Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin that has long been used as a supplement for its healing properties. As with every natural product of value, shilajit with its numerous benefits has a lot of replicas in the market mostly containing fillers. These fake shilajits can be found as powders, tablets and pills. Even the ones labeled as fresh resin or soft resin are mostly watered down. The main component of shilajit is fulvic acid which is practically used as a fertilizer. Fulvic acid is often mined and produced from soft coal deposits. It increases nutrient efficiency by increasing plant nutrient uptake. Hence when this fulvic acid filled with heavy metals, Impurities and harmful microorganisms enter into our bodies they pose more harm than good.
Grades of Shilajit
Shilajit is considered as one of the wonder medicines of Ayurveda. Neither a plant nor animal substance, it is a mineral resin that oozes from the rocks of the Himalayas. Shilajit is widely used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines and is regarded as one of the most important ingredients in Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Shilajit is created from millions of years of geothermal pressure acting on biomasses of plant materials and minerals. This natural process produces a tar-like pitch that gleams in the rocks in the Himalayan region during hot weather. The rocks in various locations are different colors and determine the grade. When the exudate is purified to remove it from the rock, the resulting resin is black or blackish making it impossible to differentiate the grade. There are not just fake products available in the market but also many claim to provide top grade shilajit when it is in fact of lower quality. So not only are there fake products, there are also many claims of lower quality shilajit being top grade. The grades have varying levels of value and are referred to by the colors of the rocks from which it emerges:
- Red and gold rock, (highest grade) - Gold Grade primarily used in rejuvenation therapy.
- Black rock (mainly found in Nepal and Bhutan) - Iron Grade primarily used for imbalances of the tissue system.
- Grey rock - Silver Grade primarily used for imbalances of the Bone marrow/nervous system.
- Brown rock - Copper Grade primarily used for imbalances of the liver
- 5th grade, a useless substance made from animal feces (this is the most prevalent form of resin being sold)
Identifying Original Shilajit That's Pure and Authentic
The following purity test methods for shilajit will ensure that your acquired shilajit is pure and not fake. However even the low grade shilajit is pure and to make sure that you don’t get a fake, use a reliable supplier for authentic shilajit with its colour and grade verified. These Shilajit purity tests distinguish if a compound is or is not 100% Shilajit:
- Pliability - Melts in your hands becoming gooey and sticky. Alternately, if you place it in the refrigerator to cool, it will become very hard and shatter like glass when struck with a hammer. Pure shilajit will always hold its form and not separate into clumps.
- Solubility – Dissolves in warm water or warm milk creating a golden or reddish liquid.
- Flame – Will not light on fire or burn like a candle. Heating shilajit with a blow torch. It will bubble and produce an ash that emanates outwards. But it WILL NOT BURN.
- Form – Do not trust powder forms. Most powders on the market that have any shilajit at all contain between 2 and 30 percent. All powders have additives and fillers in them. Standardized extracts add fulvic acid, often the same used in fertilizer to create a standard percentage. No natural substance will have a standard percentage of anything!
Disclaimer:
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References:
- Stohs SJ. “Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo)”. Phytother Res. 2014 Apr;28(4):475-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5018. Epub 2013 Jun 3. Access Date: 18 Feb 2021.
- Khelebnikov A. “Characterization and Biological Activities of Humic Substances from Mumie”. J Agr & Food Chem. 2003: 51(18):5245-54 DOI: 10.1021/jf021101e. Access Date: 18 Feb 2021.
- Frolova, LN, Kiseleva, TL. “Chemical composition of mumijo and methods for determining its authenticity and quality (a review)”. Pharm Chem J 30, 543–547 (1996).