SHILAJIT

shilajit A sticky black substance found in the Himalayas, Shilajit is formed through a process of beneficial plant and mineral breakdown. Used in the Ayurvedic discipline for centuries, an abundant source of fulvic acid, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it is safe and effective in the treatment of male sexual function, issues that arise with passing age and hair health. Besides this, Shilajit has antiviral properties and significantly improves brain function among individuals.

What is Shilajit?

Shilajit is an age-old ingredient (rasayana compound) of Ayurvedic medicine. Shilajit gets its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Silajitu’, where ‘sila’ means endowed with the qualities of a mountain or rock, and ‘jitu’ means gum, lac, or other tar-like materials.

This compound is formed by the decay of some particular plant matters by microorganisms, present in the soil, in mountainous terrains. It often takes more than hundreds of years for the substance to be formed and during the process, plant matter along with minerals break down giving rise to a blackish-brown, tar-like, sticky substance. This is also why researchers call it a millenary product of nature. Shilajit also contains a number of vitamins and amino acids.

What are some other names for Shilajit?

The colour of this natural resource can vary from yellowish-brown to pitch-black, depending on its place of origin and also on the ratio of its compositions. However, in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, the black variety is believed to be the most powerful and effective. The fact that it seeps out of the cracks formed in the mountains due to the heat generated from the sun, has given the substance names like mineral oil, stone oil, Mountain Blood and rock sweat.

Shilajit is also known as mineral pitch, mineral wax or black asphaltum in English. In local languages, it is known by hundreds of different names in different countries e.g. Asphaltum punjabianum, mimie, mummiyo, badha-naghay, shargai, dorobi, barahshin, tasmayi, chao-tong, wu ling zhi etc.

The substance found by indigenous people living in the Altai Mountains which closely resembles Shilajit, is called by names like Mumijo, Mumiyo, Mumie, momio, myemu or Mummy. This is a play on the Greek word ‘mumie’, meaning ’to preserve the body’.

What are the origins of Shilajit?

According to scientists, the plant named Euphorbia royleana and Trifolium repens are the potential botanical sources of Shilajit. Other sources include Barbula, Fissidens, Minium, Thuidium and species like Asterella, Dumortiera, Marchantia, Pellia, Plagiochasma, and Stephenrencella-Anthoceros.

KAUNCH BEEJ

An Ayurvedic herb found in Eastern India, seeds with high mineral and protein content, it is a rich source of dietary fibre, enhancing body, muscles and stamina. Every part of this plant has medicinal values, beneficial for overall health. Kaunch beej improves sexual desire, treats sexual dysfunctions, reduces swellings, aids beard growth, is antibacterial and raises energy levels.

What is Kaunch Beej?

Kaunch Beej or Mucuna pruriens (Latin) is the seed of the Kapikacchu herb, known for its high medicinal values. It is also known as an aphrodisiac which raises sperm count and quality, boosts sexual desire with its antidepressant properties and increases testosterone levels in the blood. Almost all parts of the Kapikacchu herb possess precious medicinal qualities, of which the beej or seeds are the most well known. Like other herbal medicinal substances Kaunchbeej too is known by numerous other names like that of Atmagupta or Kapikacchu in Sanskrit, Kivacc, Kevanch or Kaunch in Hindi as well as cow hedge, cow itch, cowage, velvet bean, lacuna bean, Lyon bean, Donkey eye, monkey tamarind and Buffalo beans in English.

What are some other names for Kaunch Beej?

Some other names of Kaunch Beej include, Alkushi in Bengali, Khaajkuiri in Marathi, Poonaikkaali in Tamil, Kapikachhu Durada Gondi in Telugu, Naykuruna in Malayalam, Nasagunnikaayi in Kannada, Bieh in Madurese and Baidanka in Oriya. In India, the fully grown seeds of Kapikacchu have been conventionally eaten by the Kanikkars, a South Indian hilly tribe, which consumed them only after repeatedly boiling the seeds in order to eliminate its anti-nutritional parts.

However, it cannot withstand frost and survives poorly in cold and moist soils.The Kapikachhu herb is a leguminous plant which makes Kaunchbeej a legume, rich in tocopherol, or Vitamin E, a highly valued element in the larger medical discourse.

ASHWGANDHA

Its name connotes the idea of providing horse-like vitality and power. With constituent active components like alkaloids, steroidal lactones and saponins, it reduces joint inflammation, minimizes stress and stabilizes hormones. A natural adaptogen, it boosts immunity, enhances sperm quality among men, improves libido and decreases fat and sugar levels in the blood. Visit the SHOP page for reliable, scientifically tested Ashwagandha-based remedies.

What is Ashwagandha?

For hundreds of years Ashwagandha, an evergreen Indian plant has been recognised for its adaptogenic benefits in Ayurvedic practice. Ayurvedic practitioners particularly venerate the roots and orange-red fruits of this high-quality herb for their restorative and rejuvenating benefits, as well as for having the potential to cure an array of health disorders.

Part of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, Ashwagandha, or Indian ginseng, is also known by names like Withania somnifera, winter cherry or poison gooseberry. Somnifera is a Latin word meaning ‘sleep-inducing’ while Ashwagandha in Sanskrit refers to a different idea as ‘ashwa’ means horse and ‘gandha’ means smell. Thus, in the Indian context, the herb connotes the idea of providing horse-like vitality and power. According to ancient Indian scriptures, the root of Ashwagandha apparently smells of horse sweat. Interestingly, ginseng and ashwagandha are botanically very dissimilar species but their rejuvenating qualities have resulted in them being clubbed together.