Popularly known as stone breaker the Phyllantus niruri is a widely used herb recommended by healthcare professionals for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones (nephrolithiasis).
THE CNN spoke with experts to better understand how stonebreaker tea acts on the urinary tract, how it can be ingested and general guidelines for safe consumption of the drink.
Why stonebreaker tea is good for kidney stones
The tea Phyllantus niruri he has diuretic effect . Therefore, the drink helps to reduce the urinary concentration of calcium and uric acid, preventing the formation of kidney stones.
“It promotes relaxation of the ureter, facilitating urinary elimination of kidney stones . In patients treated with extracorporeal lithotripsy [procedimento que emite ondas de alta energia para fragmentar ou pulverizar o cálculo]infusions of Phyllantus niruri reduce the formation of residual stones”, explains Américo Cuvello, nephrologist and head of the Specialized Center for Nephrology at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz.
One study carried out by the University of São Paulo empirically showed how the drink acts on the body. Conducted with 56 patients diagnosed with stones measuring no more than 10 millimeters, the research provided participants with a daily infusion of 500 milliliters, with 9 g of dry extract of Phyllantus nirurifor 15 weeks.
Afterwards, participants spent another 12 weeks without consuming the infusion (“washout” phase), during which significant effects were observed, such as a reduction in blood pressure and the average number of kidney stones per patient (from 3.21 to 2. 02).
There was also an increase in the excretion of potassium and magnesium and an improvement in the ratio between potassium and creatinine – indicators that contribute to reducing the formation of stones.
Other benefits
In addition to its diuretic and antihypertensive effect, stonebreaker tea has the following properties:
- anti-inflammatory;
- analgesic;
- hepatoprotective;
- antimicrobial;
- antiviral.
Furthermore, a possible effect of the herb for the treatment of hepatitis B is being investigated – but there are still no conclusive studies on the subject.
How to make tea and contraindications
Amanda Lima, nutritionist at the Gastro ABC clinic, recommends that the stonebreaker infusion be made with 20 to 30 g per liter of water. The specialist also recommends drinking the tea once or twice a day.
She also recommends other forms of daily consumption of the herb:
- dry extract, 350mg up to 3 times;
- powder: 0.5 to 2g;
- tincture (concentrated extracts): 10 to 20ml divided into two or three doses diluted in 150ml of water.
The specialist also points out that the consumption of the herb is contraindicated for children under 6 years of age, breastfeeding women and pregnant women. “Its properties go beyond the placenta and can cause miscarriage [espontâneo]. In the mother’s bed, it can change the taste”, says the nutritionist.
Cuvello complements the recommendation by remembering that there is no data in the medical literature on the use of Phyllantus niruri in children and pregnant women.
Tea does not replace conventional treatment
It is important to emphasize that the use of stone breaking tea should always be used as part of the treatment of excess calcium and uric acid in the urine, thus being a complement and not a substitute for other conventional methods.
Another point of attention is that its consumption must always be guided and prescribed by a doctor. “Patients with kidney stones, before treatment, should see a nephrologist or urologist to investigate urinary metabolism and diagnose the reason that led to the formation of the stones (…) It is not recommended to use without a medical evaluation and prescription ”, points out Cuvello.
Physical characteristics of the stonebreaker
According to the Plant Bank of the Didactic Garden of Medicinal Plants at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)the stonebreaker is a herb measuring up to 50 centimeters in height, with a thin stem and elongated leaves – which come together on a central axis, with pairs of up to 1 centimeter separated by it.
Has flowers small, being yellow or greenish on the lower part of the branches. Its fruit is tiny, up to 1 mm in diameter.
This content was originally published in Stonebreaker tea is good for kidney stones; see other benefits on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil

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