Shilajit is a thick, sticky, tar like substance that is found in high mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains of central and eastern Asia, the Ural Mountains of Russia and the Hindukush in Afghanistan. Shilajit can also be found in Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Australia as well as North and South America.

In its natural state it is found as an exudate from rocks high in the mountains. Because it appears to flow from the rocks the ancients often referred to it as the “sweat of the mountains” or “the tears of the rocks”. The Ayurvedic physicians of India prized it highly as medicine and called it by the Sanskrit name of “Shilajit”, meaning “Conqueror of Mountains”.

How shilajit forms is not known, but it is thought to be the product of the centuries long decay and amalgamation of plants, herbs and minerals found at high altitude in the mountains. Analysis shows that Shilajit is full of many interesting compounds, primarily humic and fulvic acids that are themselves made up of a rich blend of organic molecules.

There are over 80 minerals in shilajit including iron, zinc, copper, silver, chromium, selenium, gold and magnesium. There are amino acids such as glycine, lysine, tyrosine and glutamic acid, fatty acids such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, triterpenes, sterols and polyphenols, to name a few!

Shilajit has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and other related systems of medicine such as the Tibetan system. In Ayurveda it is classified as a “Rasayana” substance. This means it is a rejuvenator, renewing the body, preventing ailments and enhancing the quality of life. Restoring strength, energy and endurance.

Rasayana therapy and Rasayana medicines would be given to the elderly or those who had been chronically ill for long periods to restore and rejuvenate; a kind of super tonic. Some of the most well known doctors and physicans in history such as Avicenna, have used shilajit and its use has spread practically world-wide.

If we look for research on shilajit and what ailments it could be used to treat we find an interesting list; heart disease, mental and neurological decline, high cholesterol and blood lipids, chronic pain, high blood sugar, inflammation and allergy and hormonal decline in men and women. Looking at this list we can see that they are all problems that can affect an aging, run down or chronically ill person.

Shilajit therefore may indeed be the Ayurvedic secret to maintaining a healthy body and fighting age related physical and mental decline.