Discovering Chanca Piedra Benefits

Well, the majority of kidney stone formations derive from calcium oxalate that forms urinary crystals we called stones. A study found that an extract compound of Chanca Piedra had an inhibitory effect on the crystal formation. It also modifies the texture of the calculi by gelatinizing it and helping excrete it better according to a 2006 study.

Now, we’re living in times where it is extremely important to maintain our health; and I particularly like to resort my natural herbal supplements to help complement my nutrition and enjoy the health benefits that come with them.

Let’s start with the anti-viral properties of Chanca Piedra. As we know, viruses thrive in the presence of body enzymes such as transcriptase and protease. A study related to HIV type-1 transcriptase found that an extract of Phyllanthus Niruri (Chanca Piedra) inhibited the production of transcriptase which prevents the virus ability to divide and multiply (Ogata et al 1992). Now, before a virus can multiply, it has to bind to the cells in our organism and discharge viral material into the host cells. This is how Covid19, for example, gets into our bodies. It binds to certain proteins in the surface of our cells and then enters the body. While Phyllanthus Niruri has not been tested for a virus such as Covid19, I wanted to provide a example that is familiar to all of us to explain the antiviral role of this plant. In a study related to Herpes Simplex virus (HPV-1 and HPV-2), it was found that Phyllanthus Niruri extract had a therapeutic effect during the viral infection or post infection revealing its effectiveness at inhibiting the virus binding and replication. We can thank the numerous phytochemicals present in Chanca Piedra such as geraniin, rutin, gallic acid, quercetin and many more which contribute to the plant’s antiviral activity.

Chanca Piedra has also been found to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties due to its geraniin compound (Bagalkotkar et al. 2006). A pharmacology report found this compound helps inhibit muscle spasms similar to aspirin or paracetamol. This helps explain why it is also widely used for urinary tract issues and kidney stones as it helps break down and smooth down the formed crystals but it also eases the stone passing.

Many articles tout Chanca Piedra as a liver detox, this is due to its role at balancing the enzyme levels in the liver. The toxicity in the liver occurs because of free radicals and Chanca Piedra antioxidant activity helps combat this oxidative effect (Manjrekar et al 2008).  Our liver usually metabolizes the bilirubin levels in our blood. When a person can’t efficiently metabolize bilirubin and eliminate the excess, this could lead to jaundice. A study in 2006 found that providing Phyllanthus niruri extract (chanca Piedra) increase the bilirubin excretion and this is why some cultures use this plant to treat Jaundice.

There are many other common uses for Chanca Piedra such as hepatitis, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, anaemia, cholesterol, malaria, etc and many more studies continue to uncover and confirm its medicinal properties. Naturally, these plants have also been reviewed for toxicity to ensure their constituents do not cause toxicity or adverse effects such as a 2011 that tested a 5000mg high dose in animals and concluded no toxicity or abnormality effects (Asare et al 2011). Some of these studies, however, noted precautions related to anti-fertility effects or kidney toxicity due to long term consumption.

Rain forest medicinal plants never stop to impress with their acquired properties developed during years of survival. I now understand much better the reason Chanca Piedra is so popular in to support kidneys, urinary tract and liver. As long as we maintain a balance with a healthy lifestyle, open communication with our doctors about our herbal supplements and educate ourselves on the properties of these super plants, we would be able to continue to stay well.