Questions worth asking

Same substance, different spelling. Silajeet, shilajeet, salajit and shilajit are all transliterations of one Sanskrit word, so none of them is more correct than the others, and mumijo is what the same resin is called in Russia and Central Asia. Our own laboratory certificate names the sample "Salajit". The spelling on a label tells you nothing about quality. What does is whether the seller publishes a batch-numbered test. There is more on where the spellings come from in our guide to the five spellings.

Every batch is tested at a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 and the certificate is published on this site. Beyond the paperwork, genuine resin softens in your hand and dissolves almost completely in warm water. This batch measured 97.2% soluble.

Genuine raw resin typically measures between 15 and 35 per cent depending on the assay used. Figures far above that usually describe standardised extracts rather than raw resin, or come from a method the seller will not name. Ours reads 35 g/100g by titration, batch 250915, and we print the method beside it.

Bitter and earthy. Nobody buys shilajit for the taste, and a sweet or mild flavour is a warning sign rather than a feature. Stir it into warm water with a spoon of honey if you want it gentler.

Lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, plus fulvic acid content, moisture, total ash, pH and water solubility. Every result is published with the method that produced it.

A pea-sized amount, about 0.4 g, dissolved in warm water, tea or milk once a day. Not boiling water. Some people take it straight under the tongue.

Two to three weeks of daily use for most people, not the first day. The clinical trials that exist ran eight to twelve weeks at 250 to 500 mg a day. Anyone promising something overnight is describing a different kind of product.

At one dose a day, the 15 g jar lasts about 37 days and the 40 g jar about 100 days, which works out at roughly R10 a day on the larger jar.

A cool cupboard is fine. In humidity the resin softens, which is normal and does not harm it. Ten minutes in the fridge firms it up again. Keep the lid closed and out of direct sun.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone on chronic medication, should speak to a health professional first. This is a complementary product, not a medicine.

Card or instant EFT through our secure PayFast checkout, so you can pay straight from your bank account if you would rather not use a card.

Orders are packed in South Africa and couriered nationwide, tracked to your door, in one to three working days. Delivery is free on every order.

Yes. The current batch is published in full on the certificate page. Bought earlier? Email care@purepharm.co.za with roughly when you ordered and we will send that batch's report the same day.

Email a photograph to care@purepharm.co.za and we will replace it. Couriers happen, and you should not pay for that.