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Research · Supplements

Chanca piedra

Two small trials in people with kidney stones report mixed results. After shock wave lithotripsy, overall stone-free rates did not differ significantly, and lower-pole stones cleared more often. A placebo trial found no difference in stone passage or pain. Hepatitis B reviews of the Phyllanthus genus are low quality. No side effects were recorded in the stone trials.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
Status
Dietary supplement in the US. Not approved by the FDA as a drug for any use.
Also called
Phyllanthus niruri, stonebreaker, quebra pedra, seed-under-leaf, bhumi amla, Uriston
Taken for
kidney stones, kidney health, gallstones, liver health, hepatitis B, urinary tract health

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help0

No benefit shown in research yet.

Reported risks0

No risks sourced yet.

What people take it for, and what was found

Mixed results1

Limited

Hepatitis B

Limited evidence: Phyllanthus species helped clear hepatitis B markers when added to antivirals, but the one placebo-controlled trial found no difference.

The numbers and sources
Effect
A Cochrane review of 16 RCTs (1,326 patients) found one placebo-controlled trial (42 people), which showed no difference in HBeAg seroconversion (RR 0.9, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.25). Added to an antiviral drug, Phyllanthus improved clearance of serum HBV DNA (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.91, I² 71%) and HBeAg [4]. An earlier review of 22 RCTs (1,947 patients) reported more HBsAg clearance than placebo or no treatment (RR 5.64, 95% CI 1.85 to 17.21) [5].
Population
Adults with chronic hepatitis B virus infection [4][5].
Sources
[4], [5]
Caveats
Both reviews pooled several Phyllanthus species, not Phyllanthus niruri alone. The Cochrane authors found no convincing evidence against placebo, and cite heterogeneity and bias [4]. Methodological quality was low in 17 of 22 trials [5].

Not shown to help1

Limited

Kidney stones

Small trials found no overall difference in stone-free rates after lithotripsy or in urinary measures, with benefits only in subgroups such as lower-pole stones.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 150 people with calcium oxalate kidney stones treated by shock wave lithotripsy, 2 g a day of a Phyllanthus niruri extract for at least 3 months gave a stone-free rate at 180 days of 93.5% against 83.3% in controls (p 0.48). For lower-pole stones (56 people) it was 93.7% against 70.8% (p 0.01). Re-treatment rates were 39.7% and 43.3% [1]. In 69 calcium stone formers randomized to Phyllanthus niruri or placebo for 3 months, urinary measures did not change overall, and urinary calcium fell in the subgroup with high urinary calcium (4.8 to 3.4 mg/kg/24 h) [2]. In rats with induced bladder stones, Phyllanthus niruri for 42 days reduced stone growth and number [3].
Population
150 adults after lithotripsy [1]. 69 adult calcium stone formers [2]. Animal (rats) [3].
Sources
[1], [2], [3]
Caveats
Both human trials are small. Trial [1] had no placebo, and its significant result is a subgroup. The urinary calcium change in [2] is a subgroup finding.

Claimed, not studied in people1

Untested

Gallstones

Not studied in people. Phyllanthus amarus, a related species, is used in folk medicine for gallbladder stones.

No study in people. This rests on documented traditional use.

The numbers and sources
Effect
A 2025 lab study describes Phyllanthus amarus as used in folk medicine to treat gallbladder stones, kidney stones and chronic liver disease. The same study found that the extract and its lignans activated drug-sensing receptors and changed the activity of the liver enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 in human liver cells [6].
Population
A statement of traditional use and lab tests in human liver and gut cells [6].
Sources
[6]
Caveats
The source names P. amarus, not P. niruri, and records use, not an effect. No study of gallstones in people or animals given either species was located.

Doses studied

The lithotripsy trial used 2 g a day of a Phyllanthus niruri extract for at least 3 months [1]. The placebo trial used 450 mg capsules three times a day for 3 months [2].

Risks

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Side effects in trials

Limited evidence: no side effects or serious adverse events were reported in small, short trials with limited harm reporting.

The numbers and sources
Effect
No side effects were recorded in the 150-patient lithotripsy trial [1]. No serious adverse event was reported in the hepatitis B trials [5].
Population
Adults with kidney stones [1]. Adults with chronic hepatitis B [5].
Sources
[1], [5]
Caveats
The trials were small and short, and harm reporting was limited.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That chanca piedra helps kidney stones pass or eases stone pain. In 69 calcium stone formers, stone passage and pain relief did not differ from placebo over 3 months [2].
  2. That chanca piedra raises the overall stone-free rate after lithotripsy. At 180 days the difference was not significant (93.5% against 83.3%, p 0.48) [1].
  3. That Phyllanthus clears hepatitis B markers on its own. In the one placebo-controlled trial in the Cochrane review, HBeAg seroconversion did not differ from placebo [4].

Sources

  1. Micali S, Sighinolfi MC, Celia A, et al. Can Phyllanthus niruri affect the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones? A randomized, prospective, long-term study. The Journal of Urology. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2006.04.010
  2. Nishiura JL, Campos AH, Boim MA, et al. Phyllanthus niruri normalizes elevated urinary calcium levels in calcium stone forming (CSF) patients. Urological Research. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-004-0432-8
  3. Freitas AM, Schor N, Boim MA. The effect of Phyllanthus niruri on urinary inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and other factors associated with renal stone formation. BJU International. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2002.02794.x
  4. Xia Y, Luo H, Liu JP, et al. Phyllanthus species for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008960.pub2
  5. Liu J, Lin H, McIntosh H. Genus Phyllanthus for chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a systematic review. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. 2001. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2893.2001.00307.x
  6. Husain I, Abdulrahman B, Dale OR, et al. Interaction of Phyllanthus amarus extract and its lignans with human xenobiotic receptors, drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.119142

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