Shilajit During Menopause: Evidence, Safety and Practical Questions

Menopause is a normal biological transition, but the changes surrounding it can affect sleep, mood, body composition, bone health and daily wellbeing.

Because Shilajit is marketed for energy, minerals and healthy ageing, some women consider using it during perimenopause or after menopause.

The evidence requires careful interpretation.

One human clinical trial has studied a standardized Shilajit extract in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. The trial focused on bone mineral density and related biomarkers. It did not establish that Shilajit treats hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal symptoms, mood changes or menopause itself.

Shilajit should therefore be viewed as a separate dietary supplement, not as a menopause treatment or replacement for prescribed care.

For a broader overview of Shilajit's safety and benefits for women, see our Shilajit for women guide.

Direct answer

Women may be able to take purified, laboratory-tested Shilajit during or after menopause when their medical history and medications allow it.

However:

Shilajit has not been proven to relieve the full range of menopause symptoms.

It should not replace hormone therapy, nonhormonal medicine, calcium, vitamin D, osteoporosis treatment or other care prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Women using hormone replacement therapy, thyroid medicine, diabetes medicine, blood-pressure medicine, anticoagulants or iron supplements should seek medical advice before taking it.

Product quality also matters because Shilajit composition varies by source and batch.

What happens during menopause?

Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period that cannot be explained by another cause.

The transition before menopause is called perimenopause. During this stage, ovarian production of oestrogen and progesterone changes and eventually declines.

The experience differs between women. Possible changes include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Sleep disruption
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Vaginal dryness
• Pain during sex
• Changes in body composition
• Joint or muscle discomfort
• Reduced bone density

Menopause is not a disease. Some women experience mild symptoms, while others need medical support because symptoms significantly affect their quality of life.

Does Shilajit treat menopause symptoms?

There is not enough direct human evidence to conclude that Shilajit treats common menopause symptoms.

No reliable clinical trial has established that Shilajit directly reduces:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Menopause-related anxiety
• Mood changes
• Sleep disruption
• Loss of libido
• Hormone deficiency

Claims that Shilajit “balances female hormones” or raises oestrogen should be treated cautiously. Direct evidence supporting these claims in menopausal women is lacking.

A supplement may affect general wellbeing without treating the biological cause of menopause or specific symptoms.

What human evidence exists?

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in 2022 studied 60 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 who had osteopenia.

Participants received:

• A placebo
• 250 mg of a standardized Shilajit extract daily
• 500 mg of the standardized extract daily

The study lasted 48 weeks.

Researchers measured bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. They also assessed markers related to bone turnover, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Compared with placebo, women receiving the standardized extract experienced less decline in bone mineral density during the study. Changes were also reported in several bone-turnover, oxidative-stress and inflammatory markers.

This is meaningful human evidence, but its limits are important.

• The study involved only 60 participants.
• It examined a specific standardized extract.
• All participants were postmenopausal and had osteopenia.
• It did not test ordinary Shilajit products as a category.
• It did not establish prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.
• It did not evaluate hot flushes, sleep, mood or other common menopause symptoms as its main outcomes.

The results should not be applied automatically to every Shilajit resin, capsule, powder or liquid product.

To understand the role of fulvic acid in Shilajit's biological activity, see our fulvic acid in Shilajit guide.

Shilajit and bone health after menopause

Bone loss can accelerate as oestrogen levels decline.

After menopause, women face a higher risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis and fractures. Risk is influenced by age, family history, body weight, diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, medications and other health conditions.

The Shilajit trial suggests that one standardized extract may have supported bone mineral density in women who already had osteopenia.

It does not prove that Shilajit alone can:

• Prevent osteoporosis
• Reverse established osteoporosis
• Prevent fractures
• Replace calcium or vitamin D
• Replace resistance exercise
• Replace prescription bone medication
• Replace a bone-density assessment

Women concerned about bone health should discuss whether they need a DEXA scan and which preventive or treatment measures are appropriate.

Can Shilajit increase oestrogen?

There is no strong human evidence showing that Shilajit increases oestrogen in menopausal women.

The postmenopausal bone study discussed mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation and bone turnover. It did not establish that Shilajit restored oestrogen or acted as hormone replacement therapy.

This distinction matters.

Supporting a biological marker is not the same as replacing a missing hormone.

