Shilajit is a rare natural substance found in the high-altitude and rugged mountains of Badakhshan. The black substance comes out of rocks and cliffs and, after being collected, cleaned, and processed, is sold in the market. Despite the many difficulties and risks involved in collecting it, many residents of these areas continue to extract and sell it.
Faizullah, a resident of Zibak district, says shilajit is mostly found among dark-colored rocks and cliffs. Finding it requires experience, knowledge of the area, and familiarity with the mountains. He says people sometimes spend days searching the mountains to obtain a small amount of the substance.
“We find shilajit among the hard cliffs in the mountains. It comes down from the rocks and forms there,” he says.
Ayanuddin, another resident of Badakhshan, says they have to travel to high-altitude and hard-to-reach areas to find shilajit, where they face the risk of falling from cliffs and even being attacked by wild animals.
“People mostly use shilajit to treat joint pain, kidney pain, and some similar illnesses, and they have seen good results. One of our family members also had this illness and got better after using it,” he says.
In addition to its traditional medicinal uses, shilajit is also a source of income for many families.
Borhan, another resident of Badakhshan, says he has turned to collecting shilajit to cover his family’s expenses and earns up to 8,000 Afghanis a month. According to him, despite the risks and hours spent searching the mountains, a lack of other job opportunities has led people to turn to this work.
“We sell shilajit after collecting it. If the quality is good, we sell it for 1,800 to 2,000 Afghanis per kilogram. The income we earn from selling shilajit helps solve about 40 to 50 percent of our economic problems,” he adds.
Shilajit processors say the substance usually contains soil, small stones, and additional materials when it is transferred from the mountains. It goes through several stages of cleaning and filtering before it is prepared for use.
Hakim, a shilajit processor, says only a small amount of pure shilajit can be obtained from each kilogram of raw shilajit.
“We remove the soil and stones and then mix it with water until it becomes like fine sand and soft soil. We then filter it, boil it, and leave it for one or two nights until it becomes completely clear. After that, it goes through several more stages until it dries,” he says.
Shilajit sellers in Badakhshan also report increased demand for the product. Mohammad Naeem, a shilajit seller in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan, says the market for shilajit has increased in recent years.
“People come from Kabul, Mazar, Herat, and other provinces to buy and sell it. The shilajit market has grown in recent years, and it is even taken to foreign countries such as Pakistan, Iran, the United States, and Germany,” he says.
Meanwhile, doctors say that despite its traditional uses, shilajit should be used with caution and under the supervision of specialists.
Khalil Hamidi, a doctor in Badakhshan, says proper use of shilajit may be beneficial, but arbitrary use of it or the use of nonstandard products could have serious health consequences.
“The danger is that shilajit itself may be toxic and may not be clean. Excessive use of this substance can damage the kidneys, liver, and stomach. In addition, its use by children, pregnant women, and people with certain illnesses can be dangerous,” he adds.
Shilajit is one of the valuable natural substances found in the mountains of Badakhshan. Extracted from the hard cliffs, it is a source of income for some families and is mainly used in traditional medicine. However, experts believe that proper use, standardized processing, and informed use of the substance could help protect consumers’ health while also helping develop the economic capacity of Badakhshan.
Reporter: Farid Yaqobi
