Shilajit: a review

Phytother Res. 2007 May;21(5):401-5. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2100.

Abstract

Shilajit is a pale-brown to blackish-brown exudation, of variable consistency, exuding from layers of rocks in many mountain ranges of the world, especially the Himalayas and Hindukush ranges of the Indian subcontinent. It has been found to consist of a complex mixture of organic humic substances and plant and microbial metabolites occurring in the rock rhizospheres of its natural habitat. Shilajit has been used as a rejuvenator and an adaptogen for thousands of years, in one form or another, as part of traditional systems of medicine in a number of countries. Many therapeutic properties have been ascribed to it, a number of which have been verified by modern scientific evaluation. Shilajit has been attributed with many miraculous healing properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Allergic Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Allergic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Allergic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Humic Substances
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Minerals
  • Rejuvenation
  • Resins, Plant / chemistry
  • Resins, Plant / isolation & purification
  • Resins, Plant / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Allergic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Humic Substances
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Minerals
  • Resins, Plant
  • mumie