Short answer
Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri), Spanish for 'stone breaker', is a small tropical herb traditionally used for kidney and urinary stones. Human evidence is limited: a 2020 meta-analysis of just two controlled studies found a modest reduction in stone size and number, one 69-patient trial found it lowered urinary calcium only in a subgroup, and a 150-patient trial found a higher stone-free rate after lithotripsy only for lower-pole stones. It is not a replacement for medical stone treatment. [1] [2] [3]
Key takeaways
- The name says it all, but the clinical evidence for dissolving or breaking up stones is small and mixed. [1]
- A 2020 meta-analysis included only two controlled human studies and found modest reductions in stone size and number, which the authors described as limited clinical evidence. [1]
- A 69-patient trial found no overall change in urinary chemistry over 3 months, but urinary calcium fell in people who started with high calcium. [2]
- After shock-wave lithotripsy in 150 patients, stone-free rates were not significantly different overall, but were higher for lower-pole stones (93.7% vs 70.8%). [3]
- Kidney stones can be painful and dangerous. See a clinician; do not self-treat with herbs.
Chanca piedra has one of the most confident nicknames in herbal medicine. The research is more modest and more interesting than the name suggests.
This guide covers what has been tested in people, what has only been tested in the lab, and what to know before you try the tea.
What is chanca piedra?
Chanca piedra is Phyllanthus niruri, a small annual herb of the Euphorbiaceae family that grows throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. [4] It is known as stone breaker, quebra-pedra in Brazil and gale of the wind in English. The genus has long been used in traditional systems including Ayurveda, Chinese and Malay medicine. [5] Some products are sold under related species such as Phyllanthus amarus, so check the label.
Traditional uses
In Brazil, Phyllanthus niruri has been used in folk medicine for years to treat urinary stones. [2] [3] Across traditions, it is also used for liver complaints and jaundice, and in herbal medicine for diabetes. [6] [7]
What research says about kidney stones
How chanca piedra might work (lab and review data)
A review of experimental and clinical data describes proposed mechanisms: reducing crystal aggregation, modifying the structure and composition of crystals, altering their interaction with kidney tubule cells, relaxing the ureter to help stones or fragments pass, and possibly reducing urinary calcium. The review noted no adverse renal, cardiovascular, neurological or toxic effects in the studies reviewed and concluded that longer randomized trials were still needed. [8]
The human trials
In a randomized trial, 69 people who form calcium stones took 450 mg capsules of P. niruri three times a day or placebo for three months. Overall urinary chemistry did not differ significantly, aside from a slight drop in magnesium within the normal range. In the subset with high urinary calcium, calcium fell from 4.8 to 3.4 mg/kg per 24 hours (p < 0.05). There were no differences in stones passed or pain relief between groups in this short follow-up. [2]
In a randomized study of 150 patients with calcium oxalate stones up to 25 mm treated by shock-wave lithotripsy, 78 took a P. niruri extract (2 g a day) for at least three months and 72 were controls. The stone-free rate at 180 days was 93.5% versus 83.3% overall (p = 0.48, not significant). For lower-pole stones, it was 93.7% versus 70.8% (p = 0.01). Retreatment rates did not differ significantly, and no side effects were recorded. [3]
A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis found only two controlled human studies that qualified. Pooled, they showed a significant decrease in mean stone size (SMD -0.39 cm) and number (SMD -0.38). The authors concluded that limited clinical evidence supports modest efficacy, pending further study, and noted that it is the most common active ingredient in commercial herbal stone products despite that thin evidence. [1] A 2025 systematic review of 16 studies reached a cautiously positive view, saying the plant may serve as an adjunct after lithotripsy and appeared safe, with mixed results overall. [9]
Liver and blood sugar research (lab and animal)
Reviews describe a large body of lab work on the plant's compounds. [10] In rats, extracts of P. niruri protected the liver from chemically induced injury. [11] In a 2017 lab study, water and ethanol extracts of the aerial parts inhibited the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, identified compounds such as corilagin as responsible, and increased glucose uptake in muscle cells, which the authors said suggested potential for managing type 2 diabetes. [7] These are animal and cell findings, not treatment evidence, and people with diabetes or liver disease should not use chanca piedra as a replacement for their treatment.
| Use | Evidence level | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney stones (reducing size and number) | Meta-analysis of 2 controlled studies | Modest benefit; limited evidence. [1] |
| After shock-wave lithotripsy | RCT, 150 patients | Higher stone-free rate for lower-pole stones only. [3] |
| Urinary calcium | RCT, 69 patients | Reduced only in people with high urinary calcium. [2] |
| Liver protection | Rat studies | Protective in chemically induced liver injury. [11] |
| Blood sugar | Cell and enzyme studies | Inhibits alpha-glucosidase, increases glucose uptake in cells. [7] |
Side effects and safety
In the trials and reviews above, researchers reported no significant adverse effects, and a systematic review said evidence consistently supports safety based on serial electrolyte and liver function tests. [3] [9] That is reassuring, but the studies are small and short.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid. There is not enough safety data.
