Bhumy Amalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Health and Beauty products, Look-Best

Bhumy Amalaki (Phyllanthus niruri) Bhumy Amalaki (Phyllanthus niruri)

The plant is employed for numerous other conditions including blennorrhagia, colic, diabetes, dysentery, fever, flu, tumors, jaundice, vaginitis, and dyspepsia. It is of little wonder that Chanca Piedra is used for so many things since the plant has proven antihepatotoxic, antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, febrifugal and hypoglycemic activities. It is also considered anodyne, apertif, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, laxative, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge based on its long documented history of uses.

Chanca Piedra is still widely used in herbal medicine in South America, remaining the most popular remedy for gallstones and kidney stones throughout the continent. In Peruvian herbal medicine, it is also used for hepatitis, urinary infections, and as a diuretic.

In Brazilian herbal medicine it is called Quebra Pedra and is considered an excellent remedy to remove uric acid from the urine and to eliminate stones. It is also used in Brazil for hydropsy, urinary and bladder infections and blockages, liver ailments, painful joints, cystitis, prostate disorders, kidney disorders, hepatitis, diabetes and as a antispasmodic and muscle relaxant specific to the urinary tract system.

Chanca Piedra, indigenous to India where it is called Pitirishi or Budhatri, is a common household remedy for asthma, bronchitis and to cure coughing, extreme thirst, anemia, jaundice and tuberculosis. Also indigenous to the Bahamas where it is called hurricane weed or gale-wind grass. It is used in local herbal medicine there for poor appetite, constipation, typhoid fever, flu and colds.

Chanca Piedra has been the subject of much research to determine the active constituents and their pharmacological activities beginning in the mid-1960's. Indian and Brazilian research groups were the first to conduct these studies since the plant was indigenous to their areas with a long history of use by its inhabitants. In some of the published research, scientists make little or no distinction between P. niruri and P. amarus because of the very similar phytochemical make up of both plants. In fact, some references are found in which scientists believe that it is one species of plant with two botanical names, but of course there are botanists who would argue this point.