Have you ever heard of shilajit? The resin-like substance is booming in popularity across the west…but getting it is no easy task. We went to the Himalayas to meet the men who risk their lives harvesting this "miracle product."
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00:00 This man is hunting for an aphrodisiac that some people have called a natural Viagra.
00:11 It only forms at high altitudes, like here in the Himalayas.
00:18 One misstep and the drop is 15,000 feet.
00:23 People across South Asia have taken Shilajit for centuries to improve libido and to treat
00:30 infertility.
00:31 Shilajit has been a major marketing tool as a testosterone booster.
00:38 Now people are paying hundreds of dollars to get their hands on it.
00:43 But while it's soaring in popularity around the world, so are the fakes.
00:48 People sometimes get tired of fake Shilajit and sell them.
00:55 So is Shilajit really a miracle product?
00:59 And is the risk of finding it worth the hype?
01:09 The valley of Padar is one of the most remote regions in Jammu and Kashmir.
01:14 And Manohar Lal is the only one in his small village who dares to harvest Shilajit.
01:20 Today, he's heading out with his son Lakshmi and their friend Aditya.
01:35 The journey to the Pir Panjal range in the lower Himalayas will take them about two to
01:40 three days.
02:02 They're going to climb up 12,000 feet.
02:06 That's the height at which Shilajit forms in the Himalayas.
02:10 It's also found in Russia, Tibet, and even the north of Chide.
02:16 After 10 hours of hiking, the men spot some deposits.
02:21 But they're sitting on a steep rock wall.
02:24 And the only way of getting there is climbing.
02:35 Now Manohar is on his own.
02:39 He uses nothing but his own body for support.
02:45 His mind over matter, walking on the edge at 12,000 feet.
03:00 Finally he reaches the black Shilajit rocks.
03:07 It's hard like cement, so he needs a chisel to break it off.
03:15 They're found in the cracks and crevices of mountains, where rain and snow can't get in.
03:24 It forms when microorganisms decompose certain plants over centuries.
03:29 What's left behind is Shilajit.
03:43 Manohar usually extracts it in spring, and then again in fall, before the snow can get
03:48 to it.
04:12 After collecting about 500 grams, they call it a day and set up a camp to stay overnight.
04:22 Everybody is trying to be healthy and eat good food.
04:26 That's why people want to get Shilajit.
04:31 Shilajit has its roots in Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India over 3,000 years
04:37 ago.
04:38 It's a traditional healing system that uses natural products, and ancient Hindu texts
04:44 talk about Shilajit's healing powers.
04:49 But Shilajit can't be eaten in its raw form, so Manohar first cooks the rocks.
04:55 They dissolve in boiling water.
04:59 He filters out sand and other impurities.
05:12 Here in Kashmir, they have a unique recipe for it.
05:27 The remaining mixture gets sticky as it hardens, forming an edible Shilajit paste.
05:35 Research in Shilajit is limited, but Ayurvedic experts say that it is rich in metallic compounds,
05:41 minerals and nutrients.
05:44 And it's especially effective for treating infertility.
05:48 They did find that the sperm count increased.
05:50 They also saw an increase in testosterone levels, as well as things like energy, muscle
05:56 growth, not just in men but also in women.
06:00 It also contains fulvic acid, which is said to boost immunity and reduce inflammation.
06:11 And some studies show that Shilajit could help treat cognitive disorders.
06:16 With Alzheimer's, it's been shown to decrease the accumulation of the tau protein.
06:21 And the tau protein is the protein that accumulates, increases plaques in the brain and leads
06:25 to Alzheimer's.
06:29 Like most dietary supplements, Shilajit is not regulated by the FDA.
06:34 And there are tons of fake products on the market.
06:38 So Aditya Sumriya ensures that his products are the real thing by going along with Manohar
06:44 on the hunt.
06:45 It's a scarcity.
06:46 It's very rare.
06:47 It's very difficult to find.
06:48 So because of that, the majority of people can't find the original thing.
06:57 The fakes usually come in powder form and may be adulterated with coal and fertilizers.
07:04 Others contain a mineral wax called azocorite, which looks like Shilajit but has no medicinal
07:10 value.
07:11 The most potent kind of Shilajit is said to contain traces of gold.
07:16 But it's very rare and expensive, selling for about $60 for just 2.5 teaspoons.
07:24 The overall market for infertility supplements like Shilajit is also booming.
07:30 It's expected to reach $3 million by 2030.
07:34 Still, some places like Whole Foods have banned Shilajit altogether.
07:41 It's like from the earth, the risk of it having the heavy metals or the mycotoxins may be
07:47 greater than other herbs.
07:49 And perhaps there were some adverse effects when they weren't purified properly.
07:56 That's why experts say it's best to check the product's authenticity by asking for a
08:01 certificate of analysis.
08:03 And usually this document is a simple document.
08:06 It's just what they've done to make sure that what you are purchasing is what it is, in
08:11 fact.
08:12 And the second piece of it is also just looking at what testing have they done.
08:22 Manohar's wife fears for him every time he goes on these hikes.
08:26 "I have to look at the weather.
08:36 I get a little help from the farmers.
08:37 They help me with the crops.
08:38 They help me with the trees."
08:39 Farming is impossible during the harsh winters.
08:42 So the extra income from Shilajit really helps them get by.
08:45 "I don't know how my father is doing, but he knows that he's taking a risk.
08:53 He knows that he has to pay for his school fees."
08:59 Shilajit is part of the family's daily diet too.
09:04 Manohar boils milk and adds it in.
09:06 "I had a fracture once.
09:07 I had taken about 100 grams of milk.
09:08 I think the next time I took 50 percent of it.
09:09 Otherwise I had to walk with a stick."
09:22 For him, using Shilajit is a tradition that goes back generations.
09:37 Now he's happy to say he's continuing that legacy.
09:41 "I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to do what I love to do."
09:48 "I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to do what I love to do."
09:49 "I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to do what I love to do."
09:50 "I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to do what I love to do."
09:51 "I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to do what I love to do."
09:51 [Music]