Chanca Piedra: Herbal Medicine with Stone-Breaking Potential

Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) is an herb that grows in tropical regions, such as India, and rainforests in South America.

The herb, which translates to “stone breaker” in Spanish, is a traditional medicine for kidney stones and various health conditions.

While supporters of traditional and alternative medicines claim that Chanca piedra benefits many bodily systems, more research is needed to confirm the effects of this herb.

Chanca piedra is often cultivated for its purported medicinal properties, and the whole plant (including roots, stems, and flowers) is used to make herbal supplements. Compared to some conventional medicines, there are few known Chanca piedra side effects, and it has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat various illnesses, most commonly kidney stones.

Various traditional medicine systems use Chanca piedra extract to treat stones in the body (such as kidney stones, gallstones, and bladder stones), though it is not officially approved to treat any medical conditions in the US. In this article, we’ll examine the effects and uses of this herbal medicine to help you make the most of the Chanca piedra benefits for kidney stones or other health conditions.

What is Chanca Piedra?

Phyllanthus niruri is a perennial shrub with thin, leaf-covered branches that grows in tropical and subtropical regions of India, South America, and Africa. The plant can grow up to roughly 2 feet tall and is often called seed-under-leaf or stone breaker because its seed pods grow beneath the leaves, and it is widely used to treat stones (i.e., kidney, gallbladder) in the body.

Depending on its location and the sub-species of Phyllanthus, it is known by many other names, such as stone breaker, seed-under-leaf, and chance pierre. However, Chanca piedra (Spanish for “stone breaker”) is the most common name, as P. niruri is widely cultivated in Spanish-speaking South America for use in herbal medicine and supplements.

Dosage and How To Take

There is no standardized dosage for Chanca piedra, and it can be found in various forms, including capsules, teas, tinctures, and powders – with varying strengths and concentrations. While pills or capsules are a common and convenient way to take this herbal supplement, they can contain anywhere from 500-1,600mg per dose, and higher doses are linked to more severe Chanca piedra side effects.

The appropriate dosage to achieve Chanca piedra benefits may vary depending on your age, weight, and the condition you’re trying to address, but we can use existing studies as a reference. In one human study on the effects of Phyllanthus niruri on kidney stones⁽¹⁾, the researchers prescribed 9g of powdered Chanca piedra daily (taken in two doses), which may be an effective dose for treating kidney stones.

Side Effects and Precautions

Chanca piedra extract is generally considered safe when used as directed, but little is known about its long-term effects and how it may interact with other medications. In one human study⁽¹⁾, participants reported the following Chanca piedra side effects from taking high-strength supplements:

• Nausea
• Abdominal Pain
• Painful Urination
• Blood in the Urine

Fortunately, abdominal pain is one of the most common Chanca piedra side effects and usually passes in a week, meaning that the Chanca piedra benefits generally outweigh the drawbacks. It’s worth noting that Chanca piedra may interact with other medications as it may lower your blood sugar and blood pressure, so you should be careful if you’re already taking medicine to regulate your blood pressure or sugar levels.

Conclusion

Chanca Piedra, an herbal supplement with a long history in traditional medicine, holds promise for various health benefits, especially in kidney and liver support. Although more research is needed to confirm the potential Chanca piedra benefits and long-term effects, early studies show that it might be useful in treating kidney stones and other health conditions.

As with any herbal supplement, we strongly recommend asking your doctor if Chanca piedra supplements are right for you, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are taking medication. Lastly, it’s worth noting that Phyllanthus niruri supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, so you should look for products tested by a third party, such as NSF International and United States Pharmacopeia (USP).