Independent lab certificate for PEAKSPURITY Shilajit Resin, showing heavy metal testing for safety

Shilajit Side Effects: Who Should Avoid It and How to Stay Safe (2026 UK Guide)

By the PEAKSPURITY team · Last updated 26 October 2026 · 9 min read

Quick answer

Purified, lab-tested shilajit is generally well tolerated by healthy adults at the label serving. The most commonly reported side effects are mild: stomach upset, loose stools or bloating, and occasionally headache or dizziness. The biggest real risk is contaminated, unpurified shilajit containing heavy metals. Avoid it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18 or have an iron-overload condition, and ask your GP first if you take diabetes or blood pressure medication.

✅ Usually mild

Digestive upset that settles with food or a smaller serving

⚠️ Check first

On medication, or with a long-term condition

⛔ Avoid

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18s, iron overload

Key takeaways

  • A 2014 safety review in Phytotherapy Research found no evidence of toxicity from purified shilajit in the available human and animal data.
  • Most reported side effects are digestive and mild, and usually ease when taken with food or at a lower serving.
  • Unpurified shilajit can contain lead, arsenic, mercury and microbes. Always ask for an independent lab report.
  • Shilajit naturally contains iron and may affect blood sugar and blood pressure, which is why some people should check with a GP first.
  • Long-term research is limited: most human trials lasted 8 to 12 weeks.

Is shilajit safe?

For most healthy adults, purified and independently tested shilajit taken at the label serving is considered safe. A 2014 review of the research in Phytotherapy Research found no evidence of toxicity from purified shilajit in the available human and animal studies, while warning that raw, unprocessed shilajit should not be used.

Two things matter far more than anything else: whether your shilajit is genuinely purified and tested, and whether you personally fall into one of the groups below who should avoid it or get advice first.

What are the common side effects of shilajit?

The side effects people report most are mild and digestive, and they usually appear in the first week. Here is what to look out for and what to do.

Side effect Why it may happen What to do
Stomach upset or nausea Taking it on an empty stomach, or a serving that is too large Take it with food and drop to the lower serving
Loose stools or bloating Your gut adjusting to a new supplement Use a smaller amount for a week, then build up slowly
Headache Often in the first few days, sometimes with low fluid intake Drink enough water; stop and see your GP if it persists
Dizziness or light-headedness Possible effects on blood pressure in some people Sit down, stop taking it and speak to your GP, especially if you take blood pressure medication
Rash, itching or swelling A possible allergic reaction, which is rare Stop immediately. Call 999 if your face, lips or throat swell or you struggle to breathe

What is the biggest risk with shilajit?

Contamination, not shilajit itself. Raw shilajit comes straight from mountain rock, so before purification it can contain soil, microbes and naturally occurring heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury. Long-term exposure to heavy metals can harm the kidneys, liver and nervous system.

UK law caps heavy metals in food supplements as sold at 3.0 mg/kg for lead, 1.0 mg/kg for cadmium and 0.10 mg/kg for mercury. The only way to know a product meets these limits is an independent lab report for its batch. Home tests like the water or burn test cannot detect heavy metals.

Before you buy any shilajit: ask for a certificate of analysis from an independent lab and check its batch number matches your jar. Our guide How to Spot Fake Shilajit in the UK walks you through all 7 checks.

Who should not take shilajit?

Avoid shilajit if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18 or have an iron-overload condition. Get advice first if you take regular medication or have a long-term health condition.

🤰 Pregnant or breastfeedingAvoid

There is not enough safety research in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not take shilajit unless your doctor or midwife says otherwise.

🧒 Under 18Avoid

Shilajit has not been studied in children or teenagers. Our products are for adults only.

🩸 Haemochromatosis or high ironAvoid

Shilajit naturally contains iron, and the NHS advises people with haemochromatosis to avoid iron supplements. The same applies to other iron-overload conditions.

💉 Diabetes medicationAsk your GP

Shilajit may lower blood sugar. Combined with insulin, metformin or other diabetes medicines, that could push levels too low.

❤️ Blood pressure medication or low blood pressureAsk your GP

Shilajit may affect blood pressure, and dizziness has been reported. If yours is high, low or controlled with medicine, get advice first.

💊 Any regular medicationAsk your pharmacist

Including thyroid medicine, blood thinners and lithium. A pharmacist can check for interactions in a few minutes, free.

🫘 Kidney, liver or other long-term conditionsAsk your GP

Your body handles minerals differently with these conditions, so get personal advice first.

🏥 Surgery coming upTell your team

Because of possible effects on blood sugar and blood pressure, tell your surgical team you take shilajit. They may ask you to stop beforehand.

Does shilajit interact with medication?

