Chanca piedra is a small, erect, annual herb that grows 1-2 feet in height. It is indigenous to the rainforests of the Amazon and other tropical areas throughout the world, including the Bahamas, southern India, and China. P. niruri is quite prevalent in the Amazon and other wet rainforests, growing and spreading freely (much like a weed). P. amarus and P. sellowianus are closely related to P. niruri in appearance, phytochemical structure, and history of use, but typically are found in the drier tropical climates of India, Brazil, and even Florida and Texas where there is little frost.
The Phyllanthus genus contains over 600 species of shrubs, trees, and annual or biennial herbs distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. A major reorganization of the Phyllanthus genus was conducted (which classified P. amarus as a type of P. niruri).
Chanca piedra has a long history in every tropical country where it grows. For the most part, it is employed for similar conditions worldwide.
Chanca Piedra is also known as: STONE BREAKER, quebra pedra, arranca-pedras, amli, amalaki, bhui amla, erva-pombinha, evatbimi, gale-wind grass, malva-pedra, phyllanto, pombinha, quinine weed, cane senna, creole senna, viernes santo, yerba de san Pablo.
Part Used: Entire plant
Tom Bald
win and Jerry Black have been growing this fine herb now at our Hawaiian locations for nearly 20 years! Even with the advantage of Hawaiian grown material for R&D we still receive wildcrafted material at our Oregon facility on a regular basis “Direct from the Source!” Derived right at the original villages where we first described its remarkable properties by our mentors in the Amazon jungle. The small villages in Peru harvest and shade dry this plant for us at the source! It is then sent to a third-party laboratory for testing. One of our favorite and most important herbs in our collection.