There is no curable disease in the universe which is not effectively
cured by Shilajit – Master Charaka. Shilajit is one of the sought after
Ayurvedic product in the market. From body building, to treating
disorders such as diabetes, asthma etc, shilajat is very commonly used.
Sanskrit Synonyms of Sijajeet:
Shailodbhava, Shaileya, Shaila, Girijaatu, Adrija, Shailadhatuja – procured from hills and mountains
Shilamaya, Shilasweda, Shila Niryasa, Ashma Laksha and Gaireya – resembles black stone in shape and size.
Introduction to Silajit:
It
is known to Indians since thousands of years. Silajit is mentioned in
Ancient Ayurvedic text books – Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita etc,
which were written 3000 years ago.
Traditional belief:
In
ancient times, the mountains getting heated due to strong sun rays of
Jeshta and ashada months (Summer) melt the layers of the mountain,
yielding a resin kind of semisolid liquid, Shilajathu. This resembles
coal tar in consistency and upon drying it gains shine. It readily
dissolves in water.
It is considered as Fulvic acid.
Fulvic acid: Fulvic acid is a semisolid substance that is created as organic matter decomposes.
Fulvic acids is a mxiture of organic acids, herbal, metallic compounds,
and components of the humus (which is a fraction of soil organic
matter).
Research has also found that Shilajit is the resin obtained from an herb called Asphaltum punjabinum.
Hence Silajitu is called Asphaltum in Sanskrit.
So, asphaltum and fulvic acid – both these are used in the name of Shilajit.
Availability: It is available in hilly areas Kashmir, Japan, Bhutan, Tibet and Gilgit.
Types of Shilajeeth:
2 types:
Gomutra Shilajitu (Mineral pitch) and
Karpura Shilajatu (Potassium nitrate)
It is also classified as
Sasatwa Shilajatu and
Nisatwa shilajatu.
Acharya Charaka has mentioned about
4 types –
Swarnagarbha Silajatu – Obtained from the mountains and areas where gold ores are found
Rajatagarbha Shilajathu – Obtained from the mountains and areas where silver ores are found
Tamragarbha Shilajatu – Obtained from the mountains and areas where copper ores are found
Lohagarbha Shilajatu
– Obtained from the mountains and areas where iron ores are found
Acharya Sushruta has added two more types to the above to explain
6 – those two are –
Naga garbha Shilajatu and
Vangagarbha Shilajatu.
Test for Shilajatu –
Shilajit kept over burning coal, should not produce fume and it gains the shape of Linga.
Tastes bitter and hot.
Shilajatu kept in water, yields white spreading streaks.
1 gram of Shilajatu causes urination within 15 to 20 minutes after consumption.
Shilajit Shodhan:
Dry
Shilajatu is powdered, taken in a big iron vessel, added with 2 -4
times of hot water, stirred well. Next day it is filtered to separate
solid waste particles. The water solution of Shilajit is collected. It
is heated till the water reaches boiling point.
Again 2 parts of
water is added and heated till boiling point, allowed to cool down.
While cooling down, Shilajit is forms a foamy layer on top of the
vessel. It is carefully collected.
This process is repeated till the foam is formed.
Then, the obtained mass of Shilajatu is made into a bolus and daily dried in sunlight.
The process is stopped after the foam formation is stopped.
Thus obtained product is called Agnitapi Shilajit.
If heating is done under direct sunlight, then it is called Suryatapi Shilajit.
Shilajitu purification using herbal products: In the above procedure, in the place of water, Triphala kwatha, Gomutra, Goksheera, Bhringaraja swarasa can also be used.
This helps in adding additional benefits of Triphala, cow urine and
Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba) to the Shilajit.
Shilajit Marana – incineration:
Nowadays,
Marana of Shilajatu is not in practice. Shuddha Shilajatu is in use.
But there are classical reference of its Marana, hence it is mentioned
here. –
Equal parts of Manashila, gandhaka and Haratala is added
with Shilajatu and triturated with beejapura Nimbu (Bijora lemon) and
cakes are prepared, kept in Sharva samputa and 8 Upala Puta is given to
get its Bhasma.
Satwapatana:
Shilajatu is
added with Dravaka gana and Amladrava and made into bolus, dried taken
in Musha and subjected to immense heat, to get Satwa similar to Loha.
But it is possible only in Sasatwa Shilajatu.
Dosage –
2-8 Ratti = 250 mg to 1 gram, once or twice a day, or as directed by Ayurvedic doctor.
Dose of Shilajit capsule or tablet –
250 – 500 mg tablet or capsule – once or twice a day after food is consumed.
How long can Shilajeet be taken?
It can be taken for a period of 6 – 8 weeks at a stretch.
If you are considering taking it for a very long period of time, then
better to take it for 2 months, then give a gap of 1 month and continue
again.
Better to avoid it during summer.
As per Charaka Samhita:
1 Pala (48 g) – highest potency
1/2 Pala (24g) – Moderate potency
1 Karsha (12 g) – lowest potency
In practice, 1 – 2 grams per day is used in divided doses.
Shilajeet qualities: (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 1st chapter 3rd section)
Anamla – not very sour
Kashaya – astringent taste
Katu Paka – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
Na Ati ushna – neither too hot, nor too cold
It exudes from the stones / ores of four types of metals viz, gold, silver copper and black iron.
The Shilajeet from the black iron ore is the best.
If administered with proper procedure, it produces rejuvenating and aphrodisiac effects and cures diseases.
