Shilajit (Mumijo)
Shilajit is a mineral-rich exudate from Himalayan and other mountain rocks, standardised to fulvic acid, marketed for energy, testosterone support and fertility. A few small human trials suggest purified shilajit may modestly raise testosterone and improve sperm parameters, but the evidence base is thin. The dominant practical risk is heavy-metal and contaminant load in unpurified products.
01 Overview
Shilajit is a complex of fulvic and humic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones and trace minerals. Proposed benefits centre on mitochondrial and antioxidant support and, in a small purified-extract trial, a rise in total and free testosterone over several weeks in healthy older men. Fertility studies report improved sperm count and motility. Overall the human data are limited and mostly from a few groups.
Users take purified resin or capsules for energy, recovery and mild hormonal support. Because raw shilajit is scraped from rock, unpurified material can carry heavy metals, mycotoxins and free radicals; only lab-purified, tested products should be used. It is otherwise generally well tolerated.
02 Mechanism
Fulvic-acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrone-rich mineral exudate proposed to support mitochondrial energy metabolism, act as an antioxidant and modestly increase testosterone and sperm quality in small studies.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purified extract | 250–500 mg/day | Oral | Purified, fulvic-acid-standardised shilajit; trial dose ~250 mg twice daily. |
| Higher supplemental use | 500–1000 mg/day | Oral | Upper anecdotal range with purified product. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest testosterone increaseA small placebo-controlled trial of purified shilajit reported raised total and free testosterone in older men over 90 days. | small | Clinical | |
| Improved sperm parametersFertility studies report increased sperm count and motility in oligospermic men. | modest | Observational |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy-metal / contaminant exposureRaw or unpurified shilajit can contain lead, arsenic, mercury, mycotoxins and free radicals. | Severe | Product-dependent | Observational | |
| Gastrointestinal upsetOccasional nausea or stomach discomfort. | Mild | Uncommon | Anecdotal |