Shilajit benefit

 Shilajit is a blackish-brown exudation, from steep rocks of different formations, commonly found in the Himalayas, at altitudes between 1000-5000 m, from Arunachal Pradesh in the East to Kashmir in the West. It is also found in other countries, e.g. Afganisthan (Hindukush), Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet (Himalay) and the USSR (Tien Shan, Ural). Shilajit is believed to arrest aging and produce rejuvenation, two important attributes of a rasayan.

Considerable controversy had existed in the reported literature when we initiated our study on the nature and chemical constituents of shilajit about fourteen years ago. It was variously described, as a bitumen or mineral resin varying greatly in consistency from a free-flowing liquid to a hard brittle solid; a plant fossil exposed by a elevation of the Himalayas; a substance of mixed animal and plant origin. Twelve years after the publication of the circumstantial evidence for the contribution of plants in shilajit formation, we obtained further direct evidence regarding the chemical character of shilajit. It would now require summation of our earlier findings for resolving the chemical polemics on this subject and to report our recent findings, from analyses of shilajit from different regions, to show the generality of our conclusion.

The first major advance in our understanding of the chemical character of shilajit was the observation that shilajit, from different regions, contained a large variety of organic compounds that can be broadly grouped into humic and non-humic substances. The non-humic substances, in soil-sediment humus, are low mol. w t . organic compounds that are characterizable by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The humic substances, by contrast, do not exhibit any specific physical and chemical characteristics (e.g. sharp m.p., consistent elemental composition, consistent pH, well-defined IR and NMR spectra), normally exhibited by characterizable organic compounds. Humic substances are produced by interaction of plants, algae, mosses, and microorganisms. The phytochemistry of vegetation around shilajit-bearing rocks, therefore, constituted an important part of our investigation.

The coamon plant sources of humus, in mountain soils, are the perennial grasses and legumes, which possess finely branched root systems capable of regeneration. Other important sources of humus are the litter and latex of plants. Variation in the quality of shilajit humus (both chemical and biological) is, therefore, conceivable. The other factors that cause variations in shilajit humus are: (i) altitude and the nature of shilajit-bearing rocks; (ii) atmospheric conditions (e.g. alternate wetting and drying); (iii) pH and moisture content of the rock source; and (iv) activity of the rhizospheric microorganisms and their exo-enzymes. The stability of the humus reserve depends on one or more of these factors. Shilajit samples collected from different places, as expected, exhibit variations in chemical characteristics and bioactivities. Furthermore, the hazards of collection of shilajit and the scanty amount generally available in any one locale prompt unscrupulous traders to .adulterate it with rock soil, plant debris and quercus gums. It was, therefore, thought imperative to determine certain standards shilajit on the basis of bioactivity-directed investigation of its chemical constituents.

 Abstract - The chemical polemics in the reported literature on shilajit are resolved. This study shows that humification of latex and resin-bearing plants is responsible for the major organic mass (80-85%) of shilajit. The low mol. w t . chemical markers (&lo%), viz. aucuparins, oxygenated dibenzo-K -pyrones and triterpenic acids of the tirucallane type (free and conjugated), occurring in the core structure of shilajit humus, are the major active constituents of Himalayan shilajit. The therapeutic control and regulation of immunity.

What is shilajit?

Over many millions of years, plants and organic matter were trapped by layers of rocks in mountainous regions of India and Tibet. The pressure from the weight of the mountains and the extreme temperature changes causes the plants and organic matter to be transformed into a rich mineral mass that flows out of the rocks. This is Shilajit. Shilajit is an ancient herbal substance containing over 85 minerals and trace elements the human body needs to function optimally and fulvic acid which helps the body absorb these minerals at a cellular level. Shilajit has been consumed as a dietary supplement for thousands of years in Asia because of the many health benefits it provides.

 The minerals in shilajit are in ionic form, which means the body can more easily absorb and move to areas where the minerals are needed for healing, growth, or maintenance of cells. Shilajit stimulates the growth process of skin cells at a molecular level. It improves the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and iron. These properties of shilajit give people a healthy appearance and youthful glow. Likewise, Shilajit maintains the body’s optimum energy metabolism rate which naturally slows down with age. This is achieved partly through balancing electrolyte levels, and by burning off excess fat. Ayurveda practitioners tout its ability to balance hormone levels that change and cause stress as we age.

The vast majority of health issues and allergies can be traced to mineral or nutrient deficiencies. Intensive chemical farming and irrigation have removed natural minerals and beneficial microbes from our agricultural land and the plants grown on it. Shilajit contains over 85 of the vital minerals needed for energy reactions in our cells and the growth of new cells and high percentages of fulvic acid to help transport these mineral molecules deep into the body.

