Chanca Piedra

Phyllanthus niruri · Phyllanthus amarus · Stonebreaker

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Kidney stone prevention¹ Stone burden reduction² Adjunct after lithotripsy³ Fibrosis score in fatty liver⁴	Pregnancy⁵ Breastfeeding⁵

Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri, also P. amarus; "stonebreaker") is a tropical herb with long Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Malay traditional use⁶. Supplementation centers on kidney stones, where it is reported to inhibit calcium oxalate nucleation and crystallization⁷. It is also taken for liver support in fatty liver and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection⁸. Patients with recurrent stones report complementary therapy use more often than first-time stone formers⁹.

A meta-analysis of two controlled studies found modest reductions in stone size and number². In a randomized trial after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), the overall stone-free rate did not differ, but lower caliceal stones cleared more often with extract³. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a 12-month trial found no change in a steatosis measure or liver enzymes, though fibrosis score fell⁴. A placebo-controlled trial in chronic HBV found no significant difference in viral load¹⁰. A 2026 laboratory analysis of over-the-counter kidney stone supplements found oxalate in a chanca piedra dose; no trial has examined its clinical relevance. Products listing chanca piedra number 255, mostly liquid extracts with some capsules and tea; see Form comparison.

Health Canada labels ask users to consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist⁵.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

56 sources, 40 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources