Shilajit And Fulvic Acid – What Are They And What Is The Difference?

If you are an optimal health seeker and are looking for a multi tasking superfood, then you need to know about these two health products. These are the products that make you want to climb mountains!

• Shilajit and fulvic acid are natural, organic substances that come from the earth as a result of microbes breaking down dead and dying plant matter
• Shilajit is mainly composed of humic substances
• Fulvic acid comes from humic substances (they are a subclass)
• Fulvic acid is the primary active ingredient (aka principle) in Shilajit.

Humic substances are soil-derived substances that form one of the vast reservoirs of organic carbon in nature. Humic substances are primarily produced by microorganisms in soil – by physical, chemical and microbial degradation and transformation of plant and animal tissues (humification process) over millions of years (Mahler, C. F. et al. (2021).)

Shilajit is a powerhouse of nutrients, natural elements, and biologically active organic substances that the human body can easily assimilate. 

Health Benefits of Shilajit include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, cognitive and memory enhancer and neuroprotective agent against cognitive disorders, antifungal properties, analgesic, antiallergic properties and immunomodulator, antidiabetic properties, anxiolytic (relieve anxiety), adoptogenic - including protective properties in high altitudes

Shilajit is a blackish–brown exudation, consisting of organic substances, metal ions and minerals, from different formations, commonly found in the Himalayan region (1000–3000 m) from Nepal to Kashmir. Shilajit can also be collected throughout the mountain regions in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Bajkal, throughout Ural, Caucasus and Altai mountains also, at altitudes between 1000 to 5000 m. (Agar, S.P. et al (2010))

Shilajit has also been described as an asphalt-like substance found embedded in rocky sediments.

The elite mountaineers of the Himalayas, called sherpas, consume shilajit for its rejuvenation, anti-fatigue, and anti-ageing effects.

Shilajit is 50-60% fulvic and humic acids. Other molecules present in shilajit preparations are eldagic acid, some fatty acids, resins, latex, gums, albumins, triterpenes, sterols, aromatic carboxylic acids, 3,4-benzocoumarins, amino acids, polyphenols, and phenolic lipids (Kong Y.C. et al (1987).)

Adaptogens comprise a category of herbal medicinal and nutritional products promoting resilience, adaptability, and survival of living organisms under conditions of stress. The definition of adaptogens is continuously updated incorporating the increasing body of scientific evidence related to understanding their pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of action. The concept of adaptogens is based on Hans Selye's theory of stress and homeostasis (Panossian, A. G., et al (2021.

Shilajit has been used as a rejuvenator and an adaptogen for thousands of years, in one form or another, as part of traditional systems of medicine in a number of countries. Many therapeutic properties have been ascribed to it, a number of which have been verified by modern scientific evaluation. Shilajit has been attributed with many miraculous healing properties (Agarwal S. P. et al (2007.)

In their article Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity (2012) (Carrasco-Gallardo, C., et al) discuss shilajit as is a potent and very safe dietary supplement, restoring the energetic balance and potentially able to prevent several diseases. Health benefits attributed to the consumption of shilajit include an increase in longevity, rejuvenation and arresting ageing.

Cymbiotika Shilajit Black Gold Live Resin contains Pürblack. Pürblack continues to improve its formulation and is now in its 4th generation resin. Other brands are still on the 2nd generation. Pürblack elite resin outperforms all other authentic resins in efficacy. Pürblack is a choice of world class athletes, and reputable physicians. Cymbiotika Shilajit Black Gold Live Resin is rich with fulvic acid, humic acid, vitamins, enzymes, tocopherols, bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and metabolites for your body.

Shop Cymbiotika Shilajit HERE

Fulvic Acid

Fulvic acids are produced when enzymes break down proteins into amino acids and fulvic acid molecules are released with other substances dissolved within them.

Fulvic Acid has the ability to dissolve and transport vitamins, minerals, hormones and other natural antibiotics through the body.

Another exciting potential of fulvic acid is that it has the ability to bind and eliminate toxins in the body such as heavy metals, creating a powerful detox ally.

If that wasn’t enough, fulvic acid benefits include improving gut health and immune function, lowering free radical damage and inflammation, boosting digestion and enhancing nutrient absorption, protecting cognitive health, and helping to decrease pain and skin conditions.

A review of fulvic acid conducted by Winkler J., et al (2018) indicated that fulvic acid can act as an immune modulator, influence the redox state, and potentially influence the microbiome and possibly improve gut function. They concluded that fulvic acid is shown to decrease proinflammatory markers but also activate the immune system to kill bacteria. It was also shown to reduce oxidative stress and even induce apoptosis in hepatic cancer lines.

A study conducted by Pank, K., et al (2015) showed that fulvic acid has anti-cancer properties by increasing apoptosis via production of nitric acid and reactive oxygen species. Their study demonstrated that fulvic acid may be useful in liver cancer and related disorders.

Shop SAYBO Fulvic Acid HERE

References:

Agarwal, S.P., Khanna, R., Karmarkar, R., Anwer, M.K., Khar, R.K. Shilajit: a review. Phytother Res. 2007 May;21(5):401-5. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17295385/

Agarwal, S.P. & Anwer, Md. Khalid & Rajesh, Khanna & Ali, Asgar & Sultana, Yasmin. (2010). Humic acid from Shilajit: A physico-chemical and spectroscopic characterization. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society. 75. 10.2298/JSC1000006A.

Carrasco-Gallardo, C., Guzmán, L., & Maccioni, R. B. (2012). Shilajit: a natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity. International journal of Alzheimer's disease, 2012, 674142. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/674142

Johnson, J. (2017, December 16). Shilajit: 10 benefits and use. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320318.php

Kong YC, But PPH, Ng KH, et al. Chemical studies on a Nepalese Panacea—shilajit (I) International Journal of Crude Drug Research. 1987;25(3):179–182.

Mahler, C. F. , Svierzoski, N. D. S. , & Bernardino, C. A. R. (2021). Chemical Characteristics of Humic Substances in Nature. In (Ed.), Humic Substances. IntechOpen. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.9741

Pant K., Gupta A., Gupta P., Ashraf A., Yadav A., Venugopal S. Anti-proliferative and anticancer properties of fulvic acid on hepatic cancer cells. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology. 2015;5, article S2 doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2015.07.005

Panossian, A. G., Efferth, T., Shikov, A. N., Pozharitskaya, O. N., Kuchta, K., Mukherjee, P. K., Banerjee, S., Heinrich, M., Wu, W., Guo, D. A., & Wagner, H. (2021). Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases. Medicinal research reviews, 41(1), 630–703. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21743

Schepetkin IA, Xie G, Jutila MA, Quinn MT. Complement-fixing activity of fulvic acid from Shilajit and other natural sources. Phytother Res. 2009 Mar;23(3):373-84. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2635. PMID: 19107845; PMCID: PMC2650748.

Stohs, S. J. (2014, April). Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23733436

Winkler J, Ghosh S. Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes. J Diabetes Res. 2018 Sep. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6151376/