Traditional Medicinal knowledge about Shilajit or Shilajeet in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Shilajeet or Shilajit (Mineral Pitch in English) is a herbo-mineral drug ejected out of fissures in iron rich rocks, during hot weather. According to the reference literatures related to Mineralogy, Shilajit is oxygenated hydrocarbon of different types, Amorphous is nature G=1-1.8, lusture. Is that of Black Pitch, Melting point 90-1000C. It gives bright flame when burnt. It is soluble in turpentine. It is a product of high degree of coalification and grade into Kerogen shale and finally petroleum. It is fluidized and transformed into liquid product rich in humic acid due to vegetal matter derived from roots. Naturally it occurs in regions of coalification dominated by luxuriant vegetation like Himalaya region of India. According to these reference literatures, Shilajit not found in Chhattisgarh. Last week when I met a traditional healer of Bastar region claiming that in Raoghat region, he has observed Shilajit like material, I got surprised. Shilajit is a rare drug in nature and this is the reason it is high value drug. In ancient Indian literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, Shilajit holds a reputed position. According to these literatures, every disease on this earth can be treated successfully with the help of Shilajit. It is also used as aphrodisiac. Its anti-ageing properties have also been reported. In India, it is collected from Himalayan range.

Many herb collectors claim that in different parts of India other than Himalaya, it is present naturally but the experts are not agree with them. It is considered as rich man's drug. For poor, in the name of Shilajit many false material are available and due to lack of information regarding correct identification, the poor are using false materials with great loss to their health's. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are well aware of medicinal properties and uses of Shilajit. I have listed out over 3000 traditional healers using Shilajit for their patients. Unfortunately they are not aware of Chhattisgarh version of Shilajit. The healers informed me that most of the natives believe that Shilajit is only an aphrodisiac and use in different herbal combinations recommended as sex tonic. This is wrong. In Chhattisgarh, many natural herbs having more promising aphrodisiac properties than Shilajit are available. Its popularity as sex tonic and aphrodisiac have created confusions among the natives. Many senior citizens interested in using Shilajit are hesitating to take Shilajit because of these wrong information's. The healers further informed me that one can use it for general health and to make the body enough resistant to fight from diseases life long. It is Ramban (The Panacea). They told me that the wonder drug has reached to wrong persons i.e. pseudo healers and that is why they are cheating the common natives. For the first time I got information on the use of Shilajit from the well known saint of Amarkantak region Barfani Baba. Few years back, I visited Amarkantak region with Shri D.S. Parihar, The king of Nagod, in search of herbs and also to meet his guru Barfani Baba and other traditional healers. During our stay at his Ashram I got valuable information on identification and use of Shilajit. There are several methods to identify the true Shilajit, honorable Baba told us. The true Shilajit smells like cow urine (Go-Mutra). When it is kept on fire, it produces no fumes. When burnt, it gives bright flame. It is soluble in cow milk. After coming back from Amarkantak, these methods help me a lot in identification of true Shilajit collected from different parts of India. The suppliers of false Shilajit are aware that its smell must be like the cow urine. To fool the buyers they dip the false material in cow-urine, but in front of experts, it is impossible for them to pass all other tests. This is good sign that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of all these practical testing methods. This information is essential for them because they are dependent on supplier for the collection and use of Shilajit. Honourable Barfani Baba also informed us about the method used to purify the Shilajit collected from natural conditions. Although many healers and Pharmaceutical companies use it without purifying it but Baba warned that it can cause side effects, if it is used impure. For purification, it is dissolved in cow milk. When the dust particles settle in bottom, the solution is filtered in other vessel with the help of muslin cloth. After filtrations, the solution is kept under the sun and by drying milk, pure Shilajit is collected and used in treatment.

In ancient literatures, two types of drying are mentioned. First sun drying and second drying by the use of fire. Honourable Barfani Baba informed that the first one in slow process but one must prefer it, because in fire drying, many properties get lost. I am feeling sad to write that most of the natives of Chhattisgarh use Shilajit without taking consultation from the traditional healers. According to honourable Barfani Baba, Shilajit must be taken under supervision of healers or experts. The traditional healers are aware up to how long it should be given and at what doses? In general, the healers suggest the users to take more and more cow milk during use period of Shilajit. As it is soluble in milk, inside the body the intake of milk helps in proper utilization. Spicy and heavy food are strictly prohibited. The healers are aware that any herb having the capacity to break Kidney stones (Renal Calculi), if given, during the use period, it will also try to dissolve the Shilajit and as result the Shilajit will come out from the body. This is the reason, the proper guidance of healers is necessary. I have seen many Shilajit based formulations available in market but unfortunately, these instructions and precautions are not mentioned in the packets. In ancient Indian literatures especially in Charak Samhita it is mentioned that Kulthi (Dolichos biflorus) should not be taken during the use of Shilajit, Kulthi is well known herb used in treatment of Renal Calculi. Through my ethno botanical surveys I am trying hard to list out different Shilajit based formulations prepared and used by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. I will write these information in my future articles.

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