Defying Danger: How Shilajit is Created – Part 1

Shilajit has been used for thousands of years and is generally found high in mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and Altai. It is a substance that consists of decomposed plant remains and humus and is found on the rocks of mountains, typically between 1,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level.

Millions of years ago, when the Indian subcontinent moved into the Asian continent, the mountains of the Himalayas were formed. Tropical forests got trapped and crushed between the rocks in the process. After millions of years of being pressed between these gargantuan rock layers, the forests were converted into a sticky, tar-like substance called shilajit.

Any time excessive heat causes a crack in the rock, shilajit oozes out of it, settling on the rocks and waiting for someone to come and collect it. Of course, a lot happens between scraping the substance off rocks and infusing it in gummies.

There is so much information, in fact, that it’s necessary to divide it into two separate blog posts! In Part 1, I outline the varieties of shilajit available, explain its chemical composition, and describe the death-defying process of collecting it.

Types of Shilajit

It’s a mistake to assume that there’s only one type of shilajit. In reality, there are several that vary in their chemical composition. This, in turn, depends on where the substance gets collected from. Most researchers believe that the darker the color, the more fossilized the shilajit.

For example, you may find yellowish shilajit, a possible indication that the substance is in its primary powdered form, which means it hasn’t been touched by water. You’ll notice that the ‘secondary form’ of shilajit is waxy and resinous and has come through mountain crevices after making contact with moisture. In essence, yellow shilajit is very different from the darker version.

In general, though, you’ll likely come across four shilajit varieties:

• Tamra: Contains copper and has a bluish colour
• Rajat: Contains silver and has a whitish colour
• Suvarna: Contains gold and has a reddish colour
• Lauha: Contains iron and has a blackish-brown colour

The Lauha version comes from the Himalayas and is often considered the most desirable.

Chemical Composition

The different types of shilajit have varying levels of compounds. The chemical composition of the substance is based on factors such as the rock’s geological nature, the plant species involved, and the humidity, temperature, and altitude of the region.

In general, shilajit can contain anywhere between 60% and 80% organic matter, from 20% to 40% mineral matter, and approximately 5% of trace elements. Since it’s a phytocomplex, shilajit is comprised of 60–80% of humus substances, including fulvic acid and humic acid.

Furthermore, it contains sterols, resin, amino acids, triterpenes, manganese, calcium, lithium, zinc, sodium, and much more! Although the dozens of minerals are certainly beneficial, the suggestion is that shilajit’s benefits come primarily from its high fulvic acid content.

Shilajit: The Making of Something Special

While the mountains have done most of the hard work, you can’t simply scrape shilajit off the rocks and start chowing down! Before it’s ready to be added to our delicious gummies, the substance must be collected, purified, and dried. Here’s how all of the above gets done.

Collection – A Dangerous Mission

Since it forms at altitudes of several thousand meters, collecting shilajit isn’t as simple as bringing a few jars and hiking boots. Business Insider conducted a fascinating interview with a shilajit collector who said that few people in his village would risk climbing the mountains to get the substance due to the high level of danger involved.

He left on the two-day journey to the mountains accompanied by two villagers. Even this route was paved with peril, as it involved walking through forests where bears and tigers live. In this instance, the intrepid trio climbed to 12,000 feet using minimal mountaineering equipment.

After spotting some shilajit, the group had to climb a steep cliff face. The collector made this dangerous trip by himself, climbing across the rocks using only his body weight for support. A single slip would have been fatal!

Finally, he reached the shilajit, but since it was as hard as cement, he chipped it off using a chisel and a rock. He confirmed that the freshly collected shilajit smelled like cow’s urine, and he tasted it to ensure it was the substance he sought. Also, he pointed out that collecting in the summer was a bad idea since a preponderance of snakes appear to lick the shilajit during this time of year.

During this expedition, the collector gathered about 500 grams of shilajit and camped overnight in the mountains with his team.

Next: How Shilajit is Filtered and Dried

Once collected, the shilajit must be filtered to remove the impurities. There are many ways to complete the process, and in Part 2, I show you the ancient and modern methods, which are more similar than you think.