While on a trip to Kashmir, my mother picked up shilajit, a mineral rich in fulvic acid and known to increase testosterone and harbour a range of benefits (primarily for men), from bone health to skin elasticity, from the local market. Thus began my journey trying this mystical substance from the Himalayas.
What is shilajit?
All the rage on TikTok and Instagram, it has been a cornerstone remedy in Ayurveda for thousands of years. “Take it in the size of a single cumin seed everyday,” was the recommendation from locals. I struggled to wrap my head around it initially, because how could such a small dose do anything? But within a month, my energy level had risen, I was being more efficient in my workouts and it reduced mental fatigue. If men carried even a fraction of the same energy, colour me jealous. Whether it helped with my skin was yet to be decided.
“In Ayurveda, it’s considered a rasāyana, a rejuvenating substance thought to support vitality by helping the body absorb and use nutrients more efficiently at the cellular level. It is often seen as a ‘carrier’ that enhances other processes rather than a single-action supplement,” shares Nidhi Pandya, certified advanced Ayurvedic practitioner and author of Your Body Already Knows.
How many forms of shilajit are there?
Shilajit comes in many forms but it is especially popular in resin format, which is supposed to be the purest, most unadulterated form. However, it also comes in the form of gummies, powder and capsules. It is recommended to buy it from verified sources.
How should one consume shilajit?
When using the resin, a pea size amount can be mixed in with warm water, milk or honey. There should be breaks in consumption after every six to 14 weeks or as recommended by your healthcare expert. “With shilajit, more is not better. It tends to work best when introduced slowly and monitored over time,” suggests Pandya.
Shilajit for women
While shilajit is popular in Ayurvedic medicine, less is researched about its impact on women. The extracellular matrix (ECM), a network of protein and molecule that holds tissues together and is found in almost every tissue, is integral for skin health because it provides a scaffold and sends biochemical signals that help skin cells grow and function. With age, ECM reduces, causing wrinkles. Collagen is one of the major ECM components. A study, which focused on women using shilajit, assessed that shilajit usage significantly increased expression of key collagen genes, which may improve ECM as a whole.
I began taking the resin every alternate day, half an hour before my workouts over the course of one month. Owing to intuition, I avoided it a week before my period. I didn’t have any expectations, but it did make me feel very hotheaded in the beginning and I had that unexplainable feeling of increased heat in the body.
After a month’s time, my energy level had risen, I was being more efficient in my workouts and it reduced mental fatigue. If men carried even a fraction of the same energy, colour me jealous. I also began noticing subtle changes in my skin after the first couple of weeks. It began looking clearer. One of the ways in which I knew my skin had altered was because of the slightly firmer appearance and it looking hydrated despite all my skincare products remaining the same.
Can shilajit affect hormones or menstrual cycles?
One big worry with consuming shilajit is how it would impact my hormonal health. I did experience a week-long delay in my menstrual cycle in the later stage of my consumption. “Shilajit has been shown to interact with hormone activity, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Many women are quite sensitive to hormonal shifts. It’s safer to think of shilajit as a hormone-modulating substance rather than a neutral ‘take it and forget it’ supplement,” Pandya adds.
What are the pros of taking shilajit for skin health?
“Shilajit may support healthy circulation and cellular health, thus enhancing skin vitality and overall resilience,” adds Pandya. This is in addition to Shilajit’s role acting as an ingredient that increases energy and sharpens focus.
What precautions should you take when consuming shilajit?
Dr Ravya Khanna, M.D. at Georgetown University Medical Center, warns of the potential side effects of consuming unprocessed shilajit which can be contaminated with heavy metals, free radicals or microbial residues. Nidhi Pandya adds that she never recommends buying it from unverified sources.
It should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women and for anyone under any medication, it’s best to consult your doctor before proceeding. It can also trigger breakouts or acne if you have acne-prone skin and an increase in testosterone can make skin oilier. “That doesn’t make shilajit inherently ‘bad’ for the skin; it just means dose, timing and individual hormone patterns matter and it may not be a good fit for women already dealing with hormonal acne,” recommends Pandya.
Would I recommend shilajit?
100%, if you’re looking to add more energy and potentially improve your skin. However, it doesn’t work in isolation. While taking shilajit, I was very careful with maintaining proper hydration and eating more fibre and protein. I never consumed shilajit unless I had rigorous workout hours ahead of me. My skincare looked like this: vitamin C, a hyaluronic gel-based moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning; cleanser and a rich moisturiser at night.
It’s also important to observe how shilajit impacts your body individually; for instance, pairing it with dairy caused heartburn for me. Tailor it to your own individual need, preferably under expert guidance.
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