When I was first asked for Shilajit, it seemed like a wellness fad – and a slightly suspicious one at that. It wasn’t until we were asked repeatedly that we decided to look into where it comes from and what it does. We cautiously brought some in, and then started getting interesting feedback, which prompted us to explore it further.
We’ve now been stocking Shilajit for two years, and it’s become one of our most popular products. Here are a few of the things people suggest it’s good for. I wouldn’t believe all the claims made online – but equally, we’ve seen no negative side effects and have had some very positive feedback.
Most recently, Petra Florence, the brilliant osteopath who works above Organico, recommended it to my teenage son for energy – and he’s doing very well on it, which encouraged me to look a little deeper into the benefits.
Shilajit comes originally from Ayurveda. When Rachel and her husband Keith were in India on a health mission, it was given to them by their Ayurvedic therapist.
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Shilajit is often referred to as ‘the destroyer of weakness’ and has been used for centuries as a tonic for energy, resilience, and longevity.
Shilajit is a natural, resin-like substance that forms over hundreds of years in mountainous regions, most commonly the Himalayas. It develops through the slow breakdown of plant matter, compressed and transformed by microorganisms and environmental conditions into a dense, mineral-rich compound. In its raw form, it appears as a dark, sticky substance that seeps from rocks during warmer temperatures.
What makes it unique is that it’s not a herb, nor a single nutrient – it’s a complex matrix of compounds, including fulvic acid, humic substances and trace minerals (often 80-plus in small amounts).
This complexity is part of both its appeal and the challenge in studying it. Much of the interest in shilajit centres on fulvic acid, a naturally-occurring compound formed during the breakdown of organic matter.
Fulvic acid is thought to support nutrient absorption, act as an antioxidant and help transport minerals into cells. These properties are often used to explain shilajit’s traditional use as a rejuvenating tonic. However, most of the evidence we have comes from laboratory or small-scale studies, so its effects in the human body are still not fully understood.
In Ayurvedic practice, shilajit is classified as a ‘rasayana’ – a substance used to support vitality, energy, and overall resilience. Traditionally, it has been used for: fatigue and low energy; cognitive support; fertility and hormonal balance; recovery and longevity.
Modern research has begun to explore some of these areas. There is early evidence suggesting that shilajit may support energy production and reduce fatigue; have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; contribute to cognitive health; and support testosterone levels in men.
However, it’s important to be clear: most studies are small, and the evidence is still emerging rather than conclusive.
From a natural health perspective, the appeal of shilajit is quite different to typical supplements. Rather than isolating one nutrient (like magnesium or vitamin C), it offers a broad-spectrum, naturally occurring combination of minerals and bioactive compounds.
This aligns with a more holistic view of nutrition – that our bodies often respond better to complex, naturally balanced substances than to isolated compounds.
Many people describe it as supporting more stable, sustained energy, improved resilience to stress and general vitality rather than a quick ‘boost’.
One of the most important considerations with shilajit is purity. In its raw form, it can contain contaminants such as heavy metals, microbes, and environmental toxins. For this reason, it must be properly purified.
At Organico, we’ve chosen to stock Kiki Shilajit resin, as we trust them as a company and know their product is pure. We also carry a couple of Ayurvedic Shilajits in capsule form, and a Shilajit gummy from Known – which can be a more accessible option for teenagers or anyone who struggles with taste or texture.
If you’d like more information on Shilajit, call in to us in Organico and have a chat! Or if you are not local to us, drop us an email on online at organico.ie and we will do our best to advise you.
