Phyllanthaceae
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus niruri
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: Tropical Americas, India, Caribbean
Also known as: Chanca Piedra, Stone Breaker, Seed Under Leaf, Leaf Flower
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Aerial parts
Therapeutic Uses
Kidney stones (dissolves and prevents calcium oxalate and uric acid stones — multiple clinical trials), hepatitis B (inhibits HBsAg — clinical evidence), gallstones, liver disease.
Herbal Actions
Antiviral (hepatitis B — inhibits DNA polymerase), antilithic (kidney and gallstones — genitospasmic relaxation), hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic
Active Constituents
Lignanoids (phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin — antihepatitis), alkaloids (securinine), flavonoids (quercetin, rutin), phenolic acids, terpenoids, ellagic acid
Preparation Methods
💊 Capsule🏺 Tincture☕ Herbal Tea
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 2–3 tsp dried herb per 250ml, steep 15 min, 3x daily with high fluid intake |
| Tincture | 3–5 ml (1:5, 40% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | For kidney stones: 450mg extract 3x daily for minimum 3 months with high fluid intake. For hepatitis B: 900mg daily for 3 months. Mechanism: relaxes ureteral smooth muscle (allowing stone passage) and reduces crystal adhesion. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (possible uterotonic). Caution with antidiabetics and antihypertensives.
Side Effects: GI upset. Diarrhea. Hypoglycemia. Hypotension. Generally well tolerated.