- Kidney, liver or urinary disease: speak with your clinician before using it.
- Diabetes or blood pressure medication: lab data suggest effects on blood sugar, so tell your care team. [7]
- Surgery or procedures: tell your urologist or surgeon if you use it.
How to prepare chanca piedra
Chanca piedra is traditionally taken as a tea or infusion of the aerial parts. We sell it in our One Way Out blend with nettle and matico, prepared by simmering: 2 cups of water to a boil, 1 heaping tablespoon of the blend, reduce to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, strain and drink warm. Staying well hydrated matters for anyone prone to stones, regardless of herbs. The trials above used capsules at 450 mg three times daily or 2 g a day of extract, so a tea is a different and unmeasured dose. See our tea preparation guide.
How to buy chanca piedra well
- Botanical name: Phyllanthus niruri named on the label. Related species are sold under the same common names.
- Aerial parts, whole or cut: not unlabeled powder.
- Origin and harvest: wild-harvested herb from clean areas.
- No stone-dissolving promises: avoid sellers guaranteeing results.
Frequently asked questions
Does chanca piedra dissolve kidney stones?
What is chanca piedra good for?
Is chanca piedra safe?
Trials and reviews reported no significant adverse effects, but they are small and short. Avoid in pregnancy and check with a clinician if you have kidney, liver or urinary disease. [9]
How much chanca piedra should I take?
Can chanca piedra help with the liver?
In rats, extracts protected the liver from chemical injury. There are no good human trials, so it is not a liver treatment. [11]
How do you make chanca piedra tea?
Our One Way Out blend is simmered: 2 cups of water to a boil, 1 heaping tablespoon, reduce to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes, strain and drink warm.
What is the difference between Phyllanthus niruri and Phyllanthus amarus?
They are related species that share common names such as chanca piedra. Studies are often species-specific, so check the label. [4]
Where can I buy chanca piedra in the USA?
Kawsaypac's One Way Out blend contains chanca piedra, nettle and matico and ships across the USA: view One Way Out.
References
- Dhawan S, Olweny EO (2020). Phyllanthus niruri (stone breaker) herbal therapy for kidney stones; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical efficacy, and Google Trends analysis of public interest. Can J Urol. PubMed 32333735
- Nishiura JL, Campos AH, Boim MA, et al. (2004). Phyllanthus niruri normalizes elevated urinary calcium levels in calcium stone forming (CSF) patients. Urol Res. PubMed 15221244 · DOI
- Micali S, Sighinolfi MC, Celia A, et al. (2006). Can Phyllanthus niruri affect the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones? A randomized, prospective, long-term study. J Urol. PubMed 16890682 · DOI
- Kaur N, Kaur B, Sirhindi G (2017). Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Phyllanthus niruri L.: A Review. Phytother Res. PubMed 28512988 · DOI
- Lee NY, Khoo WK, Adnan MA, et al. (2016). The pharmacological potential of Phyllanthus niruri. J Pharm Pharmacol. PubMed 27283048 · DOI
- Pratima H, Shiraguppi A, Joojagar P, et al. (2025). Phytochemical profile and hepatoprotective potentiality of Phyllanthus genus: a review. J Pharm Pharmacol. PubMed 38642916 · DOI
- Najari Beidokhti M, Andersen MV, Eid HM, et al. (2017). Investigation of antidiabetic potential of Phyllanthus niruri L. using assays for α-glucosidase, muscle glucose transport, liver glucose production, and adipogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. PubMed 28928090 · DOI
- Boim MA, Heilberg IP, Schor N (2010). Phyllanthus niruri as a promising alternative treatment for nephrolithiasis. Int Braz J Urol. PubMed 21176271 · DOI
- Iregui-Parra J, Rojas Ossa V, Arias Salazar CM, et al. (2025). Phyllanthus niruri in the management of nephrolithiasis: A systematic review of the literature. Actas Urol Esp (Engl Ed). PubMed 40480426 · DOI
- Bagalkotkar G, Sagineedu SR, Saad MS, et al. (2006). Phytochemicals from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. and their pharmacological properties: a review. J Pharm Pharmacol. PubMed 17331318 · DOI
- Arshad F, Altaf A, Arshad AR, et al. (2025). Hepatoprotective Potential of Phyllanthus niruri Extracts Against CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Rats: Insight From Phytochemical Profiling, Molecular Docking, and Oxidative Stress Studies. Chem Biodivers. PubMed 40460299 · DOI