Thursday, 21 February 2013

Shilajit or Shilajeet or Asphaltum - One of the best Natural Remedies for Energy Boosting

Shilajit or Shilajeet is one of the most powerful and effective single substance in Ayurveda and possesses the place of a Super-nutrient whose energy and vitality boosting effect don’t have a comparison in entire arena of herbs or dietary supplements. It provides antioxidants, organic compounds, minerals and trace minerals. It is also known as Asphaltum or Asphaltum punjabinum.

Ancient View Regarding Shilajit:

Many researchers claim that Shilajit is an exudate from the rocks of mountains and is basically derived from vegetative source. Several verses of Sushruta Samhita and Rasatarangini, the ancient reference books of Ayurveda, also maintain this point of view.
According to Sushruta, in the months of May-June the sap or juice of plants (buried long away) comes out as exudation from the rocks of mountains due to strong heat of sun. Rasatarangini also claim that the Shilajit is an exudation of plants which comes from the rocks of mountains in presence of scorching heat. It is soluble in water and used in Ayurveda only after purification along the prescribed methods.

Modern View About Shilajit:

Shilajeet is a source of Ionized and Activated form of Minerals and trace minerals. The Minerals are present in chelated forms that are highly bioavailable.
It also has fulvic acid, humic acid, hippuric acid and benzopyrones which are considered bioactive phytonutrients that are supposed to be derived from rock rhizospere (plants found deep inside rocks).

Prominence of Shilajit in Ayurveda:

Shilajeet is a Sanskrit word meaning "Conqueror of Mountains and Destroyer of Weakness." It is considered as one of the most important “Rasayana” or Rejuvenating agent. Ayurvedic texts contain formulas of many Rasayana and most of them contain many herbs and minerals.
“Jara-Vyadhi-Prashamanam Dehadardhyakaram Param Medha Smritikaram Balyam Kshirashi Tatprojyate”
“Shilajeet possesses antiaging and youthfulness promoting properties, improves vitality, stamina and strength of body; enhances the natural resistance of body against disorders; Improves memory and intelligence.”
(Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthan, Ch.1-3/19)

Benefits of Shilajit:

Disease Modifying Capability of Asphaltum: This activity is commonly found in Autoimmune disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis and manifests the symptoms. Researchers from Montana State University, USA found carboxylic group fraction of Shilajeet and fulvic acid (II arabinogalactan) possessing complement fixating property. This activity is responsible for therapeutic benefits of Shilajeet in Autoimmune disorders. According to Ayurveda, Autoimmune disorders are related to immunity and “Avrita Vata” (Complex disorders with covering of vitiated Doshas) and Shilajeet is the most important supplement for all these disorders.
Antiaging – Promotes Youthfulness and Longevity  - Asphaltum:The minerals and plant nutrients in Shilajeet provide powerful antioxidants in body that scavenge free radicals and prevent degenerative changes in body. Antioxidants are responsible for retarding aging process, improving youthfulness and longevity.
Highly Bioavailable and Chelated Minerals: Minerals need to be chelated, bound to a protein molecule, to be bioavailable. (Mineral assimilation without chelation is only about 10%.) Fulvic acid, a by-product of plant photosynthesis, is the strongest chelating agent known. Fulvic acid is what makes the trace minerals in Shilajeet highly bioavailable. They act as free radical scavengers, supply vital electrolytes, buffers pH, enhance and transport nutrients, catalyze enzyme reactions, increase assimilation, chelate macro and trace minerals, and enhance electrochemical balance.
Shilajeet Helps Reduce Risk of Degenerative Disorders: Shilajeet is capable of rendering harmful heavy metals from inside tissues and body harmless by turning them into organic and safe for body. For example, Aluminum could be harmful when present in excess inside body. Fulvic Acid converts it into Aluminum Silicate which is safe as it is present in staple foods as beans that we consume in sufficient quantity.  
Asphaltum Improves Energy Levels: It energizes the physiology without overstimulation or any negative effects by providing minerals, trace minerals and organic nutrients.  Many people who use it tell that its energy boosting effect is like no other supplement.
Asphaltum as Top Rated Adaptogen: It is also a powerfulAdaptogenic that improves natural resistance of body against disorders and enhances immunity.
Shilajeet as Powerful Aphrodisiac for Men and Women: It is anAphrodisiac for both men and women. It improves vitality and libido. The health of reproductive system is maintained for optimal sexual enjoyment and fertility.

