Is Shilajit a Testosterone ‘Cheat Code?’ We Asked the Experts
Andrew Huberman called it an “adventurous” way to increase fertility. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino praised it as a “little cheat code” in his routine to get shredded. LA-based luxury lifestyle purveyor Flamingo Estate included it in one of its recent subscription boxes. Shilajit is emerging as the Ayurvedic darling du jour, with proponents claiming it’ll boost testosterone, strength, and stamina in the gym, the bedroom, and beyond.
But is it actually a miracle worker or just another fleeting fad?
What is shilajit?
Shilajit is a naturally occurring, mineral-rich substance that seeps out of rocks, most notably in the Himalayas. “It forms over centuries as ancient plant matter breaks down under pressure, heat, and altitude, concentrating minerals and organic compounds into a dense, resin-like material,” says Nidhi Pandya, certified advanced Ayurvedic practitioner and author of Your Body Already Knows. In its pure form, it looks like something you’d scrape off the bottom of your hiking boot: dark, sticky, and tar-like. You dissolve and mix it into a warm liquid, though you can also purchase shilajit in capsule or gummy form.
While it’s quickly gaining traction in biohacking and wellness circles, shilajit has been revered in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. “Its significance lies in its ability to support the body’s strength, resilience, and capacity to rebuild,” says Pandya, but there are some caveats. (Stay tuned.)
Why it’s trending now
Shilajit is particularly taking off amongst men. According to Brooklyn-based dietitian Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RDN, this is in part due to the rise of “testosterone-maxxing,” in which men seek out ways—natural and otherwise—to boost their levels of T (whether they actually need to or not). Ayurveda has long associated shilajit with male vitality and reproductive strength, adds Pandya, though the ancient lineage never framed it as a quick fix for sexual enhancement.
Sexual-health considerations aside, shilajit is also attractive to biohackers and longevity enthusiasts focusing on mitochondrial health, focus, and recovery. “It’s trending because modern life is exhausting people at a foundational level,” says Pandya. “We’re overstimulated, underrecovered, and often mineral-depleted, even when we eat well.”
Of course, the allure of a magic bullet that’s going to set our progress into hyperdrive is also at play. Pasquariello adds that we can’t ignore the growing interest in alternative medicine and functional health, plus the continuation of Ayurveda going mainstream. “The marketing is often very loud, to the point where it becomes infectious. We all want to believe things like this will work,” she says. But the current landscape around shilajit—in terms of both product purity and the purported benefits to be had—remains murky.
What does the research say?
Shilajit has shown some efficacy in boosting testosterone levels and increasing muscle strength in healthy, active adult men. One study also found that processed shilajit increased sperm count and motility in infertile men. More research is needed to further substantiate these benefits. Yet Jared L. Ross, DO, NRP, FACEP, FAAEM, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, medical educator, and president of Emergency Medical Services, Education & Consulting, says shilajit is likely effective for men with mild age-related testosterone decline who aren’t candidates for testosterone therapy (or want to bypass the potential risks associated with treatment).
One study investigated the effects of a supplement blending shilajit and B-vitamins in adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which found that it helped improve apathy and relieve neuropsychiatric distress. Still, it doesn’t tell us what shilajit alone would do. Pasquariello adds that it’s neither an approved treatment for AD, nor is it guaranteed to help slow or prevent the disease.
