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4 serious shilajit side effects

Main to remember

  • Shilajit may contain heavy metals, including arsenic, lead and mercury, which can be toxic to the body.
  • Shilajit can interact with hormonal drugs, chemotherapy and aspirin.
  • Shilajit should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or by people with medical conditions, including excess iron or specific cancers.

Shilajit is a food supplement formed from rocks in the Himalayas mountains. In nature, Shilajit is a brownish black gum compound with an intense odor. This popular Ayurvedic medicine has traditionally been used to treat bone fractures, injuries and skin protection, among other conditions.

1. Toxicity of heavy metals

Shilajit can contain harmful heavy metals, Like arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, cobalt and thallium, which come from earthly crust. Harmful even in small quantities, these heavy metals are linked to health risks such as cancer and organ damage (for example, kidneys, brain, heart, skin and liver).

Brut shilajit and certain commercial products may contain levels of these metals which exceed safe limits. This is why the selection of high quality shilajit is crucial if you decide to try it.

2. Anaphylaxis

Although rare, there is A case report of a woman who has developed anaphylaxisA potentially fatal allergic reaction, after taking Shilajit. His symptoms included low blood pressure, difficulties in breathing and fainting.

3. Redness of the skin

Socket Shilajit by mouth caused skin redness in a 14 -week clinical trial in middle -aged women.

4. Cardiac frequency changes

A The study of animals revealed That at low concentrations, Shilajit lowered the heart rate, while high concentrations, it has increased the heart rate.

So far, there is no evidence that Shilajit has the same effect in humans, but be sure to contact your health care provider if you notice changes in your heart rate while taking this supplement.

Interactions to keep in mind

  • Chemotherapy medicines: Animal studies suggest that Shilajit could stimulate the effects of certain cancer drugs, but it is not clear if this happens in humans. So, if you follow a cancer treatment, it is best to check first with your health care provider.
  • Aspirin: In rats, Shilajit seems to protect the intestinal lining from the damage induced by aspirin; However, its effects in humans are not clear.
  • Hormonal drugs: Shilajit can increase testosterone levels, which could increase side effects if you are on other testosterone boosters – think of acne, high blood pressure or even breast enlargement in men. It could also make drugs based on estrogen, such as birth control, less effective.

Who should be careful or avoid Shilajit?

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Shilajit can contain heavy metals that can harm a development fetus or baby and cause development delays.
  • People with hormone -sensitive cancers: Because Shilajit can increase testosterone, it is not recommended for those who have breast, ovary or prostate cancers.
  • Those who suffer from the activation syndrome of mastocytes (MCAS): Shilajit can increase the risk of serious allergic reactions with this condition.
  • People with high iron levels or related conditions: Shilajit can increase iron levels in the body. This could be dangerous if you suffer from disorders such as hemochromatosis or falciform anemia.

In the United States, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate food supplements of how it regulates prescription drugs. Consequently, certain supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label.

When you choose an additional cost, search for products tested or certified independently by organizations such as NSF, US Pharmacopeia or ConsumerLab.com.

For personalized advice, consult your health care provider, your nutritionist dietitian (DR or RDN) or pharmacist.

Very well health uses only high -quality sources, including studies evaluated by peers, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to find out more about how we check the facts and keep our content precise, reliable and trustworthy.
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  2. Kamgar E, Zembrzuska J, Zembrzuski W, et al. Quantification of thallium in Shilajit and its supplements to reveal the potential risk of consumption of this traditional popular drug. BMC Chem. 2025; 19 (1): 20. Published 2025 January 18. DOI: 10.1186 / S13065-025-01384-7

  3. Jambi EJ, Abdulaziz Alshubaily F. Shilajit potentiates the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and attenuates the damage of the liver and kidneys induced by metastases in osteosarcoma rats. SAUDI J BIOL SCI. 2022; 29 (9): 103393. Doi: 10.1016 / J.SJBS.2022.103393

  4. Jomova K, Alomar Sy, nepovimova e, et al. Heavy metals: toxicity and effects on human health. Arch Toxicol. 2025; 99 (1): 153-209. Two: 10.1007 / S00204-024-03903-2

  5. Losa F, Deidda M, Firinu D, et al. Anaphylaxis induced by the exercise with an Ayurvedic medication as a cofactor: a case ratio. Case of the world J. 2019; 7 (5): 623-627. DOI: 10.12998 / WJCC.V7.I5.623

  6. DAS A, S EL MASRY M, GNYAWALI SC, et al. The skin transcriptoma of middle-aged women added of natural herbo-mineral shilajit shows the induction of microvascular and extracellular matrix mechanisms. J am coll nutr. 2019; 38 (6): 526-536. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2018.1564088

  7. Gaikwad NS, Panat AV, Deshpande MS, et al. Shilajit effect on the heart of Daphnia: a preliminary study. J Ayurveda Integ Med. 2012; 3 (1): 3-5. DOI: 10.4103/0975-9476.93938

  8. Ghasemkhani N, Tabrizi As, Namazi F, et al. Effects of shilajit treatment on gastric lesions induced by aspirin in rats. Physiol representative. 2021; 9 (7): E14822. Two: 10.14814 / Phy2.14822

  9. BASHER B, ILA V, Barros R, et al. Management of side effects in testosterone replacement therapy. Int braz j urol. 2025; 51 (3): E20259904. DOI: 10.1590 / S1677-5538.IBJU.2025.9904

  10. Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, et al. The effects of shilajit supplementation on the decreases induced by the fatigue of muscle strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. J int Soc Sports Nut. 2019; 16 (1): 3. Published on February 6, 2019. DOI: 10.1186 / S12970-019-0270-2

  11. Velmurugan C, Vivek B, Wilson E, et al. Assessment of the black shilajit safety profile after 91 days of repeated administration in the rat. Asian Pac J too biomed. 2012; 2 (3): 210-214. DOI: 10.1016 / S2221-1691 (12) 60043-4


By Megan Nunn, Pharmd

Nunn is a community pharmacist in Tennessee with 12 years of experience in the advice and immunization of drugs.

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