Women should be cautious with products promoted as “natural hormone replacement” when the claim is not supported by direct clinical evidence.

Can Shilajit help with menopause fatigue?

Fatigue during perimenopause or menopause can have several causes, including:

• Poor sleep
• Night sweats
• Stress
• Depression or anxiety
• Thyroid problems
• Iron deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Low physical activity
• Medication effects
• Sleep apnoea
• Other medical conditions

Shilajit is often marketed for energy, but menopause-related fatigue should not automatically be attributed to low energy production.

Persistent or severe fatigue should be assessed before adding supplements. Treating the underlying cause is more important than masking the symptom.

If iron deficiency is a contributing factor, see our article on Shilajit and iron deficiency in women for important safety considerations.

Can Shilajit help with menopause-related sleep problems?

There is no direct clinical evidence proving that Shilajit treats menopause-related insomnia or night sweats.

Sleep disruption during menopause can be linked to hot flushes, mood changes, stress, sleep disorders and other medical factors.

Some women may report general changes in wellbeing while taking Shilajit, but personal experience cannot establish effectiveness for menopause-related sleep problems.

Women with persistent sleep disruption should discuss evidence-based options with a healthcare professional. For a review of the general evidence on Shilajit and sleep, see does Shilajit help with sleep.

Can Shilajit be taken with hormone replacement therapy?

There is insufficient direct research on taking Shilajit together with menopausal hormone therapy.

No reliable clinical trial has established the safety or benefit of combining Shilajit with:

• Oestrogen tablets
• Oestrogen patches
• Oestrogen gels
• Progesterone
• Combined hormone therapy
• Testosterone prescribed for women
• Local vaginal oestrogen

A lack of documented interaction does not prove that every combination is safe.

Women using hormone therapy should show their complete supplement list to the prescribing clinician. This is particularly important when they also take medicine for blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, blood clotting or bone health.

Shilajit and menopause-related bone health

Bone health is one of the few menopause-related areas where direct human Shilajit research exists.

The 48-week clinical trial in postmenopausal women with osteopenia reported less decline in bone mineral density among participants receiving a standardized Shilajit extract compared with placebo.

However, this does not mean every Shilajit product will produce the same result.

The study used a specific standardized extract at controlled doses. Resin, drops, capsules and powders can differ in composition, concentration and quality.

Women should not use Shilajit as a replacement for:

• A bone-density scan
• Calcium where medically required
• Vitamin D where medically required
• Resistance and weight-bearing exercise
• Prescription osteoporosis medicine
• Medical investigation of fractures or bone pain

Women with osteopenia or osteoporosis should discuss any supplement with the healthcare professional managing their bone health.

Shilajit, calcium and vitamin D

Shilajit is sometimes promoted as improving mineral absorption.

There is not enough direct evidence to conclude that ordinary Shilajit products significantly improve calcium or vitamin D status in menopausal women.

Calcium and vitamin D requirements should be assessed separately.

Taking more calcium is not automatically better. Excessive supplementation may be unsuitable for people with certain kidney conditions, a history of kidney stones or other medical concerns.

Women should not replace prescribed calcium or vitamin D with Shilajit.

Shilajit and iron after menopause

Iron requirements can change after menopause because regular menstrual blood loss stops.

Some postmenopausal women may still develop iron deficiency due to diet, gastrointestinal blood loss, poor absorption or other medical causes.

Other women may have elevated iron stores or an inherited iron-overload condition.

Shilajit may contain naturally occurring iron, but the amount varies by source and batch.

Women with:

• Elevated ferritin
• Elevated transferrin saturation
• Haemochromatosis
• Liver disease
• A family history of iron overload
• Ongoing iron supplementation

Should seek medical advice before using Shilajit.

Shilajit should not be used as an iron treatment or as a replacement for proper blood testing.

Can Shilajit help with brain fog?

Difficulty concentrating and memory complaints are common during perimenopause and menopause.

Possible contributors include:

• Sleep disruption
• Hot flushes
• Stress
• Mood changes
• Thyroid disorders
• Medication effects
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Other medical conditions

Shilajit has been studied for several biological mechanisms related to oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, but there is not enough direct clinical evidence showing that it treats menopause-related brain fog. For a review of the general research, see Shilajit and cognitive function.

Persistent or worsening cognitive symptoms should be medically assessed.

Can Shilajit help with mood changes?

Mood changes during menopause can include irritability, anxiety, low mood and emotional instability.

