🌿 Chanca Piedra (Stonebreaker)

Botanical Name: Phyllanthus niruri
Origin: Peru / South America
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Parts Used: Whole Plant (leaf + stem)
Primary Use: Internal

Also known as: Stonebreaker • Quebra Pedra • Seed-Under-Leaf • Gale of the Wind • Shatter Stone

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✨ Description

Chanca Piedra is one of the most respected rainforest herbs in traditional Amazonian healing. Its name literally translates to “stone breaker,” a title earned from its long-standing use in supporting the body’s ability to break down and pass kidney stones, gallstones, and calcifications.

This humble green plant carries an incredibly powerful energetic profile — gentle enough for daily cleansing yet strong enough to help the body deal with deep stagnation in the liver, gallbladder, and urinary system. Known for its cooling, clearing, and alkalizing nature, Chanca Piedra helps reduce inflammation while encouraging smooth flow throughout the body’s detox pathways.

In Caribbean households, it is a trusted remedy for urine flow issues, “stinging pee,” sluggish liver, gallbladder congestion, and long-term digestive strain.

Its flavor is mild, slightly bitter, and distinctly green — easy to blend with other herbs and pleasant enough to drink as a daily maintenance tea.

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🍵 Herbal Uses (Internal)

Traditionally used for:

Kidneys & Urinary Tract

• Helps break down and pass kidney stones
• Reduces urinary inflammation
• Supports “stinging pee,” burning urination, and frequency
• Encourages healthy urine flow
• Assists with UTIs (when combined with Uva Ursi or Marshmallow Root)

Gallbladder & Liver

• Supports breaking down gallstones and biliary sludge
• Helps regulate liver enzymes
• Encourages healthy bile flow
• Reduces inflammation linked to liver heat and congestion

Digestive & Whole-Body Detox

• Helps clear toxins from the bloodstream
• Supports metabolism and fat breakdown
• Eases bloating and heaviness
• Can support blood pressure already within healthy limits

Directions

⭐ Capsules (500 mg each)

Gentle Daily Support:

• 1 capsule, 1–2x per day with meals.

Kidney Stone or Gallstone Support (traditional use):

• 2 capsules, twice daily
• Continue for 30 days, then take a 7-day break.

For UTI or inflammation support:

• 1 capsule, three times daily until symptoms improve.
• Always pair with increased hydration.

Best taken with:

• Room-temperature water
• Lemon water
• Coconut water (traditional Caribbean method)

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⭐ Powder

Standard Use:

• ¼–½ teaspoon, once or twice daily.

Decoction Tea (Traditional Method):

1. Add ½ tsp Chanca Piedra powder to 8 oz water
2. Simmer for 10–12 minutes
3. Strain and drink warm
4. Use 1–2 cups daily for kidney or gallbladder support

Blending ideas:

• Add to smoothies
• Add to warm water with honey and lemon
• Combine with Kidney Mix for deeper cleansing

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💧 Hydration is Essential

Chanca Piedra increases urine flow and helps the body flush stones and inflammation.

For best results:

• Drink 8–10 cups of room-temperature water per day
• Include warm teas to keep the kidneys relaxed
• Avoid ice-cold drinks, which can tighten the urinary tract
• Add lemon or coconut water for electrolytes and mineral support

Your kidneys must stay hydrated to break down crystals, flush sediment, and remain calm during a cleanse.

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🛢️ Castor Oil Pack Remedy (Kidney & Gallbladder Support)

Traditionally used in Caribbean + South American cleansing.

How to Use:

1. Warm 1–2 tbsp of castor oil in your hands or a small bowl
2. Apply to the kidney area, lower back, or right side over the liver/gallbladder
3. Cover with a cloth or flannel
4. Apply a warm heating pad for 20–40 minutes
5. Rest and drink warm herbal tea after

Benefits:

• Helps soften congestion and tension around the kidneys
• Encourages the movement of stones and sediment
• Supports lymphatic drainage
• Relaxes spasms, pressure, or “pulling” sensations

Safe to use 2–4x per week during a cleansing protocol.

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🌿 Pairing Suggestions

Chanca Piedra works beautifully with:

⭐ Kidney Mix

Your main recommendation.
Helps with urine flow, inflammation, UTIs, drainage, cleansing the kidneys and bladder.

Other supportive herbs:

• Uva Ursi – for urinary tract infections
• Marshmallow Root – soothes irritation
• Dandelion Root – liver + bile support
• Lemongrass – cooling + cleansing
• Ginger – circulation + digestive support
• Burdock Root – blood cleansing

Together they create a complete Kidney & Liver Detox System.

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💧 External Uses

Though primarily an internal herb, Chanca Piedra can be used externally as:

• A warm compress over kidneys or liver for additional support
• A cleansing wash for inflammatory skin issues caused by internal heat

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🌴 Caribbean & Cultural Significance

In Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, and throughout Brazil and Peru, Chanca Piedra has been used for generations as a “cooling” herb — perfect for flushing the kidneys during hot seasons, detoxing the liver after heavy foods or alcohol, and easing urine discomfort.

It is often referred to by grandmothers as a “body purifier” and used during seasonal cleanses, especially in men dealing with prostate-related urine flow issues.

In the Amazon, it is considered a sacred plant of purification — used to help restore balance after periods of excess, inflammation, or stagnation.

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🔮 Metaphysical & Energetic Uses

Energetics: Cooling, clearing, dissolving, purifying
Element: Water
Energetic actions:

• Dissolves emotional blockages the way it dissolves stones
• Helps release resentment, tension, stored anger
• Supports clarity and decision-making during transitions
• Promotes flow in both body and spirit

Affirmation:
“What is heavy dissolves. I release stagnation and allow flow.”

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🌿 Harvest & Sourcing

Our Chanca Piedra is sustainably harvested from South American growers who specialize in wildcrafted rainforest botanicals. Each batch is shade-dried and finely sifted to preserve its potency, minerals, and signature cooling energy.

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⚖️ Energetics & Taste

• Taste: Mild, grassy, faintly bitter
• Temperature: Cooling
• Actions: Dissolving, cleansing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic

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⚠️ Warnings

• Not recommended during pregnancy or while trying to conceive
• Consult a doctor if taking anti-hypertensive or diabetic medications
• May increase urine output — hydrate well
• Do not use long term without breaks (cycle 30 days on, 7 days off)

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💬 A Note from the Herbalist

“Chanca Piedra is the quiet powerhouse — the herb that does deep, cleansing work without fanfare. For kidney and gallbladder support, it is one of the most trusted herbs in my practice. Caribbean families swear by it, and with good reason: it restores flow where the body feels blocked and eases the pressure of stagnation. Remember to hydrate well, listen to your body, and let this plant guide you back into balance.”
— Zaakira Galloway, Island Roots Botanicals


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