Shilajit

Shilajit (also Shilajit ) is a natural product that is used in the Central Asian folk medicine for thousands of years as a remedy, but also as a tonic. Shilajit is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine.

Appearance

Shilajit is a pale to dark brown, depending on the content of a powder to highly viscous, asphalt -like natural product with arttypischem, resinous smoky smell.

Origin of the name

The word relationship to mummy has ensured especially in Western European literature for much confusion. Shilajit has nothing to do with the " Mumia vera aegyptiaca Genuine Egyptian mummy ", but was often mistakenly equated with it. In the ancient Persian -speaking countries, the term stands for mum wax. Due to changes in language use occurred after the adoption of the word in the Arabic-speaking world and the concomitant spread the importance of bitumen and asphalt as well as Pissasphalt ( pitch bitumen ) was added. These petroleum-based substances have been used for their preservative effect for the embalming of corpses. In the various language regions of the East, there is the wide variety of names for Mumijo today. However, all the names of the respective languages ​​indicate the appearance of Shilajit: In all languages ​​it is presented as a kind of exudation of the mountains. In India it is known under the name of Shilajit and an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. In the southern Siberian region of Altai Mountains it is called Barachschin; this means as much as the oil of the mountains. In the regions of Tibet, Mongolia, Transbaikalia, we find the name Brogschaun, which means as much as mountain juice. In Iran and Iraq it finds the name Arakul dshibal, which means as much as mountain sweat. In the regions with the main occurrence, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan as well as in most other CIS countries, it is called Shilajit.

Formation

Despite close botanical and geological recording of each occurrence, you can still make a final statement about the exact formation process, which can vary according to the archaeological site. Scientifically are the necessary site requirements. All sites have in common is that they are subject to a long and intense sunlight, the air is very clean and there must be a special vegetation spectrum. Especially latex -forming higher plants, most notably Euphorbia species, are a prerequisite for the formation of highly viscous but extremely good water-soluble Mumijo matrix.

In Indian literature, the term is often used in humus, the origin is not a kind of compost formation dissimilar. The arguments for a purely vegetable origins lie in the content of phytochemicals such as Alkaloids and compact rubber-like appearance of Shilajit, which is permeated with organic fibers, sand, and other Erdbestandteilen. There is no similar substance from the animal kingdom known which forms a gel of this type. The chemical description of the aqueous solution, however, also speaks for an animal origin, as appears both hippuric acid and albuminoids protein substances in the aqueous extract. There is also a theory of an exclusively animal origin, Shilajit The formation is seen similar to Guano education. Here it is assumed that it is excrement of bats. These droppings are washed out by rain from the mountains and stay in the cracks and holes of the rocks back as residues and form over time cluster -like sediments. This theory has so far weaknesses, as in the high altitudes of over 4000 m, the number of higher animals, which could leave such a large amount of feces, usually does not exist. Furthermore, above-mentioned would typical metabolites occur, which is not the case in the expected amount. In caves Shilajit is not only collected from the ground ( where contamination by eg bats possible and probably is ), but also scraped off the ceiling. It is suspected that contaminated samples were analyzed by impure varieties and the content of animal substance is regarded as natural, although it is only about residues. The maturation process of Shilajit is currently being discussed in the professional world with about 20 years and the trend is likely increasing, but again, the ultimate proof of this discussion period is still pending, as this period is based on assumptions and extrapolations that are naturally subject to a statistical error.

The D.D. of Djenchorow 1995 formulated substance description of Shilajit as " a complex of high molecular weight organic or mineral metabolic product of aerobic microorganisms, originated in the process of decay of plant debris, lichens and resins " is the current consensus on the state of knowledge of the development process.

Occurrence

Significant archaeological sites exist in Central Asia in the northern and southern foothills of the Himalayas, the Altai, and in some mountain areas southern Kazakhstan. The lower limit of distribution of Shilajit is about 1000 m above sea level, in Tibet it was detected at a height above 5000 m. Rohmumijo is thereby described in caves, niches and crevices as porous rocks both on the floor and on the ceiling hanging. The rock types and ages of the mountains obviously have no primary importance in the formation of Shilajit. They range from limestone to granite-like rock formations. The various localities are reflected in the different content of the minerals contained in Shilajit.

