What is Fulvic Acid and what are its Benefits?

Social media, Ayurvedic websites, or health stores may have brought your attention to fulvic acid, a health product that some people take as a supplement. Fulvic acid supplements and shilajit, a natural substance that’s rich in fulvic acid, are popular for a variety of reasons, including potential immune and brain health benefits.

This article explains everything you need to know about fulvic acid, including what it is, its health effects, and its safety. The article was written for the website Healthline by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD on April 24, 2020 and medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D. Follow Healthline by clicking on the following link: https://www.healthline.com/

What is fulvic acid?

Fulvic acid is considered a humic substance, meaning it’s a naturally occurring compound found in soils, compost, marine sediments, and sewage (1). Fulvic acid is a product of decomposition and formed through geochemical and biological reactions, such as the breakdown of food in a compost heap. It can be extracted from compost, soil, and other substances to be processed into a supplement (1).

How does it differ from shilajit?

Shilajit, a substance secreted by rocks in certain mountain ranges around the world, including the Himalayas, is particularly high in fulvic acid. Its common names include mineral pitch, mumie, mumijo, and vegetable asphalt (2) Shilajit is blackish brown and comprises 15–20% fulvic acid. It also contains small amounts of minerals and metabolites derived from fungi (3, 4).

Shilajit has been used therapeutically for centuries in traditional healing practices, including Ayurvedic medicine, to treat conditions like diabetes, altitude sickness, asthma, heart ailments, and digestive and nervous disorders (3 5). It has also been used to stimulate the immune system and enhance performance (5.) Fulvic acid is believed to be responsible for many of shilajit’s medicinal properties.

Both fulvic acid and shilajit can be taken as supplements. While fulvic acid is typically produced in liquid or capsule form and combined with other minerals like magnesium and amino acids, shilajit is usually sold as a capsule or fine powder that can be added to beverages.

SUMMARY

Fulvic acid and shilajit, a substance high in fulvic acid, have long been used in traditional medicine. Both are sold in supplement form and said to treat numerous ailments.

Potential benefits of fulvic acid

Research demonstrates that both fulvic acid and shilajit may boast various health-promoting properties.

May reduce inflammation and boost immunity

Fulvic acid has been well studied for its effects on immune health and inflammation. Research indicates that it may bolster your body’s defense against illnesses.

Test-tube and animal studies show that fulvic acid may improve disease resistance, increase your immune defences, fight inflammation, and enhance antioxidant activity — all of which may bolster immune health (4, 6, 7).

Fulvic acid may be especially useful for reducing inflammation, which negatively affects immune response and is linked to numerous chronic diseases.For example, test-tube studies demonstrate that it may limit the release of inflammatory substances like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) (8, 9).

Plus, a study in 20 people with HIV found that taking shilajit at varying doses of up to 9,000 mg per day, combined with traditional antiretroviral medication, led to health improvements, compared with antiretroviral medication alone. Those who received shilajit experienced fewer symptoms of nausea, weight loss, and diarrhea. Furthermore, the treatment enhanced people’s response to the medication and seemed to protect the liver and kidneys from the medicine’s side effects (10).

However, it’s important to note that results are mixed, with some studies tying fulvic acid to inflammatory effects depending on the dose and type. More research is needed before these substances can be recommended as immune boosters (4). It’s also important to understand that one supplement will not prevent or cure disease. Keeping your immune system healthy with a nutritious diet and other lifestyle factors can help your body defend against viruses, bacteria, pathogens, and toxins.

May protect brain function

Some research suggests that fulvic acid may promote brain health (11).

Animal studies note that shilajit can improve outcomes after traumatic brain injury by reducing swelling and pressure in the brain (12). Additionally, test-tube studies show that fulvic acid strongly interferes with the clumping of certain proteins that accelerate brain ailments like Alzheimer’s disease (13).

What’s more, a preliminary, 24-week study in people with Alzheimer’s determined that supplementing with shilajit and B vitamins led to stabilized brain function, compared with a placebo group (14).

Some animal research also suggests that shilajit may help enhance memory (15, 16).Overall, more human studies on fulvic acid and brain health are needed.

Other potential benefits

Fulvic acid may offer several other health benefits.

May lower cholesterol. Animal studies suggest that fulvic acid may decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol. According to a human study in 30 people, it may also raise HDL (good) cholesterol (17, 18).
May improve muscle strength. In a 12-week study in 60 adults with obesity, 500 mg of shilajit daily helped improve muscle strength. Plus, an 8-week study in 63 active men showed similar results with the same amount of this compound (19, 20).
May relieve altitude sickness. Shilajit has been used for centuries to treat altitude sickness. Fulvic acid may help treat this condition by enhancing immune response, stimulating energy production, and improving oxygen levels (5).
May boost cellular function. Animal research demonstrates that shilajit may preserve the function of mitochondria, the energy-producing organelle of cells (21).
May have anticancer properties. Some test-tube studies indicate that shilajit may induce cancer cell death and prevent the spread of certain cancer cells. However, more research is needed (22).
May boost testosterone. A 3-month study in 96 men found that taking 500 mg of shilajit per day significantly increased testosterone levels, compared with a placebo group (23).
May enhance gut health. Ayurvedic medicine has used shilajit for centuries to enhance gut health. Some research suggests that it may positively affect gut bacteria, enhance nutrient absorption, and improve digestive disorders (4).

Although fulvic acid and shilajit are associated with many potential health benefits, human studies are fairly limited.

SUMMARY
Both fulvic acid and shilajit may offer numerous benefits, including reduced inflammation, stronger immunity, and improved brain function. Still, more human research is needed.

Safety, side effects, and dosage

Moderate doses of fulvic acid and shilajit appear safe, though research is ongoing.

A study in 30 men concluded that a daily dose of 0.5 ounces (15 mL) can be used safely without the risk of side effects. Higher doses may induce mild side effects, such as diarrhea, headaches, and sore throat (1).

Additionally, a 3-month study in people with HIV found that prolonged use of shilajit at a dose of 6,000 mg per day was safe and did not cause any significant side effects (10). Other studies note that taking 500 mg of shilajit per day for up to 3 months doesn’t cause significant side effects in healthy adults (19, 23).

Although fulvic acid and Shilajit are considered relatively safe, insufficient research has been carried out to determine dosage recommendations. You’re generally advised not to exceed the dosage listed on supplement packaging. Furthermore, it’s important to pay special attention to the quality and form of fulvic acid and shilajit supplements. Studies show that raw, unpurified shilajit may contain arsenic, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other harmful compounds (11).

Since some shilajit products may be contaminated with these toxins, it’s important to purchase supplements from trusted brands that are tested by third-party organizations, such as NSF International or United States Pharmacopeia (USP) (11).

Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid shilajit and fulvic acid due to a lack of safety information.

Finally, these substances may react with certain medications, so it’s important to consult your healthcare provider before adding either to your routine.

SUMMARY
Shilajit and fulvic acid are considered relatively safe. However, some supplements may be contaminated with harmful substances, and more research is necessary to determine dosage guidelines.

The bottom line

Fulvic acid and shilajit, which is rich in this acid, are natural health products taken to treat numerous conditions.

Although research reveals that they may boost immune and brain health, as well as combat inflammation, more human studies are needed to fully determine their effectiveness, dosage, and long-term safety.

If you’re interested in trying fulvic acid or shilajit, first consult your healthcare provider. Furthermore, always purchase supplements from reputable sources to avoid exposure to toxins.

Let's Go Shopping!

Shop Now

Wholefood Supplements

Feel informed and confident knowing you are buying pure and wholesome supplement foods, from Oshun Health.

Buy Now

50% Discount for 1st time buyers

Don’t miss out on our 50% Citrus C Plus discount for first-time buyers, includes free delivery.

Family Combo Packs

We want to ensure your entire family benefits from our products, young and old.

Need to know anything?

See our FAQ page if you need more information or send us an email.

Wholefood Supplements

Fulvic Acid as a Potent Antiviral

Updated: 25 February 2025

Reading time: 10 minutes

Research shows that humic acid, of which fulvic acid forms part, binds so strongly to viruses that it can actually displace them from a cell surface. In vitro studies have shown, for example, that if you allow herpes simplex viruses to attach to host cells and then add humic acid to the solution, it will displace viruses from infected cell surfaces. That is, humic acid has a greater affinity for the virus than the virus does for the host cell. Thus, humic acid can actually displace a virus even after it has attached itself to the surface of a cell.[6]

The following article was originally posted by Michael Ash for the website of Clinical Education, a ‘Not for Profit’ organisation that brings a range of educational experiences to healthcare professionals. Follow Clinical Education by clicking on the following link: https://www.clinicaleducation.org/

The interview with Richard J Laub, MS, PhD, CChem, FRSC, was conducted by Focus Allergy Research Group.

*Note by Oshun Health: Humic Acids referred to in this article is the collective name for both humic acid and fulvic acid. In order to utilise humic acid, it is broken down to fulvic acid in the human gut. This is because humic acid is not soluble at the low pH (acidic) level of the stomach whereas fulvic acid is soluble at any pH level. The antiviral properties referred to in the article, therefore, applies to fulvic acid as well as humic acid.

An Interview with: Richard J Laub, MS, PhD, CChem, FRSC, is a chemist with nearly 150 peer-reviewed published research papers, sixteen patents, and numerous invited reviews and symposium presentations. He was formerly a professor of chemistry at The Ohio State University and San Diego State University, was a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in London, England, was an Alcoa fellow in San Diego, and a Science Research Council fellow in Swansea, Wales. For the last 17 years, Dr. Laub has focused exclusively on sourcing, analysing, studying, extracting and purifying humic acid, a remarkable high-mineral, healing substance with potent antiviral properties, found in ancient soil deposits.

Focus: You have devoted the last 17 years of your life to researching humic acid, an extract of ancient organic soil deposits. These ancient soil deposits—named humus, or humin, from the Greek word for soil—can be found all over the world and contain highly-concentrated minerals and healing substances. It’s interesting that in essence, the soil that nourishes plant life–and later the plant that dies and becomes part of the soil–contains such potent healing substances. Can you give us some basic facts about humic and fulvic acids before we discuss the health benefits?

RJL: Both humic and fulvic acids are extracts from composted organic matter and prove to be excellent mineral supplements. They excel at providing all the trace minerals we need. Fulvic acid is a small and somewhat rigid molecule, with a molecular weight of about 1,500 daltons (a dalton is a unit of mass commonly used in chemistry). Humic acid is equally potent as a mineral supplement, but is a much heavier, bigger molecule. It weighs about 50,000 daltons. Humic acid is flexible, because it is made up of many chains of molecules. It looks a bit like a series of wagon wheels, one inside the other, with spokes going from one wheel to the next. This flexibility is a very important contributor to its antiviral properties.

Focus: What do these very different shapes—small and rigid, or large and flexible—mean in terms of human health?

RJL: Because of its size and flexibility, certain humic acids from particular soil deposits turn out to be potent, broad-spectrum antivirals. That is because humic acid contains many kinds of “functional groups” (specific groups of atoms) that can bind to a multitude of viruses. Research has shown certain humic acids to be effective in vitro against a wide range of viruses, including influenza, HSV, HIV, and others.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]

Focus: How exactly does humic acid bind to a virus?

RJL: Binding occurs through hydrogen bonding. Electropositive atoms attract electronegative atoms. These are the same forces that hold DNA together. What is remarkable is that humic acid, with its many kinds of functional groups, binds more strongly to viruses than do our own cells. Certain humic acids from certain soil deposits are essentially like a really, really sticky piece of Velcro. Viruses also have really sticky sites—that’s how they manage to bind to a host cell. When these two very sticky pieces of Velcro come together they bind together very strongly.

Focus: Can you explain what a virus does once it attaches to a cell receptor?

RJL: It essentially pokes a hole in the cell, and injects either its RNA or DNA–its genomic material–into the cell. At that point the virus has essentially spent itself, but the viral material inside the cell uses the cell’s machinery to create more viruses, which then leave the cell and go on to bind to and infect other cells.

Focus: What happens to a virus when it binds to humic acid instead of a cell surface?

RJL: Humic acid essentially neutralises a virus’s chemical “stickiness”. Doing so in turn prevents the virus from reproducing since it can no longer attach (“fuse”) to the surface of a host cell. The immune system can then begin to eliminate the virus (largely through the action of macrophages). Also, viruses don’t live forever: if not allowed to reproduce, influenza viruses, for example, die out in 36-48 hours.

Focus: What happens if viruses have already attached to your cells? Can humic acid help?

RJL: Humic acid binds so strongly to viruses that it can actually displace them from a cell surface. In vitro studies have shown, for example, that if you allow herpes simplex viruses to attach to host cells and then add humic acid to the solution, it will displace viruses from infected cell surfaces. That is, humic acid has a greater affinity for the virus than the virus does for the host cell. Thus, humic acid can actually displace a virus even after it has attached itself to the surface of a cell.[6]

Focus: That’s quite amazing—that this natural substance can displace viruses that have already locked onto cells. Is this true of any humic acid from around the world?

RJL: No. Humic acid varies dramatically from site to site. Humic acids from different deposits have very different physicochemical properties. Just like coal—the coal from South Africa is very different in makeup than the coal from Birmingham in Britain. For instance, one of the better-known humic acid deposits in the United States occurs in the state of New Mexico, where humic acid is mined for agriculture–as a fertiliser–and also for the petroleum industry as a drilling mud additive. From an agricultural standpoint New Mexico humic acid is great, but it is not very effective at combating human viruses. A lot of the research I carried out in the early days was simply obtaining samples of humic acid from around the world and testing them to see which ones were efficacious against human viral disease. Remember, humic acid is the result of composted organic matter that is 50-100,000 years old, and that can be found almost anywhere—places where there are freshwater deposits and vegetation living around freshwater lakes, other places where there are saltwater deposits and decomposed organic matter at the edge of marine environments. Some humic acids come from decomposed forests, others from marshes, peat bogs, or scrub-brush. Any plant can be composted into humic acid, but the enormous variety of plant life means that each source of humic acid is unique.

Focus: Once you found the ideal antiviral humic acid, what did you do?

RJL: The next challenge was to purify and sterilise it without degrading it. When you first dig humic acid out of the ground it is dark-brown or even black. Shilajit is a very crude form of humic acid that has been used around the world for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. The most familiar form of humic acid looks like coal, and is sometimes called leonardite or brown coal—though it isn’t actually coal. So, the challenge was to extract the humic acid without damaging it. Methodologies suitable for sterilisation of the final processed product also took very considerable research and development. (The original microbes that created the humus are of course long since dead, but other bacteria and moulds flourish in such soil deposits.) Overall, ten solid years of research and development were required to identify a quality source of humic acid that could also be purified and sterilised without diminishing its effectiveness as a human antiviral agent.

Focus: If one takes humic acid orally, when do peak blood levels occur?

RJL: Peak levels occur at about four hours. By eight to twelve hours the substance is pretty much cleared out of the bloodstream.

Focus: Do you think it has any other special properties beyond being a great mineral source and a potent antiviral?

RJL: Some researchers claim it boosts the immune system, but I’m not convinced it does so directly.[7] I think that humic acid’s wide spectrum of important trace minerals, coupled with its antiviral properties, result in a stronger immune system indirectly. Some of the trace minerals are present in very, very tiny amounts—just a few parts per million—but that’s exactly what we need to support enzyme functions among other things. I also think there are a lot of viruses we are all carrying that haven’t yet been identified (“stealth” viruses). But humic acid will bind to them, regardless.

Focus: That just shows you the broad-spectrum action of humic acid, so that it’s likely to work on many viruses we carry that have not yet been identified. I assume you take it yourself?

RJL: Of course. And I haven’t had a cold or the flu since 2004. Not one.

References

[1] F. J. Lu, S. N. Tseng, et al. In Vitro Anti-Influenza Virus Activity of Synthetic Humate Analogues Derived from Protocatechuic Acid. Arch. Virol. 2002, 147(2), 273-284 View Abstract

[2] C. E. J. van Rensburg, J. Dekker, et al. Investigations of the Anti- HIV Properties of Oxihumate. Chemotherapy 2002, 48(3), 138-143. View Abstract

[3] G. Kornilaeva, A. Becovich, et al. New Humic Acid Derivative as Potent Inhibitor of HIV-1 Replication. Med. Gen. Med. 2004, 6(3), A10360 View Summary PDF

[4] R. Kloecking, B. Helbig, G. Schotz, et al. Anti-HSV-1 Activity of Synthetic Humic Acid-Like Polymers Derived from p-Diphenolic Starting Compounds. Arch. Chem. Chemother. 2002, 13(4), 241-249

[5] Laub Biochem Specialty Labsl, 2001-2002, research conducted by contract for Virology Branch of the Antiviral Research and Antimicrobial Chemistry Program (Dr. Christopher Tseng, Program Officer), Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) Screening and Testing Program for Antiviral, Immunomodulatory, Antitumor and/or Drug Delivery Activities, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, Bethesda, Maryland)

[6] Laub Biochem Specialty Labs, Humic Acid Inhibition of HSV Infection. 1998

[7] G. K. Joone, J. Dekker, et al. Investigation of the Immunostimulatory Properties of Oxihumates. Z. Naturforsch. C: J. Biosci. 2003, 58(3/4) 263-267. PMID: 12710739 View Abstract LinkedInFacebookTwitterEmailPrintMor

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

Do natural products have a role to play in the fight against Corona Viruses and, more importantly, when a person is already symptomatic with a disease caused by these viruses? | Oshun Health – […] Fulvic Acid: Research shows that, because of the strong positive charge on humic acids, of which fulvic acid forms…

What is Fulvic Acid and what are its Benefits?

What is fulvic acid?