Shilajit, usually called Mumijo in German, is a blackish-brown, resin-like substance that seeps from rock crevices at high altitudes in the Himalayas and other Central Asian mountain ranges. It forms over very long periods from plant matter trapped and transformed in the rock, much like humus in soil.
Shilajit has been known in Ayurvedic tradition for centuries. Today, it is mainly sold as capsules, powder, or resin. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what Shilajit is, what it contains, how to take it, and what side effects and safety concerns to be aware of.
Das Wichtigste in Kürze
- Shilajit (Mumijo) is a resin-like substance from high mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, Altai and Caucasus, formed over long periods from plant remains in rock.
- It consists mainly of humic substances, especially fulvic acid, along with small amounts of minerals and trace elements.
- Human studies are small and have mostly been conducted using a standardised raw material.
- Quality is crucial: raw material can contain heavy metals, so good products are purified and every batch is laboratory-tested.
- In the EU, shilajit is permitted as a food supplement.
What is Shilajit (Mumijo)?
Shilajit is neither a plant extract nor a mineral in the traditional sense, but something in between. Frankincense and myrrh are true resins secreted by living trees. Shilajit, on the other hand, forms from plant material that has been trapped in rock crevices for a long time and transformed there by pressure, frost, heat, and microorganisms. During the warm summer months, the substance softens and seeps from the rock as a dark “mountain secretion.”
The substance goes by many names: Shilajit comes from Sanskrit and is often translated as “conqueror of mountains” or “rock sweat.” In the Russian-speaking world, it is called Mumijo (also Mumio or Mumie), and in Pakistan, Salajeet. They essentially refer to the same substance, but its composition varies depending on where it is found.
Origin and harvesting
Shilajit is found mainly in the rocky highlands of the Himalayas, as well as in the Altai, Caucasus, Pamir, and Hindu Kush. It is found at elevations of around 1,000 to over 5,000 meters, with the most sought-after sites often above 3,000 meters. Exactly how Shilajit forms is still not fully understood. The common explanation is that mosses, lichens, and other plants are broken down by microorganisms over very long periods and combine with minerals from the surrounding rock. It is still collected by hand, usually in summer, when warmth causes the substance to seep from the rock. Because the sites are hard to reach and yield only small quantities, Shilajit has never become a mass-market raw material.
The collected raw material contains soil, small stones, and other contaminants. Traditionally, it is dissolved in water, filtered, and thickened again. Today, Shilajit used in supplements is usually purified in several stages, dried, and standardized as a powdered extract.
💡 Good to know: Shilajit is not a mineral resource that will eventually run out: at good sites, new material keeps seeping from the rock during warm summers. The yield is still small, however, which is one reason Shilajit has never become a mass-market raw material.
Shilajit in Ayurveda and tradition
In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, Shilajit has been regarded for more than 3,000 years as a Rasayana—a term for substances associated with vitality and longevity. It is described, among other places, in the Charaka Samhita, one of Ayurveda’s classic foundational texts. The ancient texts even distinguish four types based on their metal content: gold-, silver-, copper-, and iron-bearing Shilajit, with the iron-bearing variety considered the most common.
Mumijo also has a long tradition in Tibet, Persia, and Central Asia. It is still traded in markets in countries such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In the Soviet Union, systematic research into Mumijo began in the 1950s. This tradition is culturally fascinating, but it is not scientific evidence of an effect.
Ingredients: fulvic acid, humic substances, and minerals
Shilajit is a complex natural product. Most of it consists of humic substances, particularly fulvic acid (also called fulvic acids) and humic acids. These are not individual molecules, but groups of related organic acids that are also found in humus-rich soils. They give Shilajit its dark color and earthy smell.
Shilajit also contains so-called dibenzo-α-pyrones (DBP), some of which are bound to proteins, as well as small amounts of minerals and trace elements, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. It also contains traces of amino acids and triterpenes. Dibenzo-α-pyrones are considered characteristic of genuine Shilajit and are also used in analyses as an indicator of authenticity. The amounts of each compound vary greatly depending on the source, the rock, and the purification process.
One important point when comparing products: fulvic acid percentages depend on the measurement method. The same raw material may have significantly different values on the label depending on the method used.
💡 Good to know: You may already know fulvic acid from gardening: it also forms when leaves and plant matter break down into humus in soil. Shilajit is, in a sense, humus that has “matured” in rock over a very long time.
