Phyllanthus niruri 
(Chanca Piedra, Quebra Pedra)
An Herb You Can't Live Without
By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski

Imagine an herb from the Rainforest that has the capacity to protect your liver from poisonous chemicals in our chemically laden environment.  One that can help speed recovery quickly from Hepatitis B.  One that can dissolve kidney stones within 24 hours.  One that, in a 1995 study, actually lowered blood pressures in rats with hypertension.

The herb is Quebra Pedra (or Chanca Piedra, Phyllanthus niruri - the Indian name means 'to break rock'), and it's my favorite herb from the rainforest.  I consider it one of mankind's most potent herbs.  Its dainty leaves are shown on the cover of my book, Herbs of the Amazon.  Its the twigs that natives brew and give the tea to those with kidney stones or urinary tract infections.  I've seen patients with kidney stones pass or dissolve them overnight with this tea. The root has been used in folklore to alleviate jaundice.  In India, a cupful of the leaf decoction is drunk daily to cure diarrhea.  And for good reason, the leaves contain antibacterial substances phyllanthin, hypophyltetralin, niranthin and nirtetrakin.

Quebra Pedra also has the capacity to inactivate the hepatitis B virus.  In one study with 88 patients who had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, those who took Quebra Pedra in powder form showed a substantial increase in appearance of the antibody to the hepatitis virus.  This means it helped their own body produce antibodies to the virus, a positive and significant step in their recovery.

Quebra Pedra is full of all kinds of active constituents that have already been proven beneficial, like quercitin, rutin, phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin.  Quercitin and rutin are members of the flavonoid group which is considered to be one of the most significant antocarcinogens.  This group also strengthens the capillaries and helps in improving blood supply to the pancreas.

Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are similar in structure to certain antiviral lignans, which means that in the future, researchers may find that this herb ahs antiviral activity.  In fact, some research already shows that Quebra Pedra has activity against the HIV virus.

Knowing all this about Quebra Pedra now, how can you live without it?  Adding Quebra Pedra to your diet is surely one of your best preventative health habits.  Quebra Pedra is found in the combinations: Envirozon; Shipibo Treasure Tea; and Illumination.

References

A Novel Class of Non-Peptidic Endothelin Antagonists Isolated from Medicinal Herb Phyllanthus niruri.  J. Nat Prod, Vol. 58, #10, Oct. 1995, p. 1515-1520.

Herbs of Genus Phyllanthus in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitus B:  Observation with Three Preparations from Different Geographic Sites.  J Lab Clin Med, Vol 126, 1995, p. 350-352.

HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor from P. niruri.  AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Vol. 8, #11, 1992, p. 193744.

In vitro Inactivation of HBsAG by Eclipta alba Hassk and Phyllanthus niruri.  Indian J Med Research, Vol. 76, Dec. 1982, Supplement, p. 124-130.

Isolation and Structure (X-Ray Analysis) of ENT-Norsecurinine, An Alkaloid from Phyllanthus niruri, J Nat Products, Vol. 49, #4, July-Aug 1986, p. 614-620.

Medicinal Plants of the East and West Sepik Provinces, Papua, New Guinea.  Internat J Pharmacognosy, Vol. 30, #3, 1992, p. 218-222.

Studies in Pharmacological Activity of Amazonian Euphorbiaceae.  J Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 22, 1988, p. 143-172.