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The stone breaker is a medicinal plant that is also known as White Pimpinella, Saxifrage, Stone-breaker, Pan-breaker, Conami or Wall-piercing, and that can bring some health benefits such as fighting kidney stones and protecting the liver, since it has diuretic and hepatoprotective properties, in addition to being antioxidants, antiviral, antibacterial, antispasmodic and hypoglycemic.
The scientific name of the stone breaker is Phyllanthus niruri, and it can be purchased at health food stores, compounding pharmacies and street markets.
What is it for
The stone breaker has some substances such as lignins, vitamin C, terpenes, triterpenes, tannins and flavonoids, which are considered potent natural antioxidants. Therefore, this medicinal plant could be used to:
- Treat and prevent kidney stones, as some studies suggest that the consumption of this plant could prevent the formation of stones, inhibiting its growth and facilitating its elimination through urine;
- Prevent gallstones;
- Helps decrease fluid retention;
- Relieve symptoms of heartburn;
- Improve constipation;
- Combat virus infection, such as hepatitis B, because it inhibits the replication of the virus's DNA;
- Combat muscle spasms and act as a muscle relaxant;
- Helping to lower blood sugar, controlling diabetes, hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance;
- Protect the liver from poisoning;
- Helps control blood pressure by facilitating the elimination of sodium.
In addition, the stone breaker could also prevent cell damage due to its antioxidant action, and may also prevent some types of cancer, such as lung and breast cancer, for example.
How to use
The stone-breaker has a bitter taste initially, but then it becomes softer. The forms of use are:
- Infusion: 20 to 30g per liter. Take 1 to 2 cups a day;
- Decoction: 10 to 20g per liter. Take 2 to 3 cups a day;
- Dry extract: 350 mg up to 3 times a day;
- Powder: 0.5 to 2g per day;
- Tincture: 10 to 20 ml, divided into 2 or 3 daily doses, diluted in a little water.
The parts used in the stone breaker are the flower, the root and the seeds, which can be found in nature and industrially in dehydrated form or as a tincture.
How to prepare tea
Ingredients:
- 20 g of stone breaker
- 1 liter of water
Preparation mode:
Boil the water and add the medicinal plant and let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes, strain and take the warm drink, preferably without using sugar.
When not to be used
Stone breaker tea is contraindicated for children under 6 years of age and for pregnant or breastfeeding women because it has properties that cross the placenta and reach the baby and can cause miscarriage, and also passes through breast milk changing the taste of milk.
In addition, you should not drink this tea for more than 2 weeks in a row, as it increases the elimination of important minerals in the urine. See more options for home remedies for kidney stones.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- BOIM Mirian; HEILBERG Ita; SCHOR Nestor. Phyllanthus niruri as a promising alternative treatment for nephrolithiasis. International Braz J Urol. 36. 6; 657-664, 2010
- AL ZARZOR Raghdaa et al. Phyllanthus Niruri Standardized Extract Alleviates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Decreases Atherosclerotic Risk in Sprague – Dawley Rats. Nutrients. 9. 7; 2017
- OF AQUINO Eronita. Nutrition & Phytotherapy: Alternative treatment through plants. 2nd. Brazil: Vozes, 2011. 214-215.
- SAU HAR Lee. Antimetastatic Effects of Phyllanthus on Human Lung (A549) and Breast (MCF-7) Cancer Cell Lines. 6. 6; Plos one, 2011