Since ancient times, shilajit has been a folk medicine in Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, Nepal, Central Asia, Central Africa and Tibet. Shilajit has been used as afolk medicine and inalternative medicine for more than four thousand years.[8] The healing effects of shilajit for different diseases are mentioned in the works ofAristotle,Razi,Biruni,Ibn Sina and others.[1][9][10]
D'Herbelot, in a 17th century publication, stated that the Persians used the substance calledmumiay, ormummy, as a potentcure-all to addressbroken bones and disease.[11]
The substance is known by different names, includingμούμια (inGreek),mumiyo ormumie (Russian: Мумиё),brag-shun orbarakhshin ("oil of the mountains" inMongolia and southernRussian Siberian regions near theSayan Mountains such asKhakassia andBuryatia),rock sap orrock juice (in Tibet, Central Asia, Himalaya, Pamir and Altai),asphalt,mineral pitch,Jew's pitch,slag ormineral wax (in English),silajita orsilajatu (inBengali), hajarul-Musa oraraq-al-jibal (inArabic),myemu,moomiaii ormumnaei (in Persian),Mumie (inGerman),kao-tun ("blood of the mountain" inMyanmar) and "blessing of nature" (Nepal).[13]
It has also been believed that it is formed as a result of the decomposition ofoil rocks by microorganisms. Analysis from the 1970s shows the chemical composition of organic part of the extract (about 50% carbon and 10% hydrogen) proved the oil origin hypothesis.[12] Some researchers hypothesize that shilajit is produced by the decomposition or humification oflatex andresin-bearing plant material from species such asEuphorbia royleana andTrifolium repens over a period of centuries. Another hypothesis is that it is formed fromBryophytes in the immediate area.[14][15]
Shilajit is a mineral tar or resin. It is a highly viscous and very dark brown or black in color. It contains more than 20 elements, includingcalcium,magnesium,sodium,iron,chromium, andlead. It also contains solidparaffin hydrocarbons, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, and alcohols.[12] The mineral content is 15–20%, along with trace elements, includingselenium and heavy metals likemercury andcadmium.[16]
Studied by analytical methods, shilajit samples from theHimalayas (5.1kDa),Altai (8 kDa),Tian Shan (7.5 kDa),Dzungarian (9.0 kDa), demonstrated that it consists of two principal components: the high-molecular part is fulvic nature of sample as typical peat fulvic acids (sample from Sakhtysh Lake, Russia), and the low-molecular part represents a range of vegetative and animal metabolites such as methyldiaminocyclohexane,shikimic acid,hippuric acid,quinic acid, hydroxyhippuric acid, and methyldiaminocyclohexanedimer.[21]
Shilajit, in its raw form, is a viscous, tar-like substance that requires processing to remove impurities and ensure safety for consumption. The traditional purification process involves four key steps: extraction, filtration, purification, and dehydration.[5][14]
Extraction: Shilajit is harvested from high-altitude rock crevices and caves in regions like the Himalayas and Altai Mountains. Collectors scrape the exudate from rocks, typically during warmer months when it is softer.[2]
Filtration: Raw shilajit is dissolved in water to separate insoluble impurities, such as rock fragments and plant debris. The solution is filtered through fine cloth or sieves to yield a cleaner liquid.[14]
Purification: The filtered liquid is further processed to remove contaminants, including potential heavy metals. Traditional methods may involve boiling or mixing with herbal extracts, while modern approaches use laboratory techniques to ensure safety.[5][22] Authenticity checks, such as verifying solubility and consistency, are crucial to ensure the shilajit is genuine and free from adulterants.[23]
Dehydration: The purified solution is spread thinly and dried under sunlight or controlled heat to remove moisture, resulting in a solid, blackish-brown resin or powder suitable for use in traditional medicine or supplements.[14]
Purification is critical to address safety concerns, as raw shilajit may contain hazardous heavy metals like lead.[24]
The composition varies by location[26] and appearance:[27]
Coprolitic (mumiyo-saladji, Pamir and Altai mumiyo, mumiyo-asil, etc.) are semi-fossilized phyto- and zooorganic remains of animal feces mixed with fragments andgrus of rocks and soil formations. The content of extractive substances in coprolite shilajit ranges from 10 to 30% or more.
Shilajit-bearingbreccias are large-clastic rocks (more often, fissured limestones) cemented by shilajit-bearing clay mass. The content of extractive substances is 0.5–5.0%.
Evaporite shilajit occurs in formations of streaks, icicles and shiny black or gray dull, thin films that stain the roofs and walls of caves, niches, grottoes and other large cavities. Its extraction is difficult.
Shilajit is sold in different colors and grades according to the type of metal powders that are supposedly added: red (sauvarna shilajit) with gold, white (rajat shilajit) with silver, blue (tamra, with copper shilajit) and iron-containing black(lauha shilajit shilajit). Of these, black shilajit containing gold is the rarest and is considered to have the best curative effect. In nature, shilajit containing iron is used most in traditional medicine.[18]
Mumioids are a group of natural formations resembling shilajit in appearance. The group includesozokerite,saltpeter, fossilized vegetableresins and gums, mountain wax, white, stone and mountain oils, Antarctic shilajit, lofor, or aqua bitum.[27]
^abcdWilson E, Rajamanickam GV, Dubey GP, Klose P, Musial F, Saha FJ, Rampp T, Michalsen A, Dobos GJ (June 2011). "Review on shilajit used in traditional Indian medicine".J Ethnopharmacol (Review).136 (1):1–9.doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.033.PMID21530631.
^Korchubekov, B. K., Altymyshev, A. A. (1987). Mumië "arkhar-tash" i ego fiziologicheskai︠a︡ aktivnostʹ. Soviet Union: Ilim.
^Source study and textual criticism of monuments of medieval sciences in the countries of Central Asia: a collection of scientific works. (1989). Russia: "Science," Siberian Branch.
^abcdAgarwal, Suraj P.; Khanna, Rajesh; Karmarkar, Ritesh; Anwer, Md. Khalid; Khar, Roop K. (May 2007). "Shilajit: A review".Phytotherapy Research.21 (5):401–405.doi:10.1002/ptr.2100.PMID17295385.S2CID40620070.
^Ghosal, S.; Reddy, J.P.; Lal, V.K. (May 1976). "Shilajit I: Chemical constituents".Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.65 (5):772–773.doi:10.1002/jps.2600650545.PMID932958.
^Khanna, Rajesh; Witt, Matthias; Khalid Anwer, Md.; Agarwal, Suraj P.; Koch, Boris P. (December 2008). "Spectroscopic characterization of fulvic acids extracted from the rock exudate Shilajit".Organic Geochemistry.39 (12):1719–1724.Bibcode:2008OrGeo..39.1719K.doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2008.08.009.
^abSchepetkin, Igor A.; Khlebnikov, Andrei I.; Ah, Shin Young; Woo, Sang B.; Jeong, Choon-Soo; Klubachuk, Olesya N.; Kwon, Byoung S. (27 August 2003). "Characterization and biological activities of humic substances from mumie".Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.51 (18):5245–5254.doi:10.1021/jf021101e.ISSN0021-8561.PMID12926866.
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