If you have looked at shilajit products, you will have seen fulvic acid mentioned. It is the compound most often named on the label — ours included — and it is worth understanding what it is and, just as importantly, what nobody is permitted to claim about it.
Where it comes from
Fulvic acid is not a single molecule. It is a family of organic compounds formed as plant and microbial material breaks down over very long periods. It occurs naturally in soil, peat and freshwater.
Shilajit is a resinous material found in high-altitude rock in the Himalayas and other mountain ranges, formed over centuries from compressed plant matter. Fulvic acid is one of its characteristic components, which is why the two are so often mentioned together.
Why it appears on labels
Fulvic acid content is used as a marker of what a shilajit material is. Purified shilajit is characterised partly by its fulvic acid content, so it functions as a compositional descriptor — a way of saying what is in the jar.
It is worth knowing that different laboratories use different methods to measure it, and results are not always directly comparable between suppliers. A higher stated percentage is not automatically a like-for-like comparison.
What we are not going to tell you
You will find plenty of confident claims online about what fulvic acid does in the body — mineral transport, cellular energy, detoxification.
There are no authorised health claims for fulvic acid or for shilajit on the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register. That means no seller in this country may lawfully tell you it does any of those things, and we are not going to.
Claims about detoxifying organs or altering your body's pH are not authorised in any form, for any ingredient. If you see them on a supplement page, that page is not compliant.
What we can tell you
What our shilajit is: purified Himalayan resin, a traditional preparation with a long history of use, and a source of fulvic acid. Where it comes from, what is in it, and how to take it.
That is a shorter list than most shilajit pages offer. It is also the accurate one.
Before you start
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Not suitable for children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medication or under medical supervision, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before use.