Shilajit vs Ashwagandha: A Brief Comparison!

People have been consuming ashwagandha and shilajit for therapeutic reasons for ages. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of these natural herbs, how to use them, and potential concerns.

Natural medicines have a lengthy history of healing that goes back to ancient times. Ashwagandha and shilajit have been used for medical purposes for hundreds of years. Both – ashwagandha and shilajit are used as generic medications to increase energy and reduce stress and anxiety.

However, are you wondering if you can combine Ashwagandha with Shilajit? The simple answer is yes! For centuries, traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine has combined these two outstanding ayurvedic medications to increase the benefits the body receives. Ashwagandha and Shilajit are considered effective rejuvenators.

What exactly is ashwagandha?

A plant-based antioxidant called ashwagandha has been utilized in traditional medicine for a very long time. Ashwagandha, often known as Indian ginseng, is believed to enhance stamina. Its plant components contain bioactive constituents that have been proven to provide remarkable health benefits. Ashwagandha promotes healthy glucose levels, strengthens the immune system, and may even alleviate anxiety and stress. 

What is shilajit?

Shilajit is a thick and sticky substance that is mostly found in rocks from the Himalayas. Plant degradation causes it to evolve over a period of time.

Shilajit is a traditional Ayurvedic herb. Traditional herbal medicine has adopted shilajit to treat a number of ailments, such as impotence and bone fractures. It’s a secure and effective medication that can benefit health in general.

Ashwagandha and shilajit benefits

Shilajit and Ashwagandha have been used to improve health for generations by people all over the world. The following are top ashwagandha and shilajit health benefits. 

Anxiety and stress

Shilajit and ashwagandha both reduce stress and anxiety symptoms. Research showed that consuming ashwagandha regularly considerably reduces people’s stress levels. It helps in reducing the stress hormone levels, commonly known as cortisol levels [1].

Shilajit can also enhance dopamine release in the brain, which may aid in the reduction of anxiety and stress. This is because of the beneficial effects of high magnesium and potassium levels. 

Heart health

Ashwagandha and shilajit are used by some people to enhance their cardiovascular health, which includes reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and relieving chest pain [2]. Shilajit also boosts glutathione levels, which lowers the risk of stroke [3].

Enhance Your Immunity

Medicinal herbs like ashwagandha and shilajit can actually improve your immune system. Ayurvedic herbs like ashwagandha and shilajit can improve your overall immunity.  Both these medicinal herbs have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as stress-relieving properties. As a result, they significantly increase immunity and stimulate skin rejuvenation.

Alzheimer’s treatment

Ashwagandha and Shilajit have been shown to reduce or prevent the loss of brain function in persons suffering from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. As these problems worsen, sections of the brain and its connective pathways are injured, and the components of ashwagandha and shilajit help in giving protection against such cognitive issues [4].

Arthritis

Ashwagandha, a natural medicinal herb may act as a painkiller by blocking the nervous system’s ability to transmit pain signals to your brain. It may have anti-inflammatory qualities as well. As a result, ashwagandha has been proven to be useful in the treatment of arthritis [5].

Shilajit improves fertility and testosterone levels

Shilajit has long been used to increase testosterone levels in males. It boosts male sperm count and motility.

During the research, men between the ages of 45 and 55 were given shilajit for 90 days in a row. The results were impressive as the total testosterone levels of these men increased significantly after a time [6].

May help with chronic fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder in which you feel exhausted even after getting enough rest. Shilajit extract may help in the relief of this syndrome and the treatment of Chronic Fatigue, helping you to stay energetic [7].

Can I take ashwagandha and shilajit together?

In Indian ayurvedic medicine, combining herbs to increase their strength is popular, with Shilajit and Ashwagandha being the most common combinations.

Since ancient times, Traditional Indian Ayurvedic Medicine has utilized the combination of these two remarkable ayurvedic medications. They are powerful rejuvenators. Ashwagandha and Shilajit can be mixed and consumed together to maximize their benefits.

Shilajit and ashwagandha together provide a risk-free alternative for reaching quick and efficient results. Although Ayurveda recommends using them together to improve your health, a thorough consultation from your healthcare provider is always recommended.

Shilajit vs ashwagandha for muscle building

As a replacement for creatine and proteins for bodybuilders, ashwagandha and shilajit might be the finest options.

Combining ashwagandha and shilajit can assist you in increasing male hormones, building more muscle, and losing excess weight easily. Furthermore, both of these herbs can help you execute intense workouts and add muscle mass because they are known to boost energy levels.

However, without diet and heavy lifting, none of this would be possible. These may help you stay alert and give you more energy, but the effects will be minimal unless you work hard.

What is the best time to take shilajit and ashwagandha?

If you’re using ashwagandha to treat insomnia, take ashwagandha powder before bed to help you relax. If you take Ashwagandha and observe unpleasant stomach disorders, taking it at night rather than in the morning may be preferable, especially if you have decided to consume ashwagandha on an empty stomach.

Shilajit, however, should be consumed on an empty stomach first thing in the morning to improve absorption and the digestive process. If you feel a lot energetic after consuming Shilajit, then you should consume shilajit in the evening because it can keep you up all night.

Which is good Ashwagandha or shilajit?

When it comes to Ashwagandha and Shilajit, neither one is better. Both have their unique characteristics. Shilajit may help with additional antioxidants and boost your energy, but Ashwagandha excels at stress relief.

Two herbs that are commonly combined are ashwagandha and shilajit. The combination is safe for your health, and you should drink it simultaneously to get the most benefits. Although Ashwagandha and Shilajit have similar benefits, each has a little advantage in some specific aspects.

Ashwagandha, for example, is known to relieve stress levels. Shilajit, on the other hand, can benefit from its 84 nutrients, but Ashwagandha is preferable in this scenario. 

While Ashwagandha can help with testosterone production, Shilajit is far superior. Shilajit thus wins in this case.

Shilajit vs Ashwagandha vs Gokshura

You may combine ashwagandha, shilajit, and gokshura. They may not taste good, but they have no negative side effects. Each of these ayurvedic herbs will function properly. 

Shilajit	Ashwagandha	Gokshura
Used to increase energy and testosterone levels	Renowned for encouraging the sleep cycle and easing anxiety	Recognized for treating erectile dysfunction and raising testosterone levels

The combination of ashwagandha, shilajit, and gokshura will help you achieve the following:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Promote peaceful sleep
• Enhance muscle development and strength
• Raise testosterone levels
• May increase stamina and strength 
• Help in increasing energy levels and boost immunity.
  

However, to achieve the best outcomes, pick the herbs cautiously and consult your healthcare practitioner before using any of these herbs.

FAQs

Who should not use ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is generally considered to be safe, and it has been used to treat stress, anxiety, low testosterone levels, and other medical issues. Ashwagandha should not be consumed by some individuals, including those women who are pregnant, or people who have diabetes, high or low blood pressure, thyroid ailments, and ulcerative colitis. 

What happens when you take ashwagandha daily?

For ages, Ayurvedic medicine has been using ashwagandha root extract to boost immunity cells. Ashwagandha has been shown to lower C-reactive protein levels by up to 30% while also improving physical strength, fertility, and cognitive ability. The recommended dose for consumption depends on your needs, but taking 250–500 mg of ashwagandha daily for at least a month seems to be useful.

What are the potential side effects of consuming ashwagandha?

In general, most people consider ashwagandha to be safe. Excessive consumption, however, may result in nausea, vomiting, or severe conditions of diarrhea. Other contaminants discovered in unregulated supplements have been related to liver issues in rare circumstances [8].

Can I take ashwagandha forever?

Yes, using ashwagandha regularly for a long period is safe, but individuals should never exceed the suggested doses or periods. Being an adaptogen, ashwagandha relieves inflammation while also assisting the body in lowering your stress levels. However, because ashwagandha may include contaminants such as dirt and heavy metals, it must always be consumed in its purest form.

How much ashwagandha Is harmful?

Ashwagandha serves several health benefits. However, taking too much ashwagandha might be harmful to the body. To ensure that you are getting the correct amount of ashwagandha in your diet and not doing more damage than good, experts found that 500 mg daily for 8 weeks is safe for healthy adults with no detrimental health consequences [9].

Wrapping Up

Both ashwagandha and shilajit are effective at increasing energy levels. As a result, it is fair to expect that when these ayurvedic herbs are combined, a person will become extremely energetic and effective in any physical activity he participates in.

If you want to combine these two effective healing substances, you must choose the purest, highest-quality versions as many fake supplements and imitations are available. 

References

1. Adrian L. Lopresti. “An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract.” Medicine (Baltimore) vol. 98,37 (2019).
2. Bakhtiar Choudhary. “Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) in improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults.” Ayu vol. 36,1 (2015): 63-68.
3. National Library of Medicine. “Effect of Shilajit enriched diet on immunity, antioxidants, and disease resistance in Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) against Aeromonas hydrophila.” Pubmed.gov, (2016). 
4. National Library of Medicine. “Can nutraceuticals prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Potential therapeutic role of a formulation containing shilajit and complex B vitamins.” Pubmed.gov, (2012). 
5. Gajendra Kumar. “Efficacy & safety evaluation of Ayurvedic treatment (Ashwagandha powder & Sidh Makardhwaj) in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a pilot prospective study.” Indian J Med Res vol. 141,1 (2015): 100-106.
6. National Library of Medicine. “Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.” Pubmed.gov, (2016). 
7. National Library of Medicine. “Shilajit attenuates behavioral symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and mitochondrial bioenergetics in rats.” Pubmed.gov, (2012). 
8. National Library of Medicine. “BOOKS: Ashwagandha-LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet].” National Center for Biotechnology Information, (2019).
9.  National Library of Medicine. “Ashwagandha”. MedlinePlus.