Chanca Piedra, also known as Phyllanthus niruri, is a tropical plant that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It's often called "stone breaker" in Spanish due to its traditional use in treating kidney and gallstones. This article explores the potential benefits of Chanca Piedra, particularly its impact on kidney stones, liver health, and its possible role in weight management. We'll also delve into the scientific evidence, potential side effects, and recommended usage.
What is Chanca Piedra?
Chanca Piedra, or Phyllanthus niruri, is a small rainforest plant that naturally originates from the Amazon, India, and China. It names itself a "Stone Breaker" and has been utilized since ancient times to prevent the urinary tract from being diseased and to disintegrate kidney stones. Rich in bioactive metabolites like lignans, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, the herb Chanca Piedra also has been used for over thousands of years. Now, it's easily available in so many convenient different forms, Chanca Piedra capsules, teas, tinctures, and extracts. The entire plant - including the leaves, stems, and flowers - is used to make chanca piedra supplements.
It also goes by a number of other names, such as:
- stone breaker
- gale-of-the-wind
- seed-under-leaf
- quebra pedra
- shatter stone
- chance pierre
- Carry-me-seed
Traditional Uses and Reported Benefits
Nature's physician man of natural remedies has been the pillar of allopathic medicine for centuries, and no plant but one has a history so luscious as any other except Chanca Piedra. The "Stone Breaker," this vigorous tropical herbal remedy is basking in worldwide fame on the strength of its ability to fortify the health of liver, gallbladder, and kidneys. A native South American herb supplement, Chanca Piedra is found and taken extensively throughout the world today as tea, supplements, and extract.
As a supplement, chanca piedra is reported to help with a variety of conditions related to the digestive system, liver, and kidneys. Supposedly, it contains phytochemicals - or plant compounds - that can increase urine flow, kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and relieve inflammation.
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Kidney Stone Management
Most studied and applied chanca piedra benefits, likely, is prevention or dissolution of kidney stones. Chanca Piedra was identified as a calcium oxalate crystal formation inhibitor, which form the majority of the kidney stones. Chanca Piedra extract also brings relaxation of smooth muscle tissue of the urinary tract, which results in expulsion of formed stones as well as alleviation from pain, too.
Primary mechanisms are:
- Prevention of stone formation
- Interfering with the formation of stones
- Relaxing urinary tract muscles
Though more human clinical trials are needed, in other studies, Chanca Piedra for kidney stones reduces kidney stone size and quantity when taken weeks per day.
However, Jill Harris, a kidney stone prevention nurse, emphasizes that while chanca piedra is often marketed as a ‘stone breaker’, it does not actually break up kidney stones. She advocates for dietary changes as the most effective way to prevent kidney stones. She says that it’s impossible to break up a kidney stone unless it’s uric acid. If you put your stone in a cup of chanca piedra, it ain’t going to get smaller, because sometimes the lasers don’t even break these stones up. There is slight evidence that when you drink it, it can relax your ureters a bit to help you pass stones.
In a study to prospectively evaluate the effect of P. niruri, 56 patients with kidney stones <10mm were studied. Clinical, metabolic, and ultrasonography assessment was conducted before (baseline) the use of P. niruri infusion for 12-weeks (P. niruri) and after a 12-week (wash out). The kidney stones decreased from 3.2±2 to 2.0±2 per patient (p<0.001). P.niruri intake is safe and does not cause significant adverse effects on serum metabolic parameters. It increases urinary excretion of magnesium and potassium caused a significant decrease in urinary oxalate and uric acid in patients with hyperoxaluria and hyperuricosuria.
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Liver Support and Detoxification
The second major advantage of Chanca Piedra is that the plant is found to support liver function. The plant contains a very high concentration of hepatoprotective agents, and this would mean that the plant acts as a protector of liver cells from toxin-induced injury, infection, or oxidative stress. Chanca Piedra support for the liver results from its antioxidant effect of inhibiting free radicals and allowing detoxification processes. Chanca Piedra tablets are used as part of liver detox kits made by herbalists or taken after ingesting toxins, e.g., alcoholic beverages or drug use.
Due to its antioxidant content, chanca piedra may improve liver function and help protect the liver from cellular damage caused by free radicals - unstable compounds that can cause damage when they build up in your body in high levels. The herb also appears to be helpful for treating hepatitis B, an inflammatory viral infection of the liver - at least in animal and test-tube studies.
Gallstone Support
Although not yet so practice-circulating as its promise with kidney function, chanca piedra gallstones is still an active and emerging field. Chanca Piedra can prevent gallstone development by inducing bile expulsion and inhibiting crystallization of bile components. Although some clinical data are limited, most in general the herbal remedy employs Chanca Piedra tea or tablets as naturally augmenting gallbladder health,
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
Apart from a number of chanca piedra uses, Chanca Piedra plant is antioxidative in nature and helps to fight against inflammation and oxidative stress within the body. This would also imply that it can be utilized as an anti-inflammatory protective agent in inflammatory disease with chronic inflammation such as disease of kidney and liver. That it also has anti-inflammatory effects that make it beneficial for those who are apt to contract urinary tract infections or subclinical gastrointestinal inflammation is so as well.
