It is generally accepted that agents hat enhance immune system or temper drug side effects may complement conventional HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) therapies. Drugs that reduce the viral load of the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) enable the body to restore white blood cell counts and as a result extend the life of the people who are affected with HIV.    The modern treatment methods for HIV/AIDS patients mainly involve ART or anti retroviral therapies. HIV infection when diagnosed early and if treatments are started in time, can be effectively controlled so that it does not develop into full blown AIDS. The life of the patient can be extended by several decades with ART therapies.  Shilajit’s powers have been found to be truly surprising and amazing in this regard. This has been clearly established with 2 latest studies. It has been found that Shilajit is endowed with both immune potentiating and viral load reducing properties. 

A clinical study of AIDS patients with multi component natural product formulation comprising 3 essential and 3 supportive ingredients was done. Shilajit was the main component in the study – others being Withania Somnifera and Tulsi. Out of 36 patients the 22 patients who received the treatment with the formulations for 6 months showed positive signs of improvement. Their CD4 ( (cluster of differentiation 4) cell counts increased from  around 260 to 450.  Around 10 patients who received this treatment for 1 year showed distinct improvement in the symptoms and augmentation in the CD4  to a consistent level of around 650.  Doctors use a test that 'counts' the number of CD4 cells in a cubic millimeter of blood. A normal CD4 count in a healthy and HIV-negative adult can vary but is usually between 600 and 1200 CD4 cells/mm3. It recommended that HIV treatment is started when  CD4 cell count is around 350.  
Another study of the effect of shilajit and 2 other herbs was done on HIV patients at Department of Virology, Haffkines Institute at Mumbai, India. The Haffkines Institute, Mumbai , India was established in 1899 by Dr. Waldemar Mordecai Haffkine who trained directlt under the legendary Louis Pasteur in ParIs. This institute played a vital role in containing bubonic plague outbreak in India during early part of last century.

  In-vitro tests were done with the herbal extracts of the plants Shilajit, Ashwagandha and Tulsi on Reverse Transcriptase, an enzyme that is found in the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and causes it to multiply. The tests showed that these herbs have the potential to act effectively against the enzyme. The study began in 2006 with the three herbal extracts being tested against Reverse Transcriptase. Simultaneously, a drug named azidothymidine (AZT), which is used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, was also tested. Results of this comparative study showed that tulsi and shilajit gave better results than that of AZT drug on the enzyme. “When AZT was 70% effective in blocking the enzyme activity, tulsi and shilajit showed 80% to 90% activity. Now that the herbal extracts of these plants have shown positive results, the institute is planning to take the research to the next level. Surely some more organized research and study needs to be done on these beneficial powers of shilajit. One can surely benefit by taking Shilajit as a supplement together with any other conventional treatment for HIV/AIDS. 

Can Shilajit together with Ashwagandah and Tulsi help in prevention of HIV infection? This is a very tricky question which has no conclusive answers as of now. Conducting such a research is extremely difficult and risky. The best ways to avoid HIV infection are well known. HIV infection spreads through bodily fluids namely blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. One has to be very careful in case of exchange of these fluids. Safe sex using condoms give protection only 85% of times. Transfusion with HIV infected blood is almost 100% sure to transmit the infection. A course of antiretroviral treatment administered immediately after exposure, referred to as post-exposure prophylaxis, reduces the risk of infection if begun as quickly as possible. This has to be done within one hour to 72 hours from the time of infection. The success of this preventive treatment depends on the viral load that is received and how soon the treatment is started. If the treatment can be started within an hour the success of the treatment could be as higher as 96%. In this context logical inference means that Shilajit can make a significant contribution. Shilajit was initially never meant for tackling HIV infection. It is an anti aging elixir providing vital nutrients to the body. Shilajit has already been proven to be an effective therapy for HIV in conjunction with conventional treatment or by itself. Shilajit has been shown to decrease the viral load and increase CD4 counts in those who have already contracted HIV. 

Those who take Shilajit daily could benefit to some extent at the time of exposure to HIV. The virus is at it’s most vulnerable time during initial time. With shilajit already being taken some degree of protection against contracting the infection could be possible. Indian Yogis discovered the wonderful benefits of Shilajit thousands of years ago. They called it as Amrit – meaning “the elixir that makes one immortal”. It is indeed interesting to note that shilajit is of help in a modern 20 century disease like HIV/AIDS.