Is shilajit safe? Side effects and heavy metals

Is purified shilajit safe to take?

In the human trials so far, yes, at the doses tested. Purified or processed shilajit has been given at 200 mg to 1,000 mg a day in trials that reported on safety, for periods of 4 to 14 weeks:

• 28 days, 1,000 mg a day, 160 patients recovering from a broken leg: side effects no more common than with placebo (Sadeghi et al., 2020).
• 90 days, 200 mg a day, 28 men: liver and kidney blood tests unchanged (Biswas et al., 2010).
• 12 weeks, 500 mg a day, overweight adults: well tolerated, with no change in blood sugar, cholesterol or muscle damage markers (Das et al., 2016).
• 14 weeks, 250 or 500 mg a day, 45 healthy women: no adverse effects reported (Das et al., 2019).
• 28 days, 500 mg of resin a day, 25 men: no serious side effects, but 7 of the 25 reported mild ones (Yadav et al., 2026).

A 2014 review described shilajit’s safety as “well documented” in animal and human studies (Stohs, 2014). The limits of that evidence matter, though. Every trial was small, so a side effect affecting 1 person in 200 could easily have been missed, and almost all used purified, standardised extracts rather than the raw resin sold online.

Does shilajit contain heavy metals?

It can. Shilajit forms in rock and picks up whatever metals are there. Reviews list around 65 metals found in shilajit, including toxic ones such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury (Hussain and Saeed, 2024). How much depends on the source and how it was processed:

• A 2022 analysis of Indian and Pakistani shilajit found lead, arsenic and mercury above permissible limits (Aldakheel et al., 2022).
• A 2026 analysis of 12 samples from several countries found toxic metals below toxicity thresholds (Kamgar et al., 2026).
• A study in JAMA bought Ayurvedic products online and found that about 1 in 5 contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic, including products made in the US and labelled as following good manufacturing practice (Saper et al., 2008). That study covered Ayurvedic medicines generally, not shilajit alone.

Heavy metals build up in the body over time, so a small amount taken daily for months matters more than a one-off.

What are the UK limits for heavy metals in supplements?

In Great Britain, food supplements must not exceed these maximum levels, measured in the product as sold (Regulation 1881/2006, as retained in UK law):

There is no specific legal limit for arsenic in food supplements. A reputable seller should be able to show you a lab certificate with results for all four metals. Our buying guide explains how to read one.

Who should not take shilajit?

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women. There is no safety data, and one published case report describes a pregnant woman who developed high blood pressure and low potassium after taking mumijo for six months (Stavropoulos et al., 2018).
• Children. No trials have included children.
• Men with prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions. Shilajit raised testosterone and DHEA-S in one trial (Pandit et al., 2016), so it is sensible to avoid it. This is our inference from that trial, not a tested risk.
• People with haemochromatosis (iron overload). Shilajit contains iron. Again this is a precaution, not a tested risk.
• Anyone taking prescription medicines or with a long-term health condition. No studies have tested how shilajit interacts with medicines. Ask your GP or pharmacist first.

What should I do if I get side effects?

Stop taking it and speak to your GP or pharmacist, especially if you notice symptoms such as stomach pain, rashes, or unusual tiredness. Suspected side effects from herbal products can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, which helps regulators spot problems with products on sale in the UK.

How can I reduce the risk?

Choose purified shilajit with a recent independent lab test for the specific batch, stick to the doses used in trials (see the shilajit dosage guide), and avoid raw shilajit sold without test results. For what the research says shilajit can and can’t do, see shilajit benefits.