Shilajit, nicknamed “the tear of the Himalayas”, is a mineral resin originating from the rocks of the Himalayas, the Altai and the Caucasus. It is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for its nutritional richness.
Sa grande popularité provient de sa richesse en acide fulvique, acide humique, minéraux et antioxydants. Selon certains travaux, le shilajit serait intéressant pour :
- support cognitive abilities
- boost energy
- stimulate the immune system
But it is said to have other benefits, notably for women’s health. What does the science say about this? I’ve reviewed the studies on shilajit and women’s health.
📚 Read also | Shilajit: 5 good reasons (and a few reservations) to adopt it
Does shilajit have a positive effect on bone health?
Benefits for postmenopausal women
The drop in estrogens around menopause often leads to a decrease in bone mineral density (estrogens stimulate bone formation). Could shilajit support bone health during this period?
A randomized study was conducted among 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. After 48 weeks of daily supplementation, bone loss was slowed and some markers of inflammation and oxidative stress decreased.
This research, while interesting, is still small, and other, larger trials are needed to confirm the effect.
📚 Read also | One-week special menopause menu: the guide designed by a dietitian
Biological mechanisms to explore
Other preclinical studies reinforce the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of shilajit on bone:
- In rats with induced osteoporosis, shilajit increased markers of bone formation, such as osteocalcin, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines
- in cellular models, it promotes the differentiation of stem cells into osteoblasts, the cells that build bone
- and in a tibial bone defect model in the rat, it improves bone regeneration, notably when combined with a graft
What are the mechanisms involved? One hypothesis would be related to the antioxidant action of fulvic acid and its potential contribution to bone formation.
What about weight loss?
If some sites claim that shilajit is useful for weight loss, I have not, however, found solid studies showing a direct effect on weight loss.
The only study I could identify tested a combination of shilajit, chromium, and a plant (Phyllanthus emblica) in overweight participants.
The results showed changes in certain metabolic markers, notably:
- the insulin sensitivity
- the blood lipid profile
- and overall body composition
The problem? The effects are not all significant, nor long-lasting over time; they are difficult to attribute to shilajit alone.
I therefore won’t go so far as to present shilajit as a weight-loss supplement, for lack of evidence.
Does it support women’s libido?
Thanks to its ability to increase testosterone levels according to some studies, shilajit is often associated with male libido.
However, there is little evidence regarding female sexuality. A small-scale study conducted in 2023 did investigate it. For 60 days, 43 women took 200 mg shilajit tablets twice a day.
Their overall sexual satisfaction improved compared with the placebo group. The participants notably reported increased desire and pleasure, as well as a more positive perception of their intimate relationship.
These results are promising, even though the study absolutely did not measure female hormone levels, such as estrogens or progesterone. To confirm this benefit, it would be necessary to replicate this study on a larger scale.
Is shilajit beneficial for the skin?
Shilajit is not an elixir of youth. However, its composition rich in fulvic acid and antioxidants could have a protective effect on skin cells by limiting oxidative stress, one of the main factors in premature aging.
A clinical study conducted in women over 14 weeks showed that oral shilajit improved blood circulation in the skin and activated certain genes involved in its structure.
Why is this interesting? With age, skin microcirculation decreases: the skin therefore receives fewer nutrients and less oxygen, which contributes to the appearance of wrinkles.
So we can understand why shilajit might have an effect on the appearance of the skin. But beware: no study has evaluated its direct impact on wrinkles or radiance. For now, we are only talking about biological mechanisms, not proven aesthetic results. So nothing truly proven today!
Benefits often claimed… but not yet confirmed
On some websites and social media, it is sometimes claimed that shilajit:
- reduces stress and anxiety
- regulates female hormones
- soothes the premenstrual syndrome
- limits menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings
Enough to make shilajit a real ally for women’s health. Yet, I did not find any valid clinical trials in women that support these claims. Studies generally involve animals, concern men, or are not specific to shilajit.
📚 Also read | Is shilajit safe? What the science says
Sources and scientific studies
- Pingali, U., & Nutalapati, C. (2022). Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Alshubaily FA, Jambi EJ. (2022) Correlation between Antioxidant and Anti-Osteoporotic Activities of Shilajit Loaded into Chitosan Nanoparticles and Their Effects on Osteoporosis in Rats.
- Parisa Kangari et al. (2022), Accelerating effect of Shilajit on osteogenic property of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs)
- Guler R, Ozden E, Asır F, Gulsun B. (2025) High-Dose Shilajit Enhances Xenograft-Mediated Bone Regeneration in a Rat Tibial Defect Model: An In Vivo Experimental Study.
- Victoria Martinez et al. (2020), Skin Transcriptome of Middle-Aged Women Supplemented With Natural Herbo-mineral Shilajit Shows Induction of Microvascular and Extracellular Matrix Mechanisms
- S. Pandit et al. (2015), Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers
- Sadiqa Mosavi et al. (2023), Effects of oral Shilajit tablets on sexual function and sexual quality of life among reproductive-aged women: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial
- Das A et al. (2019) Skin Transcriptome of Middle-Aged Women Supplemented With Natural Herbo-mineral Shilajit Shows Induction of Microvascular and Extracellular Matrix Mechanisms.
