Shilajit glossary: key terms explained

Shilajit labels, lab certificates and research papers use a lot of specialist language. This page explains the terms you are most likely to meet on this site, in alphabetical order, with a link to where each one matters most.

If a word you need isn’t here, let us know and we’ll add it.

Ayurveda

India’s traditional system of medicine, dating back thousands of years. Shilajit is one of its best-known remedies and appears in 20 classical formulations (Wilson et al., 2011). See the history of shilajit.

Bone mineral density (BMD)

A measure of how much mineral is packed into a section of bone In shilajit research it has been measured at the spine and hip. Lower density means weaker bones and a higher risk of fractures. See shilajit and bone health.

Certificate of analysis (CoA)

A lab report showing what a specific batch of a product contains, such as heavy metals, microbes and active compounds. A useful one names the lab, matches the batch number on your jar and gives a number for each result rather than just “pass”. See how to read a certificate of analysis.

Collagen

The main structural protein in skin, bone, tendons and ligaments. Type 1 collagen is the most abundant kind, and two shilajit studies measured blood markers of how fast it is made and broken down (Neltner et al., 2024; Keller et al., 2019). See skin and collagen.

DHEA-S

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, a hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands that the body can turn into testosterone and oestrogen. It was one of the three hormones that rose in the main shilajit testosterone trial (Pandit et al., 2016).

Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs)

A group of small organic compounds found in shilajit, also known as urolithins. Along with fulvic acid, they are thought to be among its main active ingredients (Stohs, 2014). See what shilajit is made of.

Double-blind

A trial in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is getting the real treatment and who the placebo until the results are in. It stops expectations from colouring the results. See how we grade evidence.

Extracellular matrix (ECM)

The network of proteins, such as collagen, elastin and fibronectin, that surrounds and supports cells in tissues like muscle and skin. Two shilajit studies found that genes for ECM proteins became more active. See Das 2016.

Fulvic acid

The smaller, water-soluble part of the humic substances that make up most of shilajit. It is the compound most often credited with shilajit’s effects, and many products state a fulvic acid percentage, though different lab methods can give very different figures. See fulvic acid.

Heavy metals

Metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury that are toxic even in small amounts and build up in the body over time. Shilajit can pick them up from the rock it forms in. See heavy metals in shilajit.

Humic acid

The larger-molecule part of the humic substances in shilajit, formed as plant matter slowly breaks down. Humic substances in total make up more than 80% of shilajit’s weight (Kamgar et al., 2025).

Hydroxyproline

An amino acid found mainly in collagen. When collagen is broken down, hydroxyproline is released into the blood, so researchers use it as a marker of collagen breakdown (Keller et al., 2019).

ISO/IEC 17025

The international standard for testing laboratories. A lab accredited to it has been independently checked for competence and reliable methods, so its results carry more weight. See the buying guide.

Momiai

The name for shilajit in Persian medicine, where it has a long history of use for healing broken bones. The largest shilajit trial, on shin bone fractures, used momiai (Sadeghi et al., 2020).

Mumijo

The name used for shilajit in Russia and Central Asia, also spelled mumie, mummiyo or moomiyo (Stohs, 2014).

Oligospermia

A low sperm count. The one human shilajit study on fertility defined it as fewer than 20 million sperm per ml of semen (Biswas et al., 2010). See shilajit and fertility.

Open-label

A study in which everyone knows what treatment they are getting. Open-label studies are more prone to bias than blinded ones, especially for subjective outcomes like tiredness. See Yadav 2026.

Osteopenia

Bone density that is lower than normal but not low enough to be classed as osteoporosis. It is common after the menopause and raises the risk of later osteoporosis and fractures. See Pingali 2022.

Placebo

A dummy treatment, such as a sugar or starch capsule, that looks the same as the real thing but contains nothing active. Comparing a treatment with a placebo shows how much of any improvement is due to the treatment itself rather than expectation or chance.

ppm (parts per million)

A unit for tiny concentrations, common on lab certificates. 1 ppm equals 1 mg per kg or 1 µg per g, and 1,000 ppb (parts per billion). The UK legal limit for lead in food supplements, 3.0 mg/kg, is the same as 3.0 ppm (Regulation 1881/2006, as retained).

PrimaVie

A branded, purified and standardised shilajit extract made by Natreon. It was used in several of the main human trials, and a 2024 systematic review rated it “possibly effective” for raising testosterone in men with age-related low testosterone (Morgado et al., 2024). See the research library.

Purified shilajit

Shilajit that has been dissolved in water, filtered to remove soil, sand and plant debris, and dried again. Almost all human trials used purified shilajit. See raw vs purified shilajit.

Randomised controlled trial (RCT)

A study in which people are allocated by chance to receive either the treatment or a comparison, usually a placebo. Randomisation makes the groups alike at the start, so differences at the end are more likely to be caused by the treatment. It is the most reliable design for testing whether something works.

Rasayana

An Ayurvedic term for a rejuvenating substance believed to prevent illness, promote long life and improve quality of life. Shilajit is one of the best-known rasayanas (Wilson et al., 2011).

Raw shilajit

Shilajit as it is collected from the rock, without filtering. It may contain soil, sand, plant debris and microbes, and is harder to test consistently than purified shilajit.

Resin

The soft, sticky paste form of shilajit, usually sold in a small jar. It is closest to the traditional form but harder to dose precisely than capsules. See resin vs capsules.

Standardised extract

A product processed so that every batch contains a set amount of named compounds, such as a minimum percentage of fulvic acid. Results from a trial of one standardised extract may not apply to other products.

Surrogate outcome

A lab measurement, such as a hormone level or a blood marker, used in place of an outcome people actually notice, such as fewer fractures or more energy. Surrogate outcomes don’t always predict real benefits. Many shilajit studies used them. See how we grade evidence.