Re: Chanca Piedra - Amazon herb

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/6/2004 7:12:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

holistic@... writes:

> Has anyone tried Chanca Piedra?

> NOPE, WHAT IS IT?)

>

This is all I know: ( from website below)

Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri, amarus)

The Spanish name of the plant, chanca piedra, means " stone breaker " or

" shatter stone. " It was named for its effective use to generations of Amazonian

indigenous peoples in eliminating gallstones and kidney stones. In Brazil, the

plant is known as quebra-pedra or arranca-pedras (which also translates to

" break-stone " ). The plant is employed for numerous other conditions by the

indigenous peoples, including blennorrhagia, colic, diabetes, malaria,

dysentery,

fever, flu, tumors, jaundice, vaginitis, and dyspepsia. Based on its long

documented history of use in the region, the plant is considered analgesic and

as an

aperitif, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, laxative, stomachic, tonic, and

vermifuge.

Chanca piedra has a long history in herbal medicine systems in every tropical

country where it grows. For the most part, it is employed for similar

conditions worldwide. The natural remedy is usually just a standard infusion or

weak

decoction of the whole plant or its aerial parts. Its main uses are for many

types of biliary and urinary conditions including kidney and gallbladder

stones; for hepatitis, cold, flu, tuberculosis, and other viral infections;

liver

diseases and disorders including anemia, jaundice and liver cancer; and for

bacterial infections such as cystitis, prostatitis, venereal diseases and

urinary

tract infections. It is also widely employed for diabetes and hypertension as

well as for its diuretic, analgesic, stomachic, antispasmodic, febrifugal, and

cell protective properties in many other conditions. It is little wonder that

chanca piedra is used for so many purposes in herbal medicine systems: in

clinical research over the years, the plant has demonstrated antihepatotoxic,

antilithic, analgesic, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial,

diuretic, antimutagenic, and hypoglycemic activities.

Since the mid-1960s, chanca piedra has been the subject of much phytochemical

research to determine the active constituents and their pharmacological

activities. It is a rich source of phytochemicals, including many which have

been

found only in the Phyllanthus genus. Many of the " active " constituents are

attributed to biologically active lignans, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids,

ellagitannins, and phenylpropanoids found in the leaf, stem, and root of the

plant. Common lipids, sterols, and flavonols also occur in the plant. Because of

the confusion among P. niruri, P. amarus, and P. sellowianus over the years (and

the reclassification of the genus), the research reviewed herein will

encompass that which has been reported on all three of these very similar

species.

The first notable area of study has validated chanca piedra's longstanding

traditional use for kidney stones. In 1990, the ista School of Medicine in

São o, Brazil, conducted studies with humans and rats with kidney stones.

They were given a simple tea of chanca piedra for 1-3 months and it was

reported that the tea promoted the elimination of stones. They also reported a

significant increase in diuresis and sodium and creatine excretion. Subsequently

the

medical school educated new doctors about the ability to treat kidney stones

with this natural remedy and now it is found in many pharmacies throughout

Brazil. In a 1999 in vitro clinical study, a chanca piedra extract exhibited a

potent and effective inhibitory effect on the formation of calcium oxalate

crystals (the building blocks of most kidney stones). In a 2002 in vivo study,

researchers seeded the bladders of rats with calcium oxalate crystals and

treated

them for 42 days with a water extract of chanca piedra. Their results

indicated that chanca piedra " strongly inhibited the growth of the matrix

calculus and

reduced the number of stone satellites compared with the group receiving

water. " Several of the animals even passed the stones which did form. Previously

(in the mid-1980s) the antispasmodic activity of chanca piedra was reported.

This led researchers to surmise that " smooth muscle relaxation within the

urinary or biliary tract probably facilitates the expulsion of kidney or bladder

calculi. " Researchers had already reported chanca piedra's antispasmodic

properties and smooth muscle relaxant properties (including a uterine relaxant

effect)

in earlier studies. In 1990, Maxwell reported that Dr. Wolfram Wiemann

(of Nuremburg, Germany) treated over 100 kidney stone patients with chanca

piedra obtained in Peru and found it to be 94% successful in eliminating stones

within a week or two.

Chanca piedra is also used in herbal medicine for gallstones and, while no

research has been performed that specifically validated this use, one study does

indicate that chanca piedra has an effect on gallbladder processes. In a 2002

study, Indian researchers reported that chanca piedra increased bile acid

secretion (demonstrated choleretic activity) and significantly lowered blood

cholesterol levels in rats. The beneficial effects of lowering cholesterol and

triglyceride levels was also confirmed by another in vivo (rat) study in 1985.

read more here: http://www.rain-tree.com/chanca.htm

[Guest guest]

Is this anything like the " Stone Free " ? will have to check ingredients in

it. bought it at health food store as gentle, slow way to rid oneself of

gallstones. I am still toochicken to do the flushes but definitely don't

want to have gallbladder surgery..

----- Original Message -----

From: <mackarmstr@...>

<gallstones >

Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 10:33 PM

Subject: Re: Chanca Piedra - Amazon herb

In a message dated 7/6/2004 7:12:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

holistic@... writes:

> Has anyone tried Chanca Piedra?

> NOPE, WHAT IS IT?)

>

This is all I know: ( from website below)

Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri, amarus)

The Spanish name of the plant, chanca piedra, means " stone breaker " or

" shatter stone. " It was named for its effective use to generations of

Amazonian

indigenous peoples in eliminating gallstones and kidney stones. In Brazil,

the

plant is known as quebra-pedra or arranca-pedras (which also translates to

" break-stone " ). The plant is employed for numerous other conditions by the

indigenous peoples, including blennorrhagia, colic, diabetes, malaria,

dysentery,

fever, flu, tumors, jaundice, vaginitis, and dyspepsia. Based on its long

documented history of use in the region, the plant is considered analgesic

and as an

aperitif, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, laxative, stomachic, tonic,

and

vermifuge.

Chanca piedra has a long history in herbal medicine systems in every

tropical

country where it grows. For the most part, it is employed for similar

conditions worldwide. The natural remedy is usually just a standard infusion

or weak

decoction of the whole plant or its aerial parts. Its main uses are for many

types of biliary and urinary conditions including kidney and gallbladder

stones; for hepatitis, cold, flu, tuberculosis, and other viral infections;

liver

diseases and disorders including anemia, jaundice and liver cancer; and for

bacterial infections such as cystitis, prostatitis, venereal diseases and

urinary

tract infections. It is also widely employed for diabetes and hypertension

as

well as for its diuretic, analgesic, stomachic, antispasmodic, febrifugal,

and

cell protective properties in many other conditions. It is little wonder

that

chanca piedra is used for so many purposes in herbal medicine systems: in

clinical research over the years, the plant has demonstrated

antihepatotoxic,

antilithic, analgesic, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial,

diuretic, antimutagenic, and hypoglycemic activities.

Since the mid-1960s, chanca piedra has been the subject of much

phytochemical

research to determine the active constituents and their pharmacological

activities. It is a rich source of phytochemicals, including many which have

been

found only in the Phyllanthus genus. Many of the " active " constituents are

attributed to biologically active lignans, glycosides, flavonoids,

alkaloids,

ellagitannins, and phenylpropanoids found in the leaf, stem, and root of the

plant. Common lipids, sterols, and flavonols also occur in the plant.

Because of

the confusion among P. niruri, P. amarus, and P. sellowianus over the years

(and

the reclassification of the genus), the research reviewed herein will

encompass that which has been reported on all three of these very similar

species.

The first notable area of study has validated chanca piedra's longstanding

traditional use for kidney stones. In 1990, the ista School of Medicine

in

São o, Brazil, conducted studies with humans and rats with kidney

stones.

They were given a simple tea of chanca piedra for 1-3 months and it was

reported that the tea promoted the elimination of stones. They also reported

a

significant increase in diuresis and sodium and creatine excretion.

Subsequently the

medical school educated new doctors about the ability to treat kidney stones

with this natural remedy and now it is found in many pharmacies throughout

Brazil. In a 1999 in vitro clinical study, a chanca piedra extract exhibited

a

potent and effective inhibitory effect on the formation of calcium oxalate

crystals (the building blocks of most kidney stones). In a 2002 in vivo

study,

researchers seeded the bladders of rats with calcium oxalate crystals and

treated

them for 42 days with a water extract of chanca piedra. Their results

indicated that chanca piedra " strongly inhibited the growth of the matrix

calculus and

reduced the number of stone satellites compared with the group receiving

water. " Several of the animals even passed the stones which did form.

Previously

(in the mid-1980s) the antispasmodic activity of chanca piedra was reported.

This led researchers to surmise that " smooth muscle relaxation within the

urinary or biliary tract probably facilitates the expulsion of kidney or

bladder

calculi. " Researchers had already reported chanca piedra's antispasmodic

properties and smooth muscle relaxant properties (including a uterine

relaxant effect)

in earlier studies. In 1990, Maxwell reported that Dr. Wolfram

Wiemann

(of Nuremburg, Germany) treated over 100 kidney stone patients with chanca

piedra obtained in Peru and found it to be 94% successful in eliminating

stones

within a week or two.

Chanca piedra is also used in herbal medicine for gallstones and, while no

research has been performed that specifically validated this use, one study

does

indicate that chanca piedra has an effect on gallbladder processes. In a

2002

study, Indian researchers reported that chanca piedra increased bile acid

secretion (demonstrated choleretic activity) and significantly lowered blood

cholesterol levels in rats. The beneficial effects of lowering cholesterol

and

triglyceride levels was also confirmed by another in vivo (rat) study in

1985.

read more here: http://www.rain-tree.com/chanca.htm