- Shilajit is a naturally occurring exudate made largely of humic substances, plant and microbial breakdown products, and minerals.[1]
- Its composition changes from deposit to deposit and with every processing step, so two products labelled “shilajit” can be quite different materials.
- A handful of small human trials exist, most of them on one branded extract. None of them establishes a proven health benefit for shilajit in general.
- Raw material can carry contaminants. Batch-specific laboratory documentation matters more than colour, smell or a “Himalayan” label.
What shilajit is
Shilajit is a pale-brown to blackish-brown substance that exudes from layers of rock, and it varies in consistency from a soft tar to a brittle solid.[1] Researchers describe it as a complex mixture of organic humic substances together with plant and microbial metabolites formed in the rock environment where it collects.[1]
It is not a plant, a mushroom or a single chemical. That matters, because much of the confusion around shilajit comes from treating it as if it were one standardised ingredient. A resin scraped from a Gilgit-Baltistan rock face, a water extract dried to powder in a factory and a patented extract used in a clinical trial are related, but they are not interchangeable.
For the chemistry in more depth, see Shilajit composition and chemistry and our broader science section.
How it forms and where it is found
The accepted explanation is that shilajit develops over long periods as plant material and microbial matter break down in rock crevices and fissures, then seep out as a sticky residue when temperatures rise. The exact mechanisms are still debated, and different deposits may form in slightly different ways. Our article on how shilajit forms in mountain rock sets out the competing explanations.
Published reviews place it in many mountain ranges, with the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush most often named.[1] Commercial products in the UK also refer to Altai, Tibetan and Pamir sources. An origin name on a label is a sales claim until there is documentation behind it, which is why we treat it as something to verify rather than a quality signal.
Origin
Origin, formation and geography
Which ranges, what altitude claims mean and why location affects composition.
Comparison
Himalayan vs Altai shilajit
What actually differs between the two most marketed sources, and what is just branding.
Names and traditional use
The same material travels under several names. Mumie and moomiyo appear in the scientific literature alongside shilajit,[2] and UK listings also use mumijo and salajeet, depending on where the product is marketed from. Our guide to mumijo, salajeet and other names covers the spellings you are likely to meet on UK listings.
In India, shilajit belongs to the Ayurveda and Siddha traditions, where it is classed as a rasayana, a rejuvenating preparation. A 2011 review counted it in twenty classical formulations.[3] The same review is also blunt about the gap: despite that long history, it found shilajit “lacks scientific evaluation and systematic documentation”.[3]
Traditional texts also describe four classical “types” of shilajit named after metals. Those categories are often reused in modern marketing as if they were grades, which they are not. See the four classical types and the wider history and traditional use page.
Centuries of use tell you a substance was valued. They don’t tell you what dose works, for whom, or whether a modern commercial product resembles what was used historically. We cover the difference in separating traditional use from clinical evidence.
What it is made of
Studies of shilajit typically report fulvic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, proteins and minerals as its main components.[4] The proportions are not fixed. They depend on the deposit, how the material was collected, how it was extracted and how hard it was purified.
| Component | What it is | What to watch for on labels |
|---|---|---|
| Humic substances | Large, variable organic molecules from decomposed plant matter. Fulvic acid is the water-soluble fraction. | Humic and fulvic results measured by different methods are not comparable. |
| Fulvic acid | The fraction most often quoted as a percentage on product pages. | A percentage without the test method tells you very little. See fulvic acid testing. |
| Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones | Small aromatic compounds, studied mainly in laboratory work. | Rarely quantified on consumer documents. |
| Minerals and trace elements | Elements taken up from the surrounding rock. Useful minerals and toxic metals arrive by the same route. | A long element list includes toxic metals too. See the “84 minerals” claim. |
| Other compounds | Amino acids, lipids and phenolic compounds in smaller and variable amounts. | Seldom tested; claims about them are usually borrowed from general literature. |
Proportions vary widely between samples. Read why shilajit composition varies before comparing two products on composition alone.
Resin, powder, capsules and extracts
Most shilajit sold in the UK comes in four formats. The format changes how easy it is to measure a dose, how much non-shilajit material is in the product and how hard it is to check what you have bought.
| Format | Dose consistency | Typical extra ingredients | Main thing to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resin | Low to moderate; usually a pea-sized scoop | None, if sold as pure resin | Batch COA and contaminant results |
| Powder | Moderate with a proper scoop | Sometimes carriers or anti-caking agents | Whether it is dried extract or diluted with fillers |
| Capsules / tablets | High | Capsule shell, bulking agents, sometimes other herbs | Shilajit content per capsule, not per serving of a blend |
| Gummies / drinks | High per unit, often low shilajit content | Sugars, flavourings, gelling agents | How much shilajit each unit actually contains |
We compare the formats in detail on shilajit forms, with head-to-head pages for resin vs capsules, resin vs powder and standardised extract vs whole resin. For practical use, see how to use shilajit.
Raw, purified and how products are made
Very little shilajit reaches a UK customer in the state it was collected. Collected material usually contains rock, sand and plant debris, so it is dissolved in water, filtered, settled and dried back down to a resin or powder. Some manufacturers then standardise the result to a target fulvic acid figure.
- CollectionRaw material is gathered from rock faces, often by local collectors. Traceability is weakest at this stage. Harvesting and supply chain
- ExtractionThe material is dissolved, usually in water, so insoluble debris can be separated. Water-based extraction
- PurificationFiltering and settling remove more solids. What “purified” means varies by producer. How shilajit is purified
- Concentration and dryingWater is driven off by sun, heat or low-temperature drying, which can change the final material. Does heat affect shilajit?
- Testing and packingIdeally each batch is tested before release. This is the step consumers can actually check. Laboratory testing
“Raw” on a label rarely means unprocessed; it usually means minimally processed, and minimal processing is not automatically a good thing for a material that comes out of rock. Our explainer on raw vs purified shilajit and the full extraction and purification guide go through the trade-offs.
What the science shows so far
Shilajit research is a mix of laboratory work, animal studies and a small number of human trials. The human trials are the part that matters most for consumers, and they share some limitations: small samples, short durations, and in several cases the same branded, standardised extract.
| Study | Who took part | What was reported | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pandit et al., 2016[5] | 75 healthy men aged 45–55, 90 days | Higher total and free testosterone than placebo | Single trial; one purified preparation |
| Biswas et al., 2010[6] | 35 men with low sperm counts enrolled, 90 days | Changes in semen measures from baseline | No placebo group |
| Keller et al., 2019[4] | Recreationally active men, 8 weeks | Better retention of strength after a fatiguing test at the higher dose | Narrow lab-based outcome |
| Pingali & Nutalapati, 2022[7] | 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, 48 weeks | Bone mineral density better preserved than placebo | Small; one preparation; one research group |
These findings apply to the preparations and populations studied. They do not show that any shilajit product will produce the same result.
For a topic-by-topic view with evidence ratings, go to Shilajit benefits: evidence by topic. To understand how to judge studies yourself, start with Shilajit research and why research on one preparation may not apply to another.
Quality, authenticity and testing
There is no reliable way to confirm genuine, clean shilajit by looking at it, stretching it or dropping it in water. Those home tests can expose crude fakes, but adulterated or contaminated material can pass all of them. What can be checked is documentation: a Certificate of Analysis tied to the batch you hold, from a laboratory you can identify, covering contaminants as well as composition.
Authenticity
Real vs fake shilajit
What home tests can and can’t tell you, and a checklist that relies on evidence rather than texture.
Testing
Laboratory testing explained
COAs, batch numbers, accreditation, test methods and the red flags worth knowing.
Safety in brief
A 2014 review found no evidence of toxicity in the human and animal studies available at the time.[2] That is reassuring but limited: the studies were small and short, and they used processed preparations. The bigger practical risk is contamination. A 2025 analysis measured thallium, a toxic metal, in both natural shilajit and commercial supplements, with some supplements higher than the crude material.[8]
In Great Britain, food supplements must meet legal maximum levels for lead (3.0 mg/kg), cadmium (1.0 mg/kg) and mercury (0.1 mg/kg) as sold.[9] Those limits only help you if the product has actually been tested against them.
you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking prescription medicines, managing a long-term condition, or due to have surgery. There is very little safety data for these groups. Our safety guide covers each situation.
Before you buy
In the UK, shilajit is generally sold as a food supplement. That brings labelling rules, and it means health claims in marketing must come from the GB nutrition and health claims register.[10][11][12] Claims that a product boosts testosterone or treats a condition deserve scepticism for that reason alone. Our guide to what UK sellers can and can’t claim explains the rules, and is shilajit legal in the UK? covers how it is regulated.
- Find the batch evidenceIs there a COA for the batch number printed on your jar, not just a sample report?
- Check the contaminant panelLead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic as a minimum, with units and limits of detection.
- Work out the real costCompare cost per gram and per serving rather than jar price. Use the calculator.
- Read the claims criticallyOrigin, altitude, “pure” and “lab tested” all need evidence behind them.
Our step-by-step guide on how to choose shilajit in the UK pulls this together.
Common questions
Is shilajit a plant or a mineral?
Neither, strictly. It is an organic-mineral material: largely decomposed plant and microbial matter, mixed with minerals taken up from the surrounding rock.
What does shilajit look and smell like?
Usually dark brown to black, glossy and tar-like when warm and harder when cold, with a smoky, earthy smell and a bitter taste. Appearance varies with origin and processing, and it is not a reliable sign of quality. See what shilajit looks, smells and tastes like.
Is fulvic acid the same thing as shilajit?
No. Fulvic acid is one fraction of shilajit, and fulvic acid supplements can come from other sources such as peat or lignite. We compare them in shilajit vs fulvic acid supplements.
Is shilajit vegan or halal?
The material itself contains no deliberately added animal ingredients, but certification depends on the finished product, capsules and processing. See is shilajit vegan, halal or kosher?
How should I store it?
Sealed, away from heat and moisture. Resin softens in warmth and hardens in the cold without that meaning anything is wrong. Our storage and shelf-life guide has the detail.
More answers in the full Shilajit FAQ, and unfamiliar terms are defined in the glossary.
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.
- Agarwal SP, et al.. Shilajit: a review. Phytotherapy Research 21(5):401–405, 2007. doi:10.1002/ptr.2100; PMID 17295385. View source (opens in a new tab) [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]
- 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]
- Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 16:3, 2019. doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0270-2; PMID 30728074. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial]
- 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]
- Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, et al.. Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia 42(1):48–56, 2010. PMID 20078516. View source (opens in a new tab) [Uncontrolled clinical study]
- 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]
- Quantifying of thallium in Shilajit and its supplements to unveil the potential risk of consumption of this popular traditional medicine. BMC Chemistry 19:20, 2025. doi:10.1186/s13065-025-01384-7. View source (opens in a new tab) [Laboratory analysis]
- European Commission (UK version on legislation.gov.uk). Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. legislation.gov.uk, 2008. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation (retained)]
- UK Government. The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1387). legislation.gov.uk, 2003. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation]
- 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]