- Ayurveda classes shilajit as a rasayana and uses it in about 20 classical formulations.[1]
- Persian texts by Avicenna and Razi describe “moomiaii” for digestive disorders and bone pain.[2]
- Mumijo is the Central Asian and Russian name for the same material.[3]
- Traditional use shows how shilajit was valued, not that it works for those purposes.
Ayurveda and Siddha: shilajit as a rasayana
In Ayurveda, a rasayana is a preparation intended to support vitality and longevity rather than to treat a single disease. Shilajit is one of the best-known examples, and a 2011 review counted 20 classical formulations and 24 proprietary products containing it.[1] Ayurvedic practice also specifies purification before use, traditionally with herbal decoctions such as triphala, and classifies shilajit into four types named after metals.[4] See the four classical types and how shilajit is purified.
Persian and Unani medicine: moomiaii
Persian medicine, which shaped the Unani tradition, knew shilajit as moomiaii. A 2018 review of texts including Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine and Razi’s Continens found it described mainly for gastrointestinal disorders and bone pain.[2] The same review noted that modern wound-healing studies were encouraging, but that other traditional uses needed well-designed clinical trials.[2]
Central Asian and Russian practice: mumijo
In Central Asia and Russia, shilajit is known as mumijo, mumie or moomiyo.[3] Products sold under these names are often described as coming from the Altai or Pamir mountains; see Himalayan vs Altai and names for shilajit.
The three traditions compared
What traditional use means today
Traditional use tells us shilajit was valued, carefully prepared and often combined with other ingredients. It doesn’t tell us the effective dose, the size of any benefit or whether a modern resin matches a traditional preparation. We map traditional uses against modern research on history and traditional use, and explain the distinction in separating traditional use from clinical evidence.
How traditional preparations differ from modern supplements
A traditional preparation and a modern jar of resin are not the same thing. In Ayurveda, shilajit was purified before use, traditionally by soaking it in herbal decoctions such as triphala and bhringraja on successive days,[4] and it was usually given as part of a formulation with other ingredients rather than alone.[1] A modern supplement is typically water-extracted, sold on its own and taken at a label serving. That gap matters when brands borrow traditional language: “used in Ayurveda for centuries” describes a different preparation, prepared in a different way, for different purposes.
| Aspect | Traditional (Ayurveda) | Modern UK supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Purification | Herbal decoctions over several days[4] | Water extraction, filtration, drying |
| How it’s given | Often within multi-ingredient formulations[1] | Usually on its own |
| Who decides the amount | A practitioner, for an individual | The product label |
| Quality evidence | Classical tests and practitioner judgement | Batch laboratory reports |
Traditional uses and what modern research has tested
Some traditional uses have since been studied in people; many haven’t. The table below shows where each traditional theme stands, using the ratings on our evidence by topic page.
| Traditional theme | Closest modern study | Evidence page |
|---|---|---|
| Rejuvenation (rasayana) | No direct test; small trials on specific markers | Ageing |
| Male vitality | A randomised trial on testosterone in men aged 45–55[5] | Testosterone |
| Bone pain (Persian texts) | A 48-week bone density trial in postmenopausal women[6] | Bone health |
| Digestive complaints (Persian texts) | No controlled human trials that we are aware of | Gut health |
Respecting tradition without overclaiming
Traditional systems are genuine bodies of knowledge, and they are a sensible place to look for research questions. But in UK marketing, a traditional use can’t be turned into a health claim unless that claim is authorised on the GB nutrition and health claims register.[7][8] The honest way to use tradition is descriptive: explaining what a culture used shilajit for, without implying that the use is proven. That’s the approach we take across Best Shilajit UK; see how we distinguish evidence from marketing.
Frequently asked questions
What was shilajit used for in Ayurveda?
As a rasayana, a rejuvenating preparation for vitality, and as an ingredient in around 20 classical formulations.[1]
What is moomiaii?
The name for shilajit in traditional Persian medicine, described in texts by Avicenna and Razi.[2]
Is Unani medicine the same as Persian medicine?
Unani medicine grew out of the Greco-Persian tradition, so the two share many texts and remedies, including moomiaii.
Was shilajit used on its own?
Do traditional uses prove shilajit works?
No. They point researchers towards questions worth testing; controlled trials decide whether it works.
Where can I see the modern evidence for traditional uses?
Our evidence by topic page rates each use against published research.
Is shilajit still used in Ayurveda today?
Yes. A 2011 review counted 20 classical formulations and 24 proprietary products containing shilajit, showing it remains part of Ayurvedic practice.[1]
What is a rasayana?
In Ayurveda, a rasayana is a preparation used to support vitality and longevity rather than to treat a single disease. Shilajit is one of the best-known examples.[1]
Sources & further reading
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
- Wilson E, Rajamanickam GV, Dubey GP, et al.. Review on shilajit used in traditional Indian medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 136(1):1–9, 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.033; PMID 21530631. View source (opens in a new tab) [Review]
- Shahriari M, Zare F, Nimrouzi M. The curative role of bitumen in traditional Persian medicine. Acta medico-historica Adriatica 16(2):283–292, 2018. doi:10.31952/amha.16.2.6. View source (opens in a new tab) [Historical review]
- Stohs SJ. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytotherapy Research 28(4):475–479, 2014. PMID 23733436. View source (opens in a new tab) [Review]
- Quazi et al.. Shilajit review: "A powerful molecule of Ayurveda science". Pharmacognosy Research 15(3):455, 2023. View source (opens in a new tab) [Review]
- Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia 48(5):570–575, 2016. PMID 26395129. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial]
- Pingali U, Nutalapati C. Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 105:154334, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154334; PMID 35933897. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial]
- Department of Health and Social Care. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register. GOV.UK. View source (opens in a new tab) [Official register]
- Committee of Advertising Practice. UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (CAP Code), Section 15: Food, food supplements and associated health or nutritional claims. asa.org.uk. View source (opens in a new tab) [Advertising code]