A few years ago, shilajit mostly came up in conversations about men’s vitality supplements and gym culture. Lately it has crossed over hard into women’s wellness content too, sold as something that fixes perimenopausal fatigue, “balances hormones,” and restores energy that feels like it has quietly gone missing. If a relative has forwarded you a reel about it, or a chemist has suggested it alongside your usual vitamins, it is worth understanding what shilajit actually is, what it has traditionally been used for, and how much of the current marketing is ahead of the actual research.
Quick Answer
Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin used in Ayurveda for centuries as a general rasayana (rejuvenating) substance, traditionally processed and purified before use. Modern research on it is still small-scale and mostly conducted in men, so claims about perimenopausal energy, hormone balance, or anti-ageing effects in women are not well supported by direct evidence. The bigger practical concern in India is quality and contamination, since unpurified or poorly tested shilajit products have been found to contain heavy metals. Tell your doctor before starting it, and treat dramatic energy or hormone claims with real scepticism.
- Traditionally used in Ayurveda as a general rejuvenating (rasayana) substance, not specifically for perimenopause or women's hormones
- Most clinical research so far has studied male fertility and testosterone, not perimenopausal women
- Contains fulvic acid and minerals, with some early evidence for antioxidant and anti-fatigue effects, though studies remain small
- Heavy metal contamination in poorly purified or untested commercial products is a documented, genuine safety concern
- Always disclose use to your doctor, especially if you have kidney issues, iron overload conditions, or take regular medication
What Is Shilajit, Actually?
Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like resin that seeps out of rock layers in high-altitude mountain ranges, including parts of the Himalayas, formed over a very long time from the slow decomposition of plant matter compressed under rock. In classical Ayurvedic texts it is described as a rasayana, a category of substances believed to support overall vitality, longevity, and resilience, rather than something aimed at a single symptom or organ system. Classical practice also describes a purification process (shodhana) that raw shilajit is meant to go through before use, intended to remove impurities and make it safer to consume, which matters considerably more than most current marketing acknowledges.
Chemically, it mainly contains fulvic acid, along with a range of minerals and trace elements, which is the basis for most of the “mineral-rich” and “antioxidant” language used to promote it today.
What Was It Traditionally Used For?
In Ayurveda, shilajit was traditionally recommended for general strength, stamina, and recovery, for supporting bone and joint health, and as part of formulations for male reproductive health specifically, rather than as a women’s hormone remedy. Its historical use in texts and traditional practice around perimenopause or female hormonal balance specifically is thin to nonexistent, which is worth being honest about given how it is currently being marketed to women.
What Does the Modern Evidence Actually Show?
Most of the clinical research on shilajit that exists has been conducted in men, looking at outcomes like testosterone levels, sperm quality, and exercise-related fatigue, with some small trials showing modestly positive results. Research specifically in women, and specifically in perimenopausal women, is essentially absent. A handful of small animal studies and lab-based research point to antioxidant and anti-fatigue properties that are biologically plausible, but plausible mechanisms are not the same as proven benefit in a hormonally fluctuating human body, and extrapolating male-fertility findings to perimenopausal energy or mood claims is a significant leap the current evidence does not support.
Claims that shilajit “balances hormones” or specifically treats hot flashes, mood swings, or brain fog in perimenopause are not backed by any direct clinical trial data at this time. This does not mean it has zero physiological effect, only that the confident claims circulating in supplement marketing are running well ahead of what has actually been studied in women going through this transition.
Why Is Quality and Contamination the Real Concern Here?
This is the part of the shilajit conversation that gets the least attention in promotional content, and it matters more than the vitality claims. Several independent lab analyses over the years, including some conducted on products sold internationally, have found concerning levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury in unpurified or poorly processed shilajit, which can accumulate naturally from the rock and soil it forms in if it is not properly treated. Classical Ayurvedic purification exists specifically to address this, but there is no guarantee that every commercial product sold today has gone through a rigorous version of that process, or been independently lab-tested for heavy metal content.
In India’s loosely regulated supplement and Ayurvedic product market, purity and sourcing vary enormously between brands, and an attractive price or convincing packaging is not evidence of safety. If you are considering shilajit at all, looking specifically for products that disclose third-party lab testing for heavy metals is a meaningfully safer starting point than choosing based on marketing claims alone.
| Consideration | What to know |
|---|---|
| Traditional use | General vitality and strength (rasayana), historically more associated with male reproductive health formulations |
| Modern research | Small, mostly male-focused studies on testosterone, fertility, and fatigue; no dedicated perimenopause trials |
| Energy and “hormone balance” claims for women | Not supported by direct clinical evidence at this time |
| Biggest safety concern | Heavy metal contamination in poorly purified or untested products |
| Who should be especially cautious | Anyone with kidney disease, haemochromatosis or iron overload conditions, or on regular prescribed medication |
In the Indian Context
Shilajit is widely available in India, from traditional Ayurvedic pharmacies to general stores to e-commerce, often at a wide range of price points that bears little relationship to actual quality or purity. A product costing a few hundred rupees and one costing several thousand can carry the same uncertainty about contamination if neither discloses independent lab testing. If joint-family conversations have turned to shilajit as “something for energy, like what your father-in-law takes,” it is worth gently separating the traditional, purified Ayurvedic use from the specific, unproven claims now being made about perimenopausal hormones and energy.
If persistent fatigue is the actual concern driving interest in shilajit, it is worth getting that properly evaluated rather than reaching for a supplement first. Fatigue in your 40s has several common, treatable causes beyond perimenopause itself, including thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency, and vitamin D deficiency, all of which are straightforward to test for. Our free symptom check can help you understand how much of your fatigue is likely hormonal, and our community has honest, India-specific discussions on what women have actually tried for energy during this transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is shilajit the same as other Ayurvedic rasayana herbs like shatavari or ashwagandha? No. It is a mineral resin rather than a plant-derived herb, with a different traditional use case (general vitality and male reproductive health) compared to shatavari’s traditional focus on women’s reproductive health or ashwagandha’s focus on stress.
Can shilajit help with perimenopausal hot flashes or mood swings specifically? There is no direct clinical evidence for this. Its traditional use and modern research focus on general vitality, fatigue, and male fertility outcomes, not perimenopausal hormonal symptoms.
How do I know if a shilajit product is safe to try? Look specifically for products that disclose third-party heavy metal testing and clear sourcing information. Price and packaging alone are not reliable indicators of purity in India’s largely unregulated supplement market.
Should I tell my doctor if I’m taking shilajit? Yes, always. This matters particularly if you have kidney issues, an iron overload condition, or take regular prescribed medication, since your doctor needs the complete picture of what you are taking to interpret your tests and advise you safely.
The Second Spring is an information resource, not a medical provider. For personal advice, speak with your doctor or gynaecologist. Write to us at thesecondspringofficial@gmail.com
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