Shilajit Review

Shilajit, also known as silajit, salajeet or mumijo, momia and moomiyo is a thick, sticky tar-like substance with a colour ranging from white to dark brown (the latter is more common), sometimes found in Caucasus mountains, Altai Mountains, and Tibet mountains and mountains of Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan.

It is used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. The composition of shilajit has been investigated numerous times in both India and the former USSR, and depends on the location where it is found. It has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form, as well as triterpenes, humic acid and fulvic acid. A similar substance from the Caucasus Mountains, and the Altai Mountains is called mumijo (Russian). It is also found in Australia, Bhutan, China, Egypt, Mongolia, Nepal, Norway and other countries, where it is
collected in small quantities from steep rock faces at altitudes between 1000 m and 5000 m.

Shilajit is an ancient traditional medicine that has been ascribed a number of pharmacological activities. It has been used for centuries as a rejuvenator and anti-aging compound and for treating a number of disease conditions (Acharya et al., 1988). Ancient texts refer to shilajit as the “elixir of evergreen life”.

Because of its legendary benefits, many cultures have used shilajit for healing and rejuvenation. This has resulted in the amazing substance having many names: shilajeet, silajit, salajeet, shilajita mumiyo, mumijo, momia, moomiyoshilajitu, mineral pitch, asphaltum punjabianum, black asphaltum, to name a few. The high-altitude Himalayan variety is famed for its quality and potency.

Shilajit is a substance mainly found in the Altai, Himalaya, and Caucasus mountains of Central Asia. The colour range varies from a yellowish brown to pitch-black, depending on composition. An ancient Ayurvedic text, called the Charaka Samhita, states that there is no curable disease in the universe, which is not effectively cured by shilajit when it is administered at the appropriate time, in combination with suitable drugs and by adopting the prescribed method. For use in Ayurvedic medicine the black variant is considered the most potent.

Shilajit has been described as 'mineral oil', 'stone oil' or 'rock sweat', as it seeps from cracks in mountains due mostly to the warmth of the sun. There are many local legends and stories about its origin, use and properties, often wildly exaggerated. It should not be confused with ozokerite, also a humic substance, similar in appearance, but apparently without medicinal qualities. Some marketers of dietary supplements pretend to sell mumijo, while in fact they are offering cheap raw ozokerite, a substance used, for example, in cosmetics. Genuine mumijo/shilajit should melt in the hand and has a distinct smell of bitumen, whereas ozokerite melts at 164-169 °F/73.3-76.1 °C.

Once cleaned of impurities and extracted, shilajit is a homogeneous brown-black paste-like substance, with a glossy surface, a peculiar smell and bitter taste. Dry shilajit density ranges from 1.1 to 1.8 g/cm3. It has a plastic-like behavior, at a temperature lower than 20°C/68°F it will solidify and will soften when warmed. It easily dissolves in water without leaving any residue, and it will soften when worked between the fingers. Purified shilajit has an unlimited shelf life.

It is still unclear whether shilajit has a geological or biological origin as it has numerous traces of vitamins and amino acids. A mumijo-like substance from Antarctica was found to contain glycerol derivatives and was also believed to have medicinal properties.

Shilajit has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. But, despite decades of impressive research results, official medicine is familiar with it only as food additive. Mumio is a unique plant extract with dozens of minerals; six amino-acids; vitamins A, B , C and P (citrins), natural steroids, terpiniods, phospholipids and polyphenol complexes. Shilajit contains trace and macro-elements (cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, iron, sodium, potassium,magnesium, and others).

The biological effects of shilajit have been ascribed to two distinct classes of compounds. The low molecular weight bioactive organic compounds, such as oxygenated dibenzo-
a-pyrones, act as the active substances, and medium molecular weight fulvic and humic acids act as carrier molecules for in vivo transportation of these bioactive molecules. Fulvic acid  and humic acid have a microporous structure. Fulvic acid and humic acid are thus capable of forming complexes with nonpolar solutes and drug molecules with low bioavailability (Agarwal, Khanna, Karmarkar, Anwer, & Khar, in press). These drug molecules can be entrapped in the void so as to increase their solubility and dissolution rate, thereby enhancing their bioavailability.

Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic that is used to adjust the volume and/or composition of body fluid in a variety of situations, including hypertension, heart failure, renal failure,
nephritic syndrome, and cirrhosis. Furosemide is practically insoluble in water. The oral bioavailability of Furosemide is very poor due to insufficient aqueous solubility at gastrointestinal pH, making solubility the rate-determining step in the gastric absorption of Furosemide. Improvement of its dissolution properties is essential because the in vitro dissolution behavior of Furosemide is closely related to its bioavailability.