Shilajit: male influencers claim it boosts testosterone and libido, but what does the science say? | Antiviral

Interest in shilajit has taken off in recent years , in no small part thanks to square-jawed men who pose with jars of the stuff in TikToks and Instagram posts.

Also known as mumijo, mumie and rock sap, it is a mineral substance that comes from rocks in mountainous regions.

In Australia , there are no products containing the substance listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods .

Last year , the Therapeutic Goods Administration issued a safety advisory for ashwagandha, linking it to gastrointestinal side effects and rare cases of liver injury.

Research into its impacts on sleep is more limited, but a 2021 review found it had a “small but significant effect on overall sleep’s compared to placebo.