Shilajit benefits: what research is investigating
Most research on Shilajit comes from laboratory and animal studies. There are only a few human studies, and most have been conducted using one specific standardized raw material: PrimaVie®, the branded ingredient also used in our capsules.
This is an important distinction with Shilajit. Because its composition varies greatly depending on where it is found, study results apply only to the specific raw material used in the research. PrimaVie® is one of the few Shilajit ingredients studied in placebo-controlled human trials. You’ll find the individual studies in the references below.
For context: the studies are small, lasted from a few weeks to a few months, and have rarely been independently repeated. Long-term data are lacking.
Taking Shilajit: when, how much, and for how long
How do you take Shilajit?
Swallow capsules with plenty of fluid alongside a meal. Traditionally, a pea-sized amount of resin or paste is dissolved in warm—but not boiling—water, tea, or milk. Shilajit tastes very bitter and earthy, so capsules are more palatable for many people.
How much Shilajit per day?
There is no universally accepted dose. Always follow the recommended serving on the package. Studies have generally used 250 to 500 mg of purified extract per day. More is not better—do not exceed the recommended daily amount.
Shilajit in the morning or evening?
There is no proven benefit to taking it at a specific time. Many people take Shilajit in the morning with breakfast because it is easy to fit into their daily routine. Consistency matters more than the time of day.
How long should you take it?
Human studies generally lasted from eight weeks to a few months. There is not enough reliable data on longer-term use. If you want to take Shilajit long term, it is best to discuss it with a pharmacist or doctor.
💡 Good to know: Genuine Shilajit resin becomes hard and brittle in the cold, but soft and sticky in a warm hand. Many people use this as a quick authenticity test, but only a laboratory analysis can provide reliable confirmation.
Shilajit side effects and safety
Purified Shilajit is generally well tolerated at typical doses. Human studies reported no serious side effects with up to 500 mg daily for several months. Occasional gastrointestinal complaints may occur.
Purity is key. Raw, unpurified Shilajit may contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, or mercury from the rock, as well as microorganisms. Choose only purified products whose batches have been tested by an independent laboratory.
Who should not take Shilajit?
Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children should avoid Shilajit because there is not enough safety data for these groups. Check with a doctor before taking it if you regularly take medication or iron supplements, have a heart, kidney, or liver condition, have gout, or have an iron-storage disorder (hemochromatosis).
Is Shilajit banned?
No. In the EU, Shilajit (Mumijo) is classified in the Novel Food Catalogue as not novel in food supplements. It can therefore be sold as a food supplement. In conventional foods, however, it would be considered a novel food and require separate authorization.
Rumors about a ban usually have two causes: warnings about contaminated raw material from uncontrolled sources, and products advertised with unauthorized medicinal claims. Neither concerns the substance itself, but rather the quality and advertising of individual suppliers.
Buying Shilajit: resin, powder, or capsules?
- Resin (paste): the most traditional form, usually sold in a small glass jar. It is difficult to dose precisely, has a very intense taste, and its composition varies from batch to batch.
- Powder: purified and dried, it can be mixed into drinks but still tastes quite bitter.
- Capsules: flavorless and precisely dosed. A standardized extract adjusted to consistent levels is a good choice.
How to identify genuine Shilajit: what to look for when buying
- Standardized extract: A good raw material is adjusted to consistent levels and states its fulvic acid content—ideally with the measurement method specified.
- Every batch laboratory-tested: for heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as microorganisms.
- Traceable origin: The region and raw material supplier should be known.
- Short ingredient list: extract and capsule shell, with no fillers or anti-caking agents.
- Realistic price: Purified, tested Shilajit is labor-intensive to produce. A noticeably low price is more likely to be a warning sign.
- Responsible marketing: Be wary of products advertising Shilajit as a miracle cure or making medicinal claims.
Shilajit from Vitalplant
Our Shilajit capsules contain 500 mg of PrimaVie® Shilajit extract per capsule. PrimaVie® is a purified, standardized branded ingredient from the Himalayas, adjusted to consistent levels and one of the few Shilajit ingredients studied in humans. The capsule contains nothing but the extract and a vegan hydroxypropyl methylcellulose shell—no fillers or anti-caking agents. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.
PrimaVie® is a registered trademark of Natreon, Inc.
