Cistanche vs Shilajit for libido
Short answer: For libido, more users report improvement with Shilajit — 87% of 45 reports, versus 80% of 51 for Cistanche.
Cistanche has 4 meta-analyses and 6 randomized trials on PubMed; Shilajit has 1 and 7.
Based on 321 reports about Cistanche and 427 about Shilajit. Not medical advice.
| Cistanche Supplement | Shilajit Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 66%helped132 reports · high confidence | 61%helped154 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | BResearch: Moderate |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 4 / 6 | 1 / 7 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Energy % reporting improvement | 67% (30) | 94% (67) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 80% (51) | 87% (45) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 82% (40) | 89% (38) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 73% (41) | 93% (28) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (25) | 84% (19) |
| Common side effects | fatigue, anhedonia, drowsiness, hair loss | irritability, anxiety, drowsiness, insomnia |
| Typical dose reported | 210 mg / daily | 400-600 mg / daily with food |
Dietary supplements have a positive impact on hair density, terminal hair density, and blind doctor evaluations in patients with androgenetic alopecia, with good tolerability. They may serve as beneficial adjuncts or alternatives to conventional treatments. Future large-scale, high-quality RCTs are needed to verify these findings.
Front Nutr, 2025 ↗“Cistanche extract increases my drive, energy and vigor. It makes me want to attack life. I get better sleep...My work ethic has improved. My memory. my attitude towards life. Every facet of my life has been altered in a positive meaningful way.”
The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men; and a non-hormonal aromatase inhibitor (Novadex XT™) possibly effective for male athletes.
Int J Impot Res, 2024 ↗“Shilajit actually did wonders for me, I'm chronically ill so energy levels and mental clarity were in the dumps and it's the first thing I've tried that boosts a noticeable amount.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate