{"id":64937,"date":"2019-11-07T17:53:55","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T01:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=64937"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:20:36","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:20:36","slug":"chanca-piedra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/chanca-piedra\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Chanca Piedra Benefits + Dosage & Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chanca piedra long remained a well-kept secret, though it was widely used in both Amazonian and Ayurvedic medicine. While its name translates to “stone breaker”, this herb may also protect the liver, lower inflammation, help with diabetes, and combat infections. Find out if it can really clear your kidney stones, and learn more about its benefits and possible side effects.<\/p>\n

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What Is Chanca Piedra?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chanca piedra is part of a big plant genus known as Phyllanthus. <\/i>These plants grow in tropical regions all over the world – from China to India to the vast and largely unexplored rainforests of the Amazon. “Phyllanthus” simply means “leaf and flower,” because the flowers (and fruits) of these plants are joined together with the leaves [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

The myriad of chanca piedra\u2019s folk uses reflect this plant\u2019s incredible geographical and herbal diversity.<\/p>\n

In India, Phyllanthus <\/i>plants were traditionally used for liver and kidney diseases. In the rest of Asia, they are considered a remedy for digestive disorders, while in South America folks use them for urinary tract infections. In Africa, on the other hand, they\u2019re deemed useful for malaria and wound healing [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

And if you think these uses sound too wide-ranging for just one plant species, you\u2019re right. In reality, two different species – Phyllanthus niruri<\/i><\/b> and Phyllanthus amarus <\/i><\/b>– are both referred to as chanca piedra or “stone breaker” [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

The first thrives in humid, warm places and likes a bit of shade. Its exact origin is a mystery, but it flourishes in the Amazonian rainforest, India, China, the Philippines, and even the Bahamas. The second also grows in the Amazon, but it originates from Asia and South Africa [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

The “Stone Breaker”<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Chanca piedra is well-known for its use to dissolve kidney stones<\/b>. Research suggests it may also protect the liver, fight infections, and lower oxidative stress<\/a> and inflammation. Plus, it contains some potential cancer-fighting compounds that have yet to be further explored [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Recently, Brazilian teams set out to conduct medically-oriented research about chanca piedra for the first time. They wanted to understand the traditional use of this plant by indigenous people. But despite their efforts, few records of its folk use in the Amazonian region exist [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In Brazil, people call it “Quebra Pedra,” which means “stone breaker” in Portuguese. Some consider it an excellent remedy for a range of kidney disorders [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Its use in Ayurvedic traditional medicine is well-documented. In Ayurveda, chanca piedra has been used for [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n