Its potency increases by impregnating it with the kashayha of herbs which alleviate Vayu, Pitta and Kapha.
Impregnation can be done by these drugs individually or by all of them taken together. [48-50]
There
is no curable disease in the universe which is not effectively cured by
Shilajatu when administered at the appropriate time, in combination
with suitable drugs and by adopting the prescribed method.
When administered to a healthy person, with similar conditions it produces immense energy.[62-65]
Diseases in which shilajit is commonly used: Shilajit for obesity and weight loss: Usually cow urine, hot water, Triphala etc are used along with Shilajit for this purpose.
Shilajit – 500 mg along with Triphala churna – 3 grams – once or twice a day is an excellent
Genito urinary tract diseases:
For
urinary tract infection and difficulty in urination, Shilajit is
usually administered along with Punarnava kashaya, Gokshura (tribulus).
Body building: Usually Shilajit is administered along with Ashwagandha or Tribulus.
Ashwagandha is used when muscle bulk and stamina are to be increased and
Tribulus is used when muscle shaping, and improving on muscle cuts is desired.
Shilajit for sexual disorders:
Usually it is administered along with Ashwagandha, Kapikacchu, Gokshura, Shatavari etc herbs for the treatment of
Premature ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction
Decreased hardness
Decreased mood.
Damaged sperms, Low sperm count (Oligospermia): For this, it is used along with
Putrajiva, Kapikacchu etc.
Shilajit is also used for the treatment of
Diabetes, Gallstones, Jaundice.
Shilajeet Rasayanam:
- Shilajatu is immersed into the hot decoction of the drugs that are prescribed for alleviating the aggravation of Doshas and
- After it has absorbed the decoction, it should be immersed again.
- This process should be repeated for seven days.
- This processed Shilajatu mixed with the powder of iron should be administered with milk.
Benefits:
This is an elixir for long life and happiness.
It prevents ageing and diseases.
It is an excellent drug for producing sturdiness of the body.
It also promotes Medha ( intellect), Smrti(memory) and Dhana (wealth).
Pathya: the person should live on milk.
Duration:
7 weeks – excellent effect
3 weeks – moderate effect and
1 week – very little effect
Shilajit types and their uses:
Stones
of metals like gold etc, in the mountains get heated up by the sun and
the exudate that comes out of them in the form of smooth and clean gum
is called Silajatu.
Shilajeet from the stones containing gold,
Sweet and is bitter after taste,
like the flower of Japa (Hibiscus flower) in appearance,
pungent in Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion)
From the stone containing silver,
pungent in taste
white, cooling and
Sweet in Vipaka.
From the stone containing copper,
is like the peacock throat,
bitter in taste
Hot and pungent in Vipaka.
The exudates which looks like the gum of Guggulu (Commifora mukul Engl.)
Is bitter and Saline
pungent in Vipaka, and cooling
Is derived from the stone containing iron. This is the best among all.
All
these types of Shilajeet having the smell of cow’s urine are useful in
all types of therapies. However, for rejuvenation therapy, the last
variety (i.e the one derived from the stone contain iron) in more
useful.
In diseases caused by
- Vayu- Pitta – gold
- Kapha- Pitta – silver
- Kapha – copper and
- all the three Dosas – iron containing stones are useful
Contra indicated foods while taking recipe of Silajatu,
Foods that cause burning sensation(vidahi) – excessive spices
Guru( heavy) – heavy to digest foods.
Kulattha (horse gram) should be avoided forever (or till such time as the person has the effects of Silajatu in his body)
Reason for avoiding horse gram:
It is commonly seen that horse gram is an excellent drug for breaking stones.
By taking Shilajatu, the body of the person becomes like a stone to effect sturdiness in it.
Therefore, horse gram and Shilajatu have mutually contradicting
effects, and is prohibited for a person who is using or who has used
Shilajatu.
Ingredients which can be used with Shilajatu:
Milk, Butter milk
Meat soup, Vegetable soup
Water, decoction of different types of herbs
Side effects and precautions:
Seek your doctor’s advice for its usage during pregnancy.
This product can be safely used during lactation period and in children for a limited period of few weeks time.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Store in a cool dry place.
Ayurvedic medicines with Shilajit as ingredient:
Shilajitwadi Lauh Bati: Used in the treatment of chronic respiratory disorders.
Shiva Gutika: It
is used for a variety of diseases like liver and spleen disorders,
respiratory conditions, neuro-psychiatric conditions etc.
Chandraprabha Vati: Used in Ayurvedic treatment of diabetes, diseases of urinary track, and many other disease conditions.
Research on Shilajit:
Procognitive activity:
Recent investigations point to an interesting medical application
toward the control of cognitive disorders associated with aging, and
cognitive stimulation. Thus, fulvic acid, the main active principle,
blocks tau self-aggregation, opening an avenue toward the study of
Alzheimer’s therapy.
Effect on testosterone level:
Purified
Shilajeet, was evaluated in healthy volunteers of age between 45 and 55
years for its effect on male androgenic hormone viz. testosterone in a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study at a dose of
250 mg twice a day. Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days
revealed that it has significantly (P < 0.05) increased total
testosterone, free testosterone and dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEAS)
compared with placebo. Gonadotropic hormones (LH and FSH) levels were
well maintained.
Names in different languages:
English name – mineral pitch, mineral wax,
black asphaltum
,
Latin name – Asphaltum punjabianum
Local names – Shargai, dorobi, barahshin, baragshun
Farsi name – Mumlai
Russian name – Mumiyo, Mumijo
Persian name – Mumiya