Other deposits are found in Antarctica. The local Shilajit are the waxy fossilized deposits of the stomach oil of living in the East Antarctic snow petrels. This oil the birds use to defend themselves against their enemies. Deposits can be found up to 50 cm thickness.

Species

Shilajit following species are currently distinguished:

• Archa - Shilajit: The most frequent occurrence. Similar resin brown - black mass with typical aromatic resin odor occurs as encrustation on in rock crevices. This kind Shilajit is considered by some authors after the chemical element iron as Iron Shilajit. There are also a variety that is called red or Shilajit Gold Shilajit due to a Rotschimmers. In the Indian linguistic area still exists a blue Shilajit, which is to have its color due to an increased copper content. It is described by some authors as Copper - Shilajit.

• Bitumen Shilajit: liquid to waxy, viscous dark mass often occurs from the walls of caves and crevices, starting product are a wide variety of naturally -squeezed juices particular root of Juniperus species.

• Honey Wax Shilajit: brown or black mass, probably starting product of wild bee colonies, which solidifies due to the time by natural chemical change.

• Mineral Shilajit: Characterized by localities at extreme altitudes. Black Mass, created by recent theories presumably by bacteria and lower algae in conjunction with a large number of different minerals under strong UV irradiation.

• Braid Shilajit as a metabolite of lichens with the formation of lichens typical proteins and organic acids.

The currently best quality Shilajit comes from the regions of Kyrgyzstan.

Ingredients

In particular, the group led by Prof. Ghosal at the University of Benares (India) has contributed much to the elucidation of the ingredients of Shilajit and published in reputable scientific journals. The mineral portion of Shilajit is highly dependent on the location, but there are almost without exception all physiologically important trace elements. The organic portion is 80-85 % determined by latex and resin-like humus components, the remaining shares consist mainly of low molecular weight organic substances, especially dibenzo -a -pyrones, triterpenes from Tirucallan type phenolic lipids, Short-chain tannins and gallotannins. The organic constituents of medium Molar mass are formed essentially of humic and fulvic acid, which in turn serve as a carrier for low molecular weight compounds. The latex-like backbone of Mumjio matrix is very similar to the ingredients of the surrounding flora. Shilajit is found to be increased where Euphorbia royleana or Trifolium repens grows. Ingredients of the spurge family were recovered in slightly modified form in Shilajit.

Chemical composition statutes, according to Kolesnichenko and Ishchenko (1966 )

Properties

Shilajit shows clear features of a plant extract. The licorice- like appearance purified Shilajit extracts is directly related to the residual water content. Purified Shilajit as a plastic mass contains about 15% water. For drying, it solidifies to a glassy melt which can be pulverized. This powder draws heavily on humidity, until the above Water content is reached again. This behavior is known from plant extracts.

Therapeutic use

Shilajit / Shilajit and has long been an integral part of folk medicine of Central Asia. North and south of the Himalayas, the substance is applied differently. While in India and Pakistan, the Shilajit is used therapeutically according to Ayurveda, including the surrounding rock support, extracting the north of the Himalayan Shilajit from the host rock and thickens the extract. Thus there is the substance basically a higher content of active substances in India or Pakistan. In the 1950s to the 1980s, extensive large -scale studies on the therapeutic uses of Shilajit by Prof. Adyl Shakirov at the University of Tashkent were carried out in the former USSR. As a medically backed following main indications are:

• Treatment of fractures
• Immunomodulation
• Gastrointestinal mucosal diseases ( gastritis)

As a principle of action the antiinflamatorisch ( anti-inflammatory) acting low molecular weight ingredients were detected in combination with the fulvic acids. In the treatment of fractures to write a part of the effect on the occurrence of natural strontium. It is interesting that there must be extensive synergism of the active ingredients, because a dose-response relationship especially with the mineral components will not be built. All inorganics are considered isolated against in subtherapeutic dosing. An effect is observed, however, for example in the prevention of osteoporosis. The incorporation of calcium into the bone is detectable by bone densitometry, however, the amount of calcium in the Shilajit for understanding the evidence-based medicine is too low. The repeatedly praised the internet application as Potency lacks a scientific basis and is based on the constitution strengthening benefits of Shilajit.

Swell