Harness Shilajit Powder Benefits for Longevity

Like many traditions passed down from our ancestors, some withstand the test of time and others do not. Ayurvedic medicine, a long-established form of medicine in India that dates back thousands of years, is one tradition with lasting power. Even though today’s culture often snubs traditional and alternative medicines, certain practices are too good to ignore. Shilajit is a good example. A unique substance found in the mountains of Asia, shilajit has been the subject of much research since the 1950’s [1]. The mysterious origins of shilajit are unlike any other herb or vitamin found today and the wide range of reported benefits is unmatched as well. Purified shilajit powder has become very popular in anti-aging communities as a supplement for longevity and improved health.

What is Shilajit?

Himalayan villagers reportedly discovered shilajit when they saw animals venturing up mountains and eating a substance that was oozing from the rock [2]. The villagers followed suit and began to feel healthier and stronger as a result. It’s unknown whether shilajit should be classified as a geological or biological substance. It is a thick tar-like substance that is excreted from rocks the mountainside. Shilajit contains at least 85 minerals as well as triterpenes, humeric acid and fulvic acid [1]. Fulvic acid is considered one of the key elements that makes shilajit so effective. When a cell’s membranes are exposed to fulvic acid, they become more permeable [3]. As a result, fulvic acid makes other nutrients easier to absorb and distribute throughout the body. In the case of shilajit, this could mean the high mineral content is even more effective in presence of fulvic acid. Today, shilajit is purified and extracted, leaving a thick brown pasty substance and has an unlimited shelf life.

Shilajit Powder Benefits

According to some traditional Ayurvedic practitioners, there isn’t a disease or condition that cannot be helped with shilajit. After seeing the list of different uses and benefits, it’s almost hard to argue. Research done in Russia and India has shown the following shilajit powder benefits [1]:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Pain relief
  • Anti-ulcer
  • Anti-anxiety/stress
  • Cognitive enhancement
  • Longevity and anti-aging

In addition to those, there is a long list of benefits that haven’t been formally researched, including treatment for depression, proper enzyme secretion, sexual enhancement, organ protection, detoxification, and immune system protection [4]. Given the range and variety of reported benefits, it seems shilajit has properties that help the body at a very basic and fundamental level. Shilajit is slowly catching on in the west, while it has been a popular supplement in Russia and India for some time.

Shilajit Dosage

The average shilajit dosage is 500-1000mg daily, taken with warm water. However, some use it in herbal formulas to accomplish other objectives. Again, this is where the fulvic acid comes into play as a fantastic nutrient transporter. For anyone going straight for the sexual vitality boost, shilajit is said to be most effective when taken with warm organic milk.

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilajit
  2. http://www.naturalnews.com/029498_Shilajit_Himalayan.html
  3. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/benefits-of/fulvic-acid
  4. http://www.herbslist.net/shilajit.html