The remarkable health benefits of shilajit

Saturday, October 26, 2013 by: Dr. David Jockers
Tags: shilajit, health benefits, Ayurvedic medicine

(NaturalNews) Shilajit is an Indian Sanskrit word that means "rock-invincible." It was a sacred rock in the Aryuvedic traditions and renowned for its remarkable health benefits. It is a rock-like substance that is found in mountainous regions in Asia. This material has been found to have great detoxification and energy-producing health benefits.

Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like resin substance that oozes out of mountainous regions in the summer when it is heated by the sun. It is formed over centuries by the decomposition of plants and the activity of unique microrganisms such as Euphorbia royleana and Trifolium repens. Shilajit takes centuries to form, and scientists consider it a millenary product of nature.

Cultural uses for shilajit:

Shilajit is traditionally consumed with fermented raw milk by people in Nepal, Northern India and Pakistan. These are the Hunzan and Sherpan regions, where people are renowned for extremely old age and great health. They have remarkable mental function as they age compared to Western countries and rarely ever have age-related disease in these regions.

Depending upon the region and culture of the world where it is found, shilajit takes on several names. In the Caucasas mountains, the variations are slightly different, and it is commonly called mumijo. Western regions have called it asphaltum (similar to asphalt) and mineral wax.

Nutrient components of shilajit:

Shilajit is a phytocomplex that contains over 85 minerals in their ionic form and triterpenes, selenium, phospholipids, humic acid and fulvic acid. These compounds have strong antioxidant properties, while the minerals help give shilajit an energy-enhancing effect. Most shilajit compounds contain between 60-80% fulvic acid, and the greater the content of fulvic acid, the more anti-aging properties the compound contains.

Fulvic acid is water-soluble, moves through the system quickly and acts as a potent antioxidant. Recent studies have shown that the typical Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) of shilajit found in the Andes mountains of Chile was between 50 and 500 Trolox units/g of material. This is significantly higher than many fruits that are touted for their antioxidant capacity, such as noni and blueberries.

Health benefits of shilajit:

Shilajit has shown considerable potential in preventing self-aggregation of pathological filaments in the brain. This plays an important role in age-related mental decline and Alzheimer's disease development. Shilajit has also been used to improve symptoms involved with urinary tract disorders, jaundice, digestive problems, enlarged spleen, epilepsy, anxiety, chronic bronchitis and anemia.

Shilajit is an ionic mineral catalyst:

Shilajit promotes the movement of minerals into muscle, tissue and bone. Some of the translations of this Aryuvedic mineral-herb translate as the "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness." It was thought to be able to conquer any sickness and disease process with the proper dosages at the proper times. It is considered an adptogenic substance that helps people adapt to environmental stressors more effectively.

Due to its ionic component and ability to galvanize minerals, it is very helpful for kidney stones, gall stones, edema and swelling. It also helps prevent ulcers, reduces inflammation, improves blood sugar signaling, has antimicrobial properties and enhances memory and cognitive function. The Aryuvedic herbalists also use it as a yogavaha, or synergistic enhancer of other herbal compounds.

Shilajit in supplement form:

Most of the studies on shilajit have been carried out in Asia, making that continent the expert source on this particular substance. Despite its remarkable health benefits, most in the West have never heard of it due to relative lack of interest on the part of western medicine.

Several herbal companies and supplement manufactures have caught on to these powerful health benefits and have made it available to everyone in western countries. Look for a pure form of this coming from the Himalayan region that has been tested for metals and cross contaminants.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://life.gaiam.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Dr David Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor and owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia where he specializes in functional nutrition, functional medicine and corrective chiropractic care to get to the underlying cause of major health problems.

His website features great articles on natural health and incredible recipes. He is the author of the best-selling book SuperCharge Your Brain - the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset. He has over 50,000 active followers on his social media and email newsletter and is a big influencer in the Primal Health movement.

Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance consultations and health coaching to help you beat disease and reach your health goals. For more information got to www.drjockers.com