Chanca piedra, also known as stone breaker, gale-of-the-wind, and seed-under-leaf, is a tropical herb.
Chanca piedra has a few side effects and may interact with several common medications.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Kidney Stones
The most studied use of chanca piedra is for kidney stones.
This is where it gets its name “stone breaker.”
Kidney stones are more prone to form when oxalate oruric acidlevels become too high.
Chanca piedra lowered urinary oxalate and uric acid (waste products that exit your body via urine).
Further research is needed to validate this effect.
Chanca piedra has alkalizing properties that may prevent and treat gallstones.
However, no current scientific research supports Chanca piedras use for gallstones.
Chanca piedra may help to lower uric acid levels and prevent gout.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease.
Only a licensed healthcare provider should manage it.
More research in humans is needed to support these claims.
pylori is an organism that plays a significant role in developing digestive disorders, such asulcers.
It’s also thought to increase the risk for stomach cancer.
Human studies are needed before it can be recommended to manage blood sugar.
However, researchers warn that it may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
It can also interact with diabetes medications.
People with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar when taking chanca piedra.
Treating Kidney Stones
What Are the Side Effects of Chanca Piedra?
There are few side effects of chanca piedra.
As with all supplements, there is the risk of an allergic reaction.
It remains uncertain if these side effects directly resulted from using chanca piedra.
This could impact heart rhythm.
Precautions and Warnings
It’s essential to use chanca piedra supplements with caution.
Dosage: How Much Chanca Piedra Should I Take?
In the use of treating specific ailments, the traditional dosage varies.
The use of 4.5 g in a sachet steeped in boiling water for tea has also been suggested.
No clinical study validates these doses.
Researchers have not recommended a proper dosage to ensure safety and effectiveness.
What Happens if I Take Too Much Chanca Piedra?
Taking too much chanca piedra has unknown effects.
Few clinical studies have been completed on chanca piedra.
As a result, there is little known about any upper dosage limit.
There may be a disruption in electrolyte balance if too much chanca piedra is taken.
The risk of decreased potassium levels in the body exists if too much chanca piedra is taken.
Interactions
Chanca piedra can interact with some prescription medications.
Specific drug indications include medications that treat heart disease, diabetes,hypertension, and other conditions.
Note: This is not a complete list of interactions.
If you take any medications, talk to your pharmacist before using chanca piedra.
Anticoagulants
Chanca piedra may slow blood clotting.
When taken withanticoagulants, which prevent blood clots, there may be an increased risk of bleeding.
Anticoagulants include:
Antidiabetic Medications
Chanca piedra is thought to lower blood sugar levels.
When taking antidiabetic medications, blood sugar levels may be too low.
Taking medications that lower blood pressure and chanca piedra may cause your blood pressure to be too low.
Ask your healthcare provider if your lithium dosage should be adjusted.
Supplements
Chanca piedra may have interactions with herbal supplements for the same reasons as the above medication.
They can cause interactions with medications or have other safety concerns.
Similar Supplements
A traditional use of chanca piedra is to lower blood pressure.
Supplements with similar effects are black cohosh and hawthorn.
Both of these supplements have been shown to lower blood pressure.
Aloe, when taken orally, can decrease potassium levels in the body.
This same study showed that chanca piedra may decrease the size and formation of kidney stones.
The herbal supplement nettle is believed to fight kidney stones as well.
However, research is still limited, and more data is needed to support health claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are various diets for the prevention of different types of kidney stones.
When eating oxalate-rich foods, eat or drink those rich in calcium.
When oxalate and calcium combine in the stomach, there is a lower incidence of forming oxalate stones.
Eating too much animal protein increases levels of uric acid and lowers citrate in the urine.
Citrate is a chemical that helps prevent kidney stones from developing.
There is no evidence to support the use of chanca piedra for weight loss.
However, it does not appear to boost metabolism or promote fat loss.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for kidney stones.
Harvard Health Publishing.The kidney stone diet: not as restrictive as you may think.