Other Potential Benefits
High Blood Sugar: In animal studies, the antioxidants in chanca piedra have been able to improve fasting blood sugar levels, which can help with blood sugar management.
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Gout: Some animal studies have shown a decrease in uric acid levels in animals receiving chanca piedra supplements
High Blood Pressure: Some animal research indicates that chanca piedra may help relax the blood vessels, which could lead to reductions in blood pressure.
Forms of Chanca Piedra
You can find Chanca Piedra in a variety of different formulations, each with somewhat varying benefits depending on your needs and goals.
Chanca Piedra Tea: The traditional preparation, made by steeping dried leaves. Good for regular use in short treatment courses.
Chanca Piedra Capsules: Easy and best suited for the busy professional. Usually taken with supportive herbs.
Chanca Piedra Tincture or Extract: Stronger, more concentrated formulas for greatest effect. Best suited for those who need a strong herbal program.
Supplement Combination Products: Often made in combination with detox or kidney supplement formulae with other supplements.
How to Take Chanca Piedra Safely
Dosage Recommendations
No chanca piedra dosage, although facts usually state:
- Tea: 1-2 cups a day
- Capsules: 500-1500 mg per day
- As directed, about 10-30 drops three times per day
Preventative effect most beneficial taken short-term (e.g., 2-4 weeks). Long-term must be under medical guidance to prevent potential side effects.
General Guidelines
- For Kidney Stones:
- Chanca Piedra Tea: 1-2 cups daily, by steeping 1-2 teaspoons dried herb in boiling water.
- Chanca Piedra Capsules: 1000-1500 mg daily, as directed.
- As directed, usually several drops in water three times daily.
- For Liver Support: Take chanca piedra liver support for 2-4 weeks, and then discontinue. Daily dose in cleansing programs, usually under medical supervision.
- For Gallstone Support: Extract or Capsules: Prophylactically or at practitioner's discretion.
Tip: Start with the lowest dose suggested and observe how your body reacts.
Chanca Piedra Side Effects and Safety
Being a plant product, chanca piedra side effects occurs when excess or chronic is taken.
Side effects are:
- Stomachache or diarrhea
- Frequent urination
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
In one human study, some of the reported side effects of chanca piedra supplementation included: abdominal pain, painful urination, blood in the urine, and nausea. Abdominal pain was by far the most common, with the others being much less commonly reported.
Precautions
- Pregnancy and lactation women must not use Chanca Piedra as there is no data on safety.
- Diabetic and patients with low blood pressure should consult a doctor before use.
- Use cautiously for allergic reaction or acute side effects.
- Stop and get medical attention if side effects are experienced.
Who Should Not Take Chanca Piedra?
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People with low blood pressure
- Diabetics
- Those on diuretic or blood thinner medications (due to possible interaction)
Always consult a doctor first before using herbal chanca piedra supplement, particularly if you are ill or on prescription drugs.
Interactions
Chanca piedra has the potential to interact with several medications, including:
- Lithium: Chanca piedra may make you urinate more, which can affect the way your body gets rid of lithium.
- Blood pressure lowering drugs: The herb may lower your blood pressure, which can potentially lead to low blood pressure levels, especially in people who are already on blood pressure medications.
- Blood sugar lowering drugs: Chanca piedra may decrease your blood sugar levels. If you’re already on insulin or other drugs that lower blood sugar, this can lead to dangerously low levels known as hypoglycemia.
- Blood thinning medications: Chanca piedra may inhibit blood clotting, which can lead to severe complications in people who are on blood thinners.
Chanca Piedra and Weight Loss
While Chanca Piedra is not directly marketed as a weight loss supplement, some of its purported benefits could indirectly support weight management:
- Liver Support: A healthy liver is crucial for metabolism and fat digestion. By supporting liver function, Chanca Piedra might indirectly aid in weight management.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: By improving fasting blood sugar levels.
- Diuretic Effect: Some believe it can help reduce water retention, leading to a temporary decrease in weight.
However, it's crucial to note that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that Chanca Piedra directly causes weight loss. A healthy diet and regular exercise are still the most effective strategies for sustainable weight management.
The Importance of Consulting a Healthcare Professional
It's important to note that supplements aren’t regulated by any government organizations, so there’s little oversight to ensure that the label is an honest representation of what’s in the supplement. If you choose to take chanca piedra, you should buy a supplement that has been independently verified for quality by a third party organization. Some of these organizations include ConsumerLab, NSF International, and United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
Always consult a doctor first before using herbal chanca piedra supplement, particularly if you are ill or on prescription drugs.