frm
http://www.holistic-herbalist.com/shilajit.html

Asphaltum punjabianum


    Vernacular names :
  • Sanskrit : Shilajit, Silajit, Silaras (Chopra 1958)
  • Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi : Silajita (Chopra 1958)
  • Hindi : Ral-yahudi (Nadkarni 1954)
  • Bengali : Silajatu (Chopra 1958)
  • Tamil : Uerangyum (Chopra 1958)
  • Arabic : Hajar-ul-musa (Chopra 1958)
  • Persian : Momiai Faqurual Yahud (Nadkarni 1954)
  • Russian : Mummio, Mumie (Bucci 2000)
  • English : Asphalt, Mineral Pitch (Chopra 1958)
  • Latin : Asphaltum (Tirtha 1998)
Botanical descriptionBitumen mineral (Puri 2003)

     Shilajit is the most important drug of Ayurvedic and folk-medicine systems.  In the raw form it is a bituminous substance, which is a compact mass of vegetable organic matter composed of dark red gummy matrix.  It is bitter in taste, and its smell resembles cow’s stale urine.  The botanical name of Shilajit is asphaltum (mineral pitch).
     In the Ayurvedic texts it is called as Silajatu or Shilajatu, but is commonly known as Shilajit.  .Its Sanskrit meaning is “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness.”  Several other terms like DhaturasDhatusara, Shiladhatu, etc. also have been used for it in ancient medical texts like Sushruta Samhita, Charak Samhita, Rasarangini, etc.  The term dhatu, which was used as synonyms of Shilajit like Dhahurasa, Dhahusara etc., was simply to emphasize its potentialities as rasayana, which increases the activities of the saptadhatus of the body.
     Shilajit usually collected over the ground or is found flowing out from between fissures in the rocks in summer months due to strong heat of the sun.  In India, it is found in the romantic surroundings of the Himalayas: from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Kashmir in the west.  It is collected in small quantities from steep rock faces at altitudes between 1000 and 5000 m. Shilajit samples from different region of the world have different physiological properties.
FROM
http://shilajeeta.com/

SHILAJEET- Asphaltum Is best source of nutritive minerals essentials for daily requirements.


SHILAJEET- Asphaltum Is best source of nutritive minerals essentials for daily requirements.
It helps in relief from deficiency of micronutrients which improves one s quality of life by rejuvenating properties thus imparts feeling of well being. Shilajeet in Sanskrit means 'Conqueror of mountain and destroyer of weakness'. Shilajeet is a herbo-mineral ejected out of fissures in mineral rich rocks during hot weather. It is found to be produced naturally in mountain areas especially Himalayas. Traditional Use: In Ayurveda Shilajit is considered a 'RASAYANA' which helps to increase strength, immunity and vitality. It helps acclimatize to newer environmental and climate conditions. Shilajeet acts as a restorative tonic, slowing down wear and tear of body tissues, which in turn delays aging. Shilajeet increases the vigour and vitality. In Ayurveda Shilajeet is used as anti aging rejuvenator and powerful general health tonic*. Shilajeet extract is standardized to contain a minimum of 2.5% Fulvic Acid. Direction: As a dietary supplement take 2 capsules at bedtime with juice or milk or as recommended by your health care professional. Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Keep tightly closed in a cool and dry place. Note: If you are Pregnant, nursing or plan to become pregnant consult your health care Professional before using any herbal Products. Note:These statements have not been evaluated by Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
http://www.amazon.com/Shilajeet-Asphaltum-Anti-Aging-Rejuvenator/dp/B000JNBWEQ

Shilajit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Shilajit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shilajit, also known as silajitsalajeet or mumijo, and momia[1] is a thick, sticky tar-like substance with a colour ranging from white to dark brown (the latter is more common), sometimes found in Caucasus mountainsAltai Mountains, and Tibet mountains and mountains of gilgit baltistan Pakistan.[2]
Shilajit is a blackish-brown exudation, of variable consistency, obtained from steep rocks of different formations found in the Himalayas
It is used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. The composition of shilajit has been investigated numerous times in both India and the former USSR, and depends on the location where it is found. It has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionicform, as well as triterpeneshumic acid and fulvic acid.[3][4][5] A similar substance from theCaucasus Mountains, and the Altai Mountains is called mumijo (Russian).[6]




ASPHALTUM FROM HIMALAYA


Shilajeet

Botanical Name :- Asphaltum 

English Name :- Mineral Pitch


Shilajeet is an exudates that is pressed out from layers of rock in the mountains. It is composed of humus and organic plant material that has been compressed by layers of rock.


