Properties: Slightly warming
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidneys
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies Kidney Yang and Jing
Fatigue, low athletic ability
Poor memory and concentration
High blood sugar, 消渴 Xiao Ke
Low immunity, allergies, slow wound healing
Infertility
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.2-1 g daily, usually used as the medium to prepare pills with other herbs.
Cautions: Caution with constitutional tendencies to Blood Stasis such as haemochromatosis and other conditions that cause iron retention as Shilajit may contain up to 3.2 mg of iron per gram.
Interactions:
- May increase the effects of anti-diabetic drugs such as metformin by enhancing the drug's ability to decrease blood sugar levels.
Notes:
Not much information is found in Chinese sources so most information is taken from Rawls, (2023) which seems the most balanced online article with the least over-claiming and cautionary information.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
