Ayurvedic Herbs: Shilajit
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Ayurvedic Herbs
Ayurvedic herbs are one of the many chikitsas or treatments used in Ayurvedic medicine. These herbs are used as part of an herbal protocol recommended by an Ayurvedic professional. Thusly, all the Ayurvedic herbs should not be self-administered and Ayurvedic herbs should only be taken under-advisement of your Ayurvedic Counselor/Practitioner/Doctor and approved by your Primary Care Physician. The information on the Ayurvedic herb of Shilajit is only meant to educate you on the ways in which it is traditionally used in Ayurveda and is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation. Do not use the information found within this post to self-diagnose any medical conditions or treat any health problems or diseases. The information provided is not intended to prescribe or be taken as medical advice. If you have or suspect that you have a medical condition please contact your health care provider immediately.
“The essence of all beings is Earth. The essence of Earth is Water. The essence of Water is plants. The essence of plants is the human being.
Esam bhutanam prthivi rasha, prthivya apo raso-pam osadhayo rasa, osadhinam puruso rasah.”
Shilajit
Latin Name: Asphaltum
English Name: Mineral pitch
Sanskrit Name: Shilajit means “rock overpowering”
Taste (Rasa): pungent, bitter, salty, astringent
Energetics (Virya): heating
Post-Digestive Effect (Vipaka): pungent
Quality (Guna): dry, heavy
Dosha: VPK=, P+ in excess
Tissues (Dhatu): all plasma (rasa), blood (rakta), muscle (mamsa), fat/adipose tissue (meda), bone (asthi), nerve/bone marrow (majja), reproductive tissue (shukra [male]/artava [female])
Systems (Srotamsi): urinary (mutra vaha srotas), reproductive (shukra/artava vaha srotas), nervous (majja vaha srotas)
Constituents: resins (benzoic acid, hippuric acid, fulvic acid); minerals (silica, iron, antimony, calcium, copper, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, sodium, strontium, zinc)
Actions: alterative, diuretic, lithotriptic, antiseptic, tonic, rejuvenative
Ayurvedic Actions: rejuvenative to the lipid tissues kapha and the urinary system (rasayana); enhances sexual potency (vajikarana), enhances the intellect (medhya); alleviates painful urination (mutrakrcchraghna); alleviates disorders of the nervous system (apasmaromadaghna); reduces fat tissue (medohara); alleviates all three dosha (tridohaghna); scractches accumulates toxins from the tissues and channels (chedana)
Biomedical Actions: diuretic, lithotriptic, antidiabetic, nervine, tonic
Indications: urinary, diabetes, reproduction, blood, bones
Precautions: do not mix with high uric acid levels or heavy and hot foods; not for febrile diseases
Preparations: pill, powder
Shilajit is a natural exudate from the rocks of the Himalayas and other mountainous regions and is a main ingredient in the Ayurvedic jam Chyavanprash. It is beneficial for Vata and Kapha prakruti (constitution) and vikruti (imbalances). Shilajit is a mineral supplement that has an affinity for the kidneys as well as the urinary and reproductive systems.
References
Frawley D. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 1999.
Frawley D, Lad V. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 2001.
Gogte VM. Ayurvedic Pharmacology & Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants: Dravyagunavignyam. New Delhi, India: Chaukhambha Publications; 2016.
Pole S. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Singing Dragon; 2013.