Source:                                   
Shilajeet is obtained from rocks in the Himalayan region. It is a form of mineral that drips from the cracks of the rocks during hot weather. It is decomposition of the plant matter in the rocks centuries before. The bio-transformed plant matter is extruded from the rocks by geothermal pressures. It is collected in raw form for further purification. Walking high in the Himalayan Mountains, a thick rich paste oozing out from the rocks in the towering cliffs is Shilajeet.

Shilajeet is the most important drug of Ayurvedic and folk- medicine systems. In the raw form it is a bituminous substance, which is a compact mass of vegetable organic matter composed of dark red gummy matrix. It is bitter in taste. 


In the Ayurvedic texts it is called as silajatu or shilajatu, but is commonly known as Shilajeet. Its Sanskrit meaning is "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness."


Discovery of Shilajeet:
Shilajeet has been used for thousands of years and for as many different health problems. It is listed as a healing agent in ancient Sanskrit writings and is used today in Ayurvedic health practices. The discovery is said to be made by Himalayan villagers observing large white monkeys migrate to the mountains in the warm summer months. The monkeys were seen to be chewing a semi-soft substance that flowed from between layers of rock. The villagers attributed the monkey’s great strength, longevity and wisdom to the substance. They began to consume it themselves and reported a broad spectrum of improvements in health. It seemed to give them more energy, relieve digestive problems, Increase sex drive, improve memory and cognition, improve diabetes, reduce allergies, improve the quality and quantity of life and it seemed to cure all diseases.
Processing of Shilajeet
Approximately 40% of the raw material remain after extraction. Proper extraction is very important to guarantee a consistent high level of active ingredients, remove inactive substances, remove harmful free radicals and mycotoxin producing fungi and fungal toxins. Good quality Shilajeet is then standardized to guarantee consistent levels of the active ingredients.


Attributed Medicinal Properties / Healing Properties :
Enlarge Prostate :


Shilajeet has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda as an adjunct to a healthy prostate and urinary tract. It help maintain the balanced flow of testosterone & help maintain the urine’s flow.
Urinary problems:
Shilajeet is used in kidney function. It is effective in treating burning urine, incontinence of urine due to enlarged prostate or stone in the bladder or kidney.
Increase sex drive:
Shilajeet in India, is an aphrodisiac. It is well known that Shilajeet would return the libido of people to a level of teenagers. Shilajeet increases the core energy responsible for sexual and spiritual power.  The use of Shilajeet for renewing vitality.
High blood sugar is a growing (literally) health problem today. Millions of people around the world have some degree of high blood sugar and are progressing on to diabetes. Shilajeet has long been used for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in Ayurvedic medicine.
Antioxidant:
Antioxidants can safely neutralize a free radical without becoming a free radical them self. Shilajeet is a powerful antioxidant that has the added benefit of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Anti-inflammatory:
Shilajeet is a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It has been shown to reduce acute chemically induced edema by 77%. The antioxidant properties also help to prevent inflammation.
Iron is required to make red blood cells. Shilajeet is a good source of trace minerals and contains iron. The fulvic acids help carry the iron into the body making it bio-available.
It literally means joint inflammation. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to decrease and relieve joint inflammation and pain. The effects on the neurotransmitters in the brain also seem to help relieve joint pain.
Cholesterol: 
Shilajeet was found to lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum phospholipids in test subjects feed high cholesterol diet.
Shilajeet amplifies the benefits of other herbs by enhancing their bio-availability. It helps transport nutrients deep into the tissue and removes deep-seated toxins. Shilajeet improves memory and the ability to handle stress. Shilajeet reduces recovery time in muscle, bone and nerve injuries. Shilajeet stimulates the immune system and reduces chronic fatigue. It is adaptogen (Rasayana) that helps to combat immune disorders, urinary tract disorders, nervous disorders and sexual dissatisfaction. It promotes strong bones and heals damages muscle tissues, osteoarthritis and porous.



