Shilajit FAQ: common questions answered

These are the questions we are asked most often about shilajit, each with a short answer and a link to the page that covers it in depth. Every answer is based on the published research summarised in our research library, and we say plainly where the evidence is thin.

Nothing here is personal medical advice. If you have a health condition, take medicines, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking shilajit.

What is shilajit?

Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like substance that seeps from cracks in rock, mostly in high mountains such as the Himalayas and the Altai. It has been used for centuries in Ayurveda as a rasayana, or rejuvenator (Wilson et al., 2011), and is also known as mumijo and momiai. Read more in what is shilajit? and its history.

What is shilajit made of?

More than 80% of its weight is humic substances, including fulvic acid and humic acid, and about 20% is minerals, mainly calcium, potassium and magnesium (Kamgar et al., 2025). It also contains small amounts of dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, amino acids and other plant compounds, and can contain toxic metals picked up from the rock. See shilajit composition and fulvic acid.

Does shilajit actually work?

For a few things, there is some evidence. Single randomised trials found benefits for testosterone in men aged 45 to 55 (Pandit et al., 2016), bone density after the menopause (Pingali and Nutalapati, 2022) and healing of a broken shin bone (Sadeghi et al., 2020), but none has been independently repeated. Many popular claims rest only on animal or lab studies. Our benefits page grades every claim.

Does shilajit increase testosterone?

One randomised, double-blind trial found that 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day for 90 days raised total and free testosterone compared with placebo in healthy men aged 45 to 55 (Pandit et al., 2016). A 2026 pilot study of a shilajit resin in younger men found no change after 28 days (Yadav et al., 2026). We grade the evidence as moderate: see shilajit and testosterone and the Pandit 2016 summary.

Can shilajit improve male fertility?

One study gave 200 mg a day to 35 men with low sperm counts; in the 28 who finished, sperm count rose by 61% from baseline after 90 days (Biswas et al., 2010). There was no placebo group and no pregnancy results, so the evidence is weak. See shilajit and fertility.

Does shilajit help with energy and tiredness?

The evidence is weak. A 28-day study of 25 men found fatigue scores fell by about a third, but it had no placebo group and was run largely by the product’s maker (Yadav et al., 2026). A placebo-controlled trial found less strength loss during exercise only in a subgroup of stronger young men (Keller et al., 2019). See energy and fatigue.

Is shilajit good for women?

Few trials have included women. One 48-week trial in 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia found shilajit slowed bone loss (Pingali and Nutalapati, 2022), and a 14-week study in 45 women found improved skin blood flow at 500 mg a day (Das et al., 2019). Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it. See bone health and skin and collagen.

Is shilajit safe?

Purified shilajit has been taken at 200 mg to 1,000 mg a day for up to 48 weeks in trials without serious problems reported. But the trials were small, most used purified extracts rather than raw resin, and the biggest real-world risk is contamination with heavy metals. Our safety guide covers who should avoid it.

What are the side effects of shilajit?

Most trials reported few or none. In a 2026 study of shilajit resin, 7 of 25 men had mild side effects that cleared up on their own, including acne, rash, itching, indigestion and stomach pain (Yadav et al., 2026). Stop taking it and speak to a pharmacist or GP if you feel unwell. See shilajit side effects.

Does shilajit contain heavy metals?

It can. Shilajit picks up metals from the rock, and one analysis of Indian and Pakistani samples found lead, arsenic and mercury above permissible limits (Aldakheel et al., 2022), while a 2026 analysis of 12 samples found toxic metals below toxicity thresholds (Kamgar et al., 2026). Only buy products with a batch lab test showing results for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. See heavy metals in shilajit.

Can I take shilajit when pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. There is no safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and doctors in Greece have reported a pregnant woman who developed high blood pressure and low potassium after taking mumijo for 6 months (Stavropoulos et al., 2018). See pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Does shilajit interact with medicines?

We found no human studies testing shilajit with any medicine, so nobody knows. If you take prescription medicines, especially for blood pressure, diabetes or hormone conditions, ask your GP or pharmacist before trying it. See drug interactions.

How much shilajit should I take?

Most human trials used 500 mg a day of a purified extract, usually as 250 mg twice a day. Doses ranged from 200 mg to 1,000 mg in modern trials. No trial has shown extra benefit above 1,000 mg a day. See shilajit dosage.

When is the best time to take shilajit?

No study has compared times of day. Trials usually split the dose into morning and evening, and one gave it after meals (Biswas et al., 2010), which may help if it upsets your stomach. See best time to take shilajit.

How long does shilajit take to work?

Nobody knows how quickly any effect starts. Most trials measured results after 8 to 12 weeks, so that is a fair period to judge whether it is doing anything for you. See how long to take shilajit.

Is shilajit resin better than capsules?

No study has compared them. Almost all the positive trials used purified extract in capsules, which also makes the dose easy to measure; resin is closer to the traditional form but harder to dose accurately. See resin vs capsules.

How can I tell if shilajit is real?

Home tests such as burning it or dissolving it in water can’t detect heavy metals, microbes or fillers. The only reliable check is a recent certificate of analysis from an independent, accredited lab for the batch you are buying. See fake shilajit.

What should a certificate of analysis show?

It should match your product’s batch number, come from a named, accredited lab, and give numerical results for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, plus microbial tests. In Great Britain, supplements must contain no more than 3.0 mg/kg lead, 1.0 mg/kg cadmium and 0.10 mg/kg mercury (Regulation 1881/2006, as retained). See how to read a certificate of analysis.

Is shilajit legal in the UK?

Yes. It is sold as a food supplement, which is regulated as food: sellers must register as a food business and make sure products are safe and correctly labelled. Food supplements are not medicines and may not claim to treat, prevent or cure disease (Food Standards Agency). See UK legal status.

Should I buy raw or purified shilajit?

Purified, in most cases. Raw shilajit hasn’t been filtered to remove soil, sand and debris, and almost all the human research used purified, standardised extracts. See raw vs purified shilajit and the buying guide.