Most of us reach for a pill or another cup of coffee when we feel run down. Hard to blame us. Quick fixes are everywhere. But there’s a curious story unfolding in hospital wards and research offices in Iran. Scientists there decided to test Shilajit during COVID. Sounds odd, right? A dark resin scraped from high places in the Himalayas and Altai making its way into a triple-blind clinical trial. Let’s unpack what they planned — and why it matters for broader Shilajit benefits, not just pandemics.
What Is Shilajit?
Picture plant matter and tiny microbes trapped in mountain cracks for centuries. In summer, the rock seams soften under the sun and a sticky resin seeps out. Locals collect it, then purify it. That’s Shilajit.
Chemists find fulvic acid, humic compounds, dibenzo alpha pyrones, plus more than 30 trace minerals — magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, potassium. Add amino acids and antioxidants, and you’ve got something that looks like tar but acts like a concentrated mineral-nutrient package. Fulvic acid, in particular, helps your body shuttle nutrients into the right places. Think of it as an usher guiding minerals to their seats.
Does Shilajit Help with Viral Infections?
In the early waves of the pandemic, doctors had limited tools. In places where traditional medicine is part of daily life, researchers looked for safe add-ons to support symptoms. Shilajit kept popping up in older studies.
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Animal work showed faster bone and wound repair.
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Lab tests suggested antiviral activity against herpes and RSV.
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Immune studies hinted at better balance, not just brute force.
None of that proves it works in humans with a respiratory virus. But it justified a proper clinical test. Hence, the Iranian team set up a rigorous study with controls and blinding.
What Did the Shilajit - COVID Trial Plan Look Like?
The study ran at Bohlool Gonabadi Hospital in Iran. 110 adults with moderate COVID were enrolled. Triple-blind meant patients, doctors, and analysts all stayed unaware of who got Shilajit versus placebo.
The protocol said 100 mg per day for two weeks. But here’s the wrinkle: it also lists two 500 mg capsules per day. That doesn’t add up. Likely a typo, but dosage details really matter in trials. Hopefully, the final results paper clears this up.
Researchers tracked common symptoms (cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, smell loss, chills), as well as oxygen saturation ratios, fevers, ICU admissions, ventilation, hospital days, and mortality. In plain talk: they wanted to know if adding Shilajit could make illness less severe or shorten recovery time.
Does Shilajit Help the Immune System?
Viruses need to latch onto cells before they can cause trouble. Fulvic and humic acids seem to interfere with that first handshake. Imagine slipping a glove on the virus’s key so it doesn’t fit the lock.
On top of that, Shilajit’s antioxidants mop up excess “fire” when the immune system goes into overdrive. That could mean calmer inflammation and steadier recovery. The balance here is important — not over-stimulating immunity, but guiding it. That same mechanism is what people often describe as natural energy: not a jittery spike, but a clean, steady lift.
Is Shilajit Safe To Take During Viral Infections?
Fair question. Eating resin from rocks sounds suspect until you check human data. Multiple studies show adults tolerate up to 2000 mg per day for 45 days without issues. Another using 100 mg daily for 90 days found small improvements in blood sugar and kidney markers with no liver changes.
Caveat: not all Shilajit is safe. Raw or unpurified resin can contain heavy metals. Purification is essential. At Sunpure Superfoods, we only work with purified, lab-tested Shilajit, sourced from high-altitude regions and processed without heat. It’s the only way to guarantee safety and potency.
If you’re pregnant, on medication, or managing a condition, talk to a clinician first. That’s always the smarter move.
What Can We Expect Beyond COVID?
Even if you never think about ventilators again, this trial nudges open the door to broader benefits. Shilajit may support:
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Mineral top-up — filling gaps from depleted soils and diets.
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Natural energy — supporting mitochondria, the body’s power plants.
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Recovery — calming inflammation so training or illness recovery feels smoother.
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Immune balance — smarter, more measured defence, not just louder.
Proof? Not yet. What we have is a growing stack of lab and small human studies pointing in the same direction. Science builds step by step.
Limitations to Keep in Mind Regarding Shilajit For Treating COVID
This paper is a protocol - the “recipe” for a trial, not the results. We don’t know yet if Shilajit shortened hospital stays or reduced ICU use. And the dose inconsistency needs clarification. Until the full peer-reviewed results land, caution is key.
Shilajit is not a cure, not a replacement for medical care. The best way to view it is as a potential adjunct — a supportive layer alongside standard treatment.
Common Shilajit Questions
Is Shilajit safe?
Yes, when purified and used sensibly.
Will it replace medicine?
No. Think of it as a complement, not a substitute.
What’s the right dose?
The trial mentions 100 mg, but also two 500 mg capsules. That mismatch means brands often work in the 200–1000 mg/day range. Start low, follow directions, and stay tuned for clearer clinical data.
Does shilajit help with colds and flu?
Humic acids may help to fight colds and flu as shown in the study
The Simple Takeaway
Shilajit began as a mountain secret. Now it’s being tested under the same conditions as modern drugs. The Iranian team is asking whether two weeks of supplementation could shift COVID outcomes. We’ll need to wait for their results.
We keep a close eye on this kind of research because it informs how we source, purify, and share Shilajit. Our role isn’t hype — it’s helping you make sense of tradition, science, and safe practice.
So here’s the bottom line. Purified Shilajit looks safe for most healthy adults. It offers resilience, recovery, and steady energy.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212958825000552
