the reason is straightforward: it comes from rock. Raw, unpurified shilajit can contain heavy metals — lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium — along with fungal contamination and mycotoxins. Traditional preparation involves purification steps precisely for this reason, and modern testing has repeatedly found contaminated products on the market.
What is Shilajit commonly used for?
- Energy and fatigue, its most common marketed use.
- Testosterone and male fertility, where a few small trials exist.
- Altitude sickness, a traditional use in mountain regions.
- Physical performance and recovery.
- Cognitive function and memory.
- Anti-ageing, on the antioxidant rationale.
- Iron deficiency anaemia, traditionally.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
- General tonic, in Ayurvedic practice.
Where the evidence stands, plainly:
It is thin. Most of what is known comes from laboratory studies, animal work and a small number of human trials — typically small, short and often industry-linked.
The testosterone and fertility studies are the most cited. A few small trials have reported increases in testosterone and improvements in sperm parameters. These are interesting and not sufficient to establish the effect, and none of it makes shilajit a treatment for low testosterone or infertility.
For fatigue, cognition and anti-ageing, human evidence is essentially preliminary.
None of this means it does nothing. It means the honest position is that shilajit is a traditional preparation with early research and heavy marketing, and it should be bought and taken with that in mind rather than as a proven intervention.
Persistent fatigue deserves a diagnosis, not a supplement. Tiredness that does not lift has causes — anaemia, thyroid disease, diabetes, depression, sleep apnoea, vitamin B12 deficiency — and most are treatable once identified. A blood test is far more useful than a resin.
Who commonly looks for Shilajit and why
- Men interested in testosterone, which is where most of the marketing is directed.
- People with persistent fatigue, hoping for an energy solution.
- Men with fertility concerns, who would be better served by a semen analysis and a clinical assessment.
- Athletes and gym-goers, for performance and recovery.
- People interested in Ayurveda or traditional medicine.
- People who have seen it heavily promoted on social media, where shilajit has had a substantial recent surge.
For low testosterone specifically: symptoms — low energy, low libido, mood changes — overlap with a great many other conditions, and testosterone can be measured with a morning blood test. If it is genuinely low, that has causes worth finding, and treatment that works. If it is normal, a supplement aimed at raising it will not address whatever is actually going on.
What to check on the label before taking Shilajit
- Purification and testing. This is the most important item. Look for a product that states it is purified and, ideally, third-party tested for heavy metals. If a product does not mention heavy metal testing, assume it has not been done.
- Fulvic acid content, if stated, which is the usual standardisation marker.
- Form — resin, powder or capsule. Resin is traditional; capsules are more convenient and easier to dose.
- Origin, and whether the supplier is identifiable and contactable.
- Whether it is a blend, since combination “testosterone booster” products often contain a small amount alongside stimulants and other herbs.
- The dose per serving, which varies widely between products.
- A South African distributor, with contact details.
Be sceptical of very cheap shilajit. Proper purification and testing cost money, and this is one supplement where the cheapest option carries a genuine risk rather than merely being weaker.
Safety, interactions and when to seek professional advice
Purified shilajit appears reasonably well tolerated in the short-term studies available. Reported effects include dizziness, increased heart rate, and digestive upset.
The main safety concern is contamination, not the substance itself. Heavy metal exposure is cumulative and often silent until significant — which is why testing matters more than dosage here.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:
- Have haemochromatosis or any iron-overload condition — shilajit can contain iron and may raise iron levels.
- Have gout or high uric acid, which some reports suggest it may raise.
- Have kidney or liver disease.
- Take blood pressure medicines, or medicines for diabetes — effects may add up.
- Take any regular prescription medicine, since the mineral content can affect absorption.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid it — there is no safety data, and the contamination risk applies to a developing baby too.
- Are giving it to a child. Do not.
- Have sickle cell disease or thalassaemia, where iron loading matters.
Stop and seek advice for persistent digestive upset, dizziness, palpitations, unusual tiredness, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Seek medical advice for symptoms that might indicate heavy metal exposure with prolonged use of an untested product — persistent abdominal pain, unexplained anaemia, numbness or tingling, memory problems or unexplained fatigue.
And see a doctor rather than self-supplementing for persistent fatigue, low libido, mood changes or fertility concerns. Those are all investigable, and the answers are usually more useful than a supplement.
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Frequently asked questions
What is shilajit used for? Traditionally and in marketing, for energy, testosterone, male fertility, altitude tolerance, physical performance and cognition. Human evidence is limited.
Does it raise testosterone? A few small trials have reported increases. That is interesting but not enough to establish the effect, and it does not make shilajit a treatment for low testosterone.
Is it safe? Purified shilajit appears reasonably tolerated in short studies. The real concern is contamination — raw material can contain lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium.
How do I know if mine is purified? Look for a product stating it is purified and third-party tested for heavy metals. If testing is not mentioned, assume it has not been done.
Is cheap shilajit a bargain? Usually not. Purification and testing cost money, and cheap product is where contamination risk concentrates.
Will it fix my tiredness? Only if there is nothing else going on — and there usually is. Persistent fatigue deserves a blood test rather than a supplement.
Can I take it in pregnancy? No. There is no safety data, and the contamination risk applies to a developing baby.
Resin or capsules? Resin is traditional; capsules are easier to dose. Purification and testing matter far more than the form.