It may, mainly because shilajit can affect blood sugar and blood pressure and contains iron and other minerals. Research on specific drug interactions is limited, so treat this table as a list of reasons to ask, not a complete safety check.

Medicine type Why it matters What to do
Diabetes medicines (e.g. insulin, metformin) Combined effect could lower blood sugar too far Speak to your GP before starting
Blood pressure medicines Shilajit may affect blood pressure, making it harder to control Speak to your GP before starting
Iron supplements Shilajit adds more iron Check total iron intake with a pharmacist
Thyroid medicine (levothyroxine) Minerals can affect how some medicines are absorbed Ask your pharmacist about timing
Blood thinners, lithium or other regular medicines Interaction research is limited Ask your pharmacist before starting

How can you lower your risk of side effects?

Choose a tested product, start low, take it with food and never exceed the label serving.

  1. Buy lab-tested shilajit. Look for an independent certificate of analysis covering heavy metals and microbiology.
  2. Start at the lower serving for the first week. For resin, that is a small pea-sized amount. See how to take shilajit resin.
  3. Take it with food if your stomach is sensitive.
  4. Use one format a day. Do not combine full servings of resin and gummies.
  5. Add one new thing at a time, so you can tell what is causing any reaction.
  6. Tell your GP or pharmacist about every supplement you take, especially before surgery or a new prescription.

Thinking of taking shilajit with ashwagandha? The two are often sold together, but there are no good-quality studies of them combined, and the Food Standards Agency currently advises pregnant women and people with liver conditions to avoid ashwagandha. Our guide Shilajit vs Ashwagandha covers who should avoid each and how to try both sensibly.

When should you stop taking shilajit and get help?

🚨 Call 999 if you have

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, or you feel faint and very unwell. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.

📞 Stop and call NHS 111 or your GP if

you get a rash, repeated dizziness, ongoing stomach problems, headaches that will not go away, or anything else that worries you.

You can also report a suspected side effect from any supplement to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, which helps keep products safe for everyone. And please email us at info@peakspurity.co.uk with your batch number so we can look into it.

Is it safe to take shilajit long term?

Human trials have used shilajit daily for up to 90 days, but there is little research on use over many months or years. That does not mean long-term use is harmful, only that it has not been well studied.

If you plan to take it beyond three months, a sensible approach is to review how you feel every 12 weeks and mention it to your GP, particularly if you take medication. Our guide How Long Does Shilajit Take to Work? includes a simple 12-week tracker you can use.

How PEAKSPURITY approaches safety

Every batch of PEAKSPURITY shilajit is independently tested by Eurofins and a US-based lab for purity and heavy metals, and both our resin and gummies are Halal certified. Each label shows the daily serving and the standard UK supplement warnings. If you have a question about testing or a specific batch, email info@peakspurity.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

What are the side effects of shilajit?

Purified, lab-tested shilajit is generally well tolerated by healthy adults at the label serving. The most commonly reported side effects are mild stomach upset, loose stools or bloating, and occasionally headache or dizziness. The biggest real risk is contaminated, unpurified shilajit containing heavy metals.

Is shilajit safe to take every day?

At the label serving, purified shilajit is generally well tolerated by healthy adults, and human trials have used it daily for up to 90 days. Research on longer-term use is limited, so mention ongoing use to your GP if you take medication or have a health condition.

Who should not take shilajit?

Avoid shilajit if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18, or have haemochromatosis or another iron-overload condition. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you take diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid or blood-thinning medication, have low blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, or have surgery planned.

Can shilajit damage your kidneys or liver?

There is no good human evidence that purified, lab-tested shilajit at the label serving damages the kidneys or liver. The concern is contaminated shilajit, because heavy metals such as lead and arsenic can harm these organs. If you already have kidney or liver disease, ask your GP before taking it.

Does shilajit affect blood pressure?

Evidence is limited. Safety sources have listed both raised and lowered blood pressure as possible effects, and dizziness has been reported. If you have high or low blood pressure, or take blood pressure medication, check with your GP first.

Can shilajit cause headaches?

Some people report headaches, usually in the first week or when taking more than the label serving. Drinking enough water, taking it with food and starting at the lower serving often helps. If headaches persist, stop and speak to your GP.

Can I take shilajit with other supplements?

Be careful with iron supplements, because shilajit naturally contains iron. For any other supplement, check the combined amounts of minerals and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure. Do not take full servings of shilajit resin and gummies on the same day.

What should I do if I get side effects from shilajit?

Stop taking it. For mild symptoms, speak to a pharmacist or call NHS 111. Call 999 if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or throat or difficulty breathing. You can report suspected side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Sources

This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have a medical condition, take medication, or are unsure whether shilajit is right for you, speak to your GP or pharmacist. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

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