WHAT IS SALAJEET OR SHILAJIT? ASPHALTUM OR MINERAL PITCH - ELIXIR OF LIFE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF SALAJEET

SALAJEET, SHILAJIT, MINERAL PITCH, ASPHALTUM
Salajeet is the Urdu name for this mineral pitch and shilajit is the name in Hindi. It is the concentrated plant matter from prehistoric plants that were trapped in mountain ranges when tectonic plates collided to give birth to the mountains. (In the same way a s an ancient sea was trapped when the Himalayas formed, which is why we get Himalayan sea salt.) In the Himalayas this tar-like substance oozes from the rocks during spring and summer and local people gather it for medicinal use. It is fed to Pathan children in milk to make them strong and healthy, and the mountain people and hakims swear by it for all ills. It contains so many minerals that it is good for bone, muscle and tissue growth, and one man we know, who is a local book seller, says that his hand was beginning to get crooked and hook-like, so he took salajeet which he gathered himself as he didn’t trust anyone else to give him the unadulterated stuff, for 15 days and now is hand is back to normal.
Black Salajeet
  An Englishman found it in the 1870s in the Himalayas and noticed that the monkeys that fed on it were not bald at 10 years of age as were their relatives in the plains. He attributed this to the sticky black substance they ate and this is how the West first heard of salajeet, which has been used in medicine in the Indian subcontinent since before 6 BC when the first extant medical texts were written.
   Shilajit means “rock-like” and this attests to its virtues of making the body as firm as a rock and able to slow the ageing process and withstand the ravages of time on the body. In the Charak Samhita which is one of the earliest medical texts on internal medicine still in existence, and used by Ayurvedic practitioners even today, there is a reference to shilajit which says that without it there can be no cure for any illness, although it can be mixed with other natural substances to effect a cure.
  In Ayurvedic medicine it is used for numerous ailments including chronic bronchitis, digestive disorders, kidney and bladder problems, nervous diseases, anaemia, fractured bones and arthritis. It is also used in the treatment of diabetes, for insulin resistance, for liver problems such as jaundice and to rid the body of internal parasites. It is, according to the ancient medical treatises, the “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness” and is known as the Indian Viagra as it is said to rejuvenate a man’s sexual prowess and stop erectile dysfunctions and cure impotency.
  Some traditional healers purify it before using it by putting it in cow’s milk and dissolving it, then straining it through muslin several times to get rid of impurities. It is then dried in the milk in the sun. When you use it you have to drink a lot of cow’s milk, they say.
  It is black-brown and varies in consistency, and probably in the minerals it contains, depending on where it comes from. Its effectiveness is also said to depend on its place of origin. It is said that it is not only found in the Himalayas but also in the Urals, Caucasus Mountains, Tien-Shan, Pamir, the Northern Pollack range in Australia and in the Hindu Kush.
  Paul Flechsig of the Department of Neurochemistry in the Institute of Brain Research at Leipzig University found in his study that mineral pitch enhanced cognition and memory in Alzheimer’s sufferers.
  It is said to have the abilities to reduce stress induced ulcers in vivo in the lab, and to help the body’s cells grow and become rejuvenated, thus slowing the aging process, which is why some call it the elixir of life. It may regulate blood pressure without significantly changing the heart rate, and speeds up the regeneration of muscles, nerves and bones. It has analgesic (pain-killing) and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antiseptic ones (because it is thought of the benzoic acid it contains). It may also help the liver and cure anaemia.

  It contains the minerals aluminium, antimony, calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorous, silica, sodium, zinc and the lippuric, benzoic, fulvic, chebulic and tannic acids, plus resins, gums, albuminoids and glycosides. Several of its constituents rarely occur in a natural form.
  However, before you rush out to buy capsules etc which are said to contain mineral pitch or asphaltum as it is known in Latin, remember the book seller who didn’t trust anyone else to sell him the real thing. Also, if you suffer from gout you should not take mineral pitch as it produces uric acid in the body.