How to Take Shilajit - Tincture vs. Powder vs. Resin
As Secret Nature’s blog writer, I recently had a chance to try the REM CBD Tincture, which contains 10mg shilajit per serving. I’m a long-time fan of shilajit, and I’ve tried it in a variety of different ways. The REM CBD Tincture is now my favorite way to consume this Himalayan super-substance, and in this guide, I’ll explain why.
What is the best way to take shilajit: Resin, powder or tincture? Find out below.
What is shilajit?
Shilajit is a natural compound produced over the course of centuries as plant material gradually decomposes. It contains high concentrations of fulvic acid and humic acid, both of which have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Used in ayurvedic medicine for millennia to cure disease and promote longevity, shilajit has now made its way to Western audiences and is widely available online.
What are the benefits of shilajit?
The benefits of shilajit appear to be primarily tied to its antioxidant properties. There does not seem to be any disease that is not supported by oxidative stress and inflammation, so shilajit is often used as a general panacea to improve health and quality of life. Shilajit is a natural substance that does not appear to have any serious side effects, and some specific applications of shilajit include immune boosting, inflammation reduction, and fatigue relief.
What is shilajit powder?
Shilajit powder is a form of shilajit that is combined with other substances to achieve a dry, powdery consistency. Generally considered to be the lowest-quality form of this substance, shilajit powder is geared toward those who don’t want to pay extra for the genuine article.
What is shilajit resin?
Shilajit naturally takes on a resinous form when it is removed from rocks. The highest-quality forms of shilajit resin consist of nothing more than 100% shilajit that has been purified to remove other substances. Shilajit resin is quite expensive, however, and it also has certain other drawbacks.
What is a shilajit tincture?
A shilajit tincture consists of shilajit resin suspended in a carrier oil. Shilajit tinctures also commonly contain additional substances that may synergize with this Himalayan super-substance to provide additional benefits. Among all the different types of shilajit products, tinctures are the easiest to use.
Can you take shilajit with CBD oil?
Yes, there’s no reason you shouldn’t take shilajit and CBD at the same time, and based on personal experience, these two substances appear to synergize nicely. Taking shilajit and CBD together in the form of a tincture is the most ideal way to use these substances simultaneously.
Benefits of taking shilajit with CBD
Especially for new users, shilajit can have a somewhat overpowering effect that seems to be reduced by the naturally calming benefits of CBD. Plus, the individual benefits of these two substances overlap in multiple ways. Both shilajit and CBD have been researched extensively for their anti-inflammatory potential, for instance, and both substances are commonly used to reduce stress and anxiety.
Types of shilajit compared
Now, I’ll draw on my personal experience to compare the three most common types of shilajit products: powder, resin, and tinctures:
Shilajit powder pros and cons
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Mixable into drinks and food
- Contains at least some shilajit
CONS:
- Usually adulterated with other substances
- Doesn’t contain very much shilajit
- Lower-quality overall
The main benefit of shilajit powder is that it’s mixable into smoothies and other types of drinks. However, most shilajit powder is low-quality, and it often contains filler ingredients. As a result, I don’t use shilajit powder at all, and I don’t recommend it.
Shilajit resin pros and cons
PROS:
- Can be highly pure
- Easy to dose
- More effective than shilajit powder
CONS:
- Products vary widely in quality
- Shilajit resin dries up over time
- There is no reliable solution to this drying problem
Shilajit resin is the primary type of shilajit product you’ll see online, and it definitely has its benefits. It’s the purest type of shilajit product you can buy, and depending on the type you get, some shilajit resin consists solely of 100% shilajit.
There are some serious problems with shilajit resin, though. First, quality varies widely from product to product, and there are lots of different kinds of shilajit resin, making it hard to tell if the particular product you’ve chosen is high-quality. But, we haven’t even gotten to the good part.
This stuff dries up. It gets hard as a rock after a while no matter how well you seal the cap. Sure, this is supposedly “fixable” by adding some water to the container and shutting it again. In practice, however, this simply produces a thin film of runny shilajit water on the top of the resin rock, and you’ll need to add water again and wait the next time you want to take some shilajit.
Personally, I don’t have time to mess around with finicky supplements. When I want to take shilajit, I want to do it immediately without having to jump through any hoops, and for me, shilajit tincture does the trick.
Shilajit tincture pros and cons
PROS:
- Easiest way to use shilajit
- Can be added to food & drinks
- High-purity and does not contain fillers
- Often combines shilajit with other healing substances
- Does not dry out
- Masks the taste of shilajit
CONS:
- Some users might prefer to ingest shilajit on its own
Taking shilajit in the form of a tincture is my new favorite way to use the substance. After my second container of shilajit resin in a row dried up on me, I was ready to try an alternative, but I couldn’t find a shilajit powder that I liked.
Then I received a REM CBD Tincture to review. Since I already use CBD on a regular basis, it only made sense to consume my daily shilajit in the form of this tincture as well, and I have to say I haven’t looked back.
One drawback of shilajit we haven’t covered yet is the taste. If you like licking rocks in your backyard, you might not mind infusing water or another drink with shilajit powder or resin. For most of us, though, masking the overpowering flavor of this substance is a priority, which the REM CBD Tincture does nicely with natural essential oils.
Unlike some products that combine shilajit with other substances, the REM CBD Tincture contains quite a bit of shilajit. There are 10mg of shilajit per serving in this tincture, which is more than enough for me to feel the effects. All in all, I feel like I’ve finally found the civilized way to use shilajit.
What is the best way to use shilajit?
Shilajit is an incredibly beneficial substance that is often overlooked due to its powerful flavor and problematic product formulations. Including shilajit in a tincture, however, solves both of these problems while also leaving plenty of room to include additional beneficial substances.
There’s a growing consensus that combining shilajit with cannabinoids could increase the effectiveness of both substances, and there’s no simpler way to use either CBD or shilajit than in the form of a tincture. If—like me—you’ve tried other forms of shilajit and encountered only disappointment, I'd highly encourage you to give the REM CBD Tincture a try. If you’ve never used shilajit before and you want to give it a shot, spare yourself the headache by using this substance in its simplest form from the very start.
Taking shilajit FAQ
Still curious about what it’s like to take shilajit in the form of the REM CBD Tincture? Let’s answer some commonly asked questions to finish up:
1. What is the best time to take shilajit?
You can take shilajit at any time of day that is most convenient for you. This substance is not known to either make you unreasonably sleepy during the day or cause trouble getting to sleep at night. It is recommended, though, to take shilajit on an empty stomach since it can cause mild gastrointestinal distress.
2. How much shilajit should I take in a day?
There are no officially established guidelines for shilajit dosing. Most users find, however, that around 50mg of shilajit provides perfectly for their daily needs.
3. How long does it take for shilajit to work?
Most users start to feel the effects of shilajit within about 10 minutes. To experience the full benefits of this substance, however, you will need to continue using it consistently for around 90 days.
4. How does shilajit make you feel?
Shilajit usually makes you feel more relaxed while also providing a sense of clarity and energy. This substance does not make you high, but it can provide significant improvements in mood.
5. Does shilajit make you feel euphoria?
Yes, shilajit can sometimes provide a feeling of mild euphoria. Scientists suspect this could have something to do with the substance’s impact on your brain’s GABA neurotransmitter system, which plays a major role in regulating mood.