Shilajit is sometimes described as an adaptogenic supplement, but direct clinical evidence in menopausal women is limited.

It should not replace:

• Psychological support
• Antidepressant treatment
• Anxiety treatment
• Hormone therapy prescribed for appropriate symptoms
• Sleep treatment
• Medical evaluation

Women with persistent low mood, severe anxiety or thoughts of self-harm should seek professional support urgently.

Who should avoid Shilajit during or after menopause?

Avoid Shilajit or seek medical advice first if you:

• Have haemochromatosis or another iron-overload disorder
• Have elevated ferritin or transferrin saturation
• Have chronic kidney disease
• Have significant liver disease
• Have gout or persistently elevated uric acid
• Take anticoagulants
• Take diabetes medicine
• Take blood-pressure medicine
• Take thyroid medicine
• Use hormone replacement therapy
• Use prescription osteoporosis medicine
• Have an active autoimmune condition
• Have unexplained postmenopausal bleeding
• Have unexplained weight loss or persistent fatigue
• Have not investigated new or severe symptoms

Postmenopausal bleeding requires medical evaluation and should not be managed with supplements.

Read who should not take Shilajit for a full list of contraindications and medical conditions that require caution.

Product quality matters

Shilajit composition varies according to source, purification, processing and batch.

A product should have current laboratory documentation covering relevant quality and contamination risks.

Buyers should check:

• Whether the report identifies the tested product
• Whether the report includes a batch reference
• Whether the testing laboratory is named
• Whether heavy metals were assessed
• Whether microbiological testing is available
• Whether the report is current
• Whether the report matches the product being sold

Laboratory documentation does not prove that a product treats menopause. It helps buyers assess the documented quality of the tested batch. To understand how we test our products, see our testing process.

Review our current laboratory reports to verify heavy metal results and batch documentation.

Practical questions to ask before taking Shilajit

Before using Shilajit during or after menopause, consider:

• Which symptom am I trying to address?
• Has that symptom been medically assessed?
• Am I taking hormone therapy?
• Am I taking thyroid, diabetes or blood-pressure medicine?
• Do I know my iron status?
• Do I have osteopenia or osteoporosis?
• Have I had a DEXA scan where appropriate?
• Does the product have current laboratory documentation?
• Does the report match the current batch?
• Have I discussed my supplements with my healthcare professional?

For guidance on appropriate dosage, see our Shilajit dosage guide. For a full safety overview, see our Shilajit safety guide.

The practical conclusion

Shilajit has not been proven to treat menopause itself or the full range of menopause symptoms.

One controlled human trial reported promising bone-density findings using a specific standardized extract in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

That evidence should not be generalized to every Shilajit product or used to replace established bone-health care.

Women may consider purified, laboratory-tested Shilajit as a separate dietary supplement when their medical history and medications allow it.

Women using hormone therapy or medicines for thyroid disease, diabetes, blood pressure, blood clotting or bone health should seek medical advice first.

Considering Shilajit as a general wellness supplement during or after menopause? Review the laboratory documentation and product information before deciding whether it is appropriate for you.

Frequently asked questions

Can women take Shilajit during menopause?

Some women may be able to take purified, laboratory-tested Shilajit during menopause. Suitability depends on medical history, medicines, iron status and product quality.

Does Shilajit treat hot flushes?

There is not enough direct clinical evidence showing that Shilajit treats hot flushes or night sweats.

Does Shilajit increase oestrogen?

There is no strong human evidence showing that Shilajit increases oestrogen in menopausal women.

Can Shilajit replace hormone replacement therapy?

No. Shilajit is not a replacement for hormone therapy or other prescribed menopause treatment.

Can Shilajit support bone health after menopause?

One clinical trial using a standardized extract reported less decline in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. This does not prove that every Shilajit product prevents or treats osteoporosis.

Can Shilajit be taken with HRT?

There is insufficient direct research on combining Shilajit with hormone replacement therapy. Women using HRT should consult the prescribing clinician before taking it.

Should postmenopausal women check their iron before taking Shilajit?

Yes, especially if they use iron supplements, have elevated ferritin, haemochromatosis, liver disease or a family history of iron overload.

Why does laboratory testing matter?

Shilajit composition varies by source and batch. Laboratory documentation helps buyers review heavy metals, microbiological quality and the tested batch identity.