Phyllanthus (Chanca Piedra, Stone Breaker) has 100+ bioactive compounds. Learn how to find a trusted Phyllanthus source.
This marvel of a plant is Phyllanthus niruri. It’s also known as Chanca Piedra, Stone Breaker, and Gale of the Wind. Phyllanthus niruri is traditionally used to support treatment for chronic illnesses and ailments like kidney stones. It is often used as a liver tonic and in South America it is used to help combat bacterial diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea, as well as Malaria. It grows naturally in the Amazon rainforest. Phyllanthus health benefits are many. It has 100+ bioactive compounds, it’s a powerful antioxidant, it’s a nootropic, and it’s the world’s best synergistic adaptogen.
This geographic tidbit is vital. If Phyllanthus niruri is being grown in or sold from China or India, it’s a different plant. That means it’s grown in different terroir and offers different (and arguably lesser) health benefits. But, importantly, it means that plant from these locations is a different species altogether (Phyllanthus amarus or Phyllanthus urinaria) though many Chinese and Indian suppliers will still call it Phyllanthus niruri. (That’s why it’s so important to find a trusted Phyllanthus source.)
To be fair, many suppliers don’t know that their plants aren’t really Phyllanthus niruri. They’ve been told what the plants are, and they may or may not have ever questioned the accuracy of the information they’ve been provided. Simply put, not every seller of Phyllanthus niruri makes the best Phyllanthus niruri source.
Finding a Trusted Phyllanthus Source
It’s important to make sure you find a trusted Phyllanthus source. Start by asking these questions to find a Phyllanthus niruri source:
- Have they themselves tried Phyllanthus niruri tea and extract?
- Are they sourcing their Phyllanthus niruri from the Amazon regions of South America?
- Are they choosing Phyllanthus niruri plants grown in their natural environment through a process of wildcrafting?
- Are they managing cultivation and using organic farming methods to minimize environmental impacts and maximize health benefits?
- Are they ensuring proper species identification (especially since many plants look alike)? Phyllanthus niruri, for example, has tiny fruit capsules containing seeds (see the picture).
It’s easy for suppliers to cultivate and sell the wrong plant, even accidentally. So choose your Phyllanthus niruri source wisely.
Additional Phyllanthus niruri Source and Benefits Information
Here, I’ve linked to several other Linden Botanicals posts that provide additional information about Phyllanthus health benefits and finding a trusted Phyllanthus source.
Using a decoction of the dried Phyllanthus niruri plant, I became free of Lyme disease within 90 days. Learn more how I took Phyllanthus niruri extract to fight Lyme disease here.
Learn what Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is, why it’s so hard to treat, and how Phyllanthus niruri inhibits it here.
Learn More About Phyllanthus niruri
Phyllanthus niruri has been researched and analyzed in over 1,600 scientific papers, including in vitro, animal, and human studies. It has been used around the world for thousands of years to address a variety of chronic illnesses.
To learn more, a good place to start is with the Phyllanthus niruri FAQ.