A few years ago, I woke up with severe stomach pain. I could barely function.
My first reaction was to ask the doctor what was happening in my stomach.
She said that “I was looking at gallbladder disease. All that pain you are suffering is something that you are going to have to endure until the stones are big enough for them to operate.”
I said, “No. I don’t like the diagnosis. With our highly advanced country, you ask me to suffer this pain until I have an operation. I would come up with a better one.”
If you have not suffered with this kind of pain, you would not say that I overreacted. If the doctor agrees, it might solve your pain problem temporarily.
At church last weekend, one of the members of my Bible study asked for a prayer for herself as she was starting this process. The doctor she saw had the same response to the pain she was suffering.
I was willing to share what I had learned. I hope to share this with you, my reader, for a future answer. As with any recommendations I make, you should see your doctor before taking any advice.
Chanca Piedra
Chanca Piedra, or Phyllanthus niruri (Stone Breaker in English), can be found in the Amazon Basin of South America and many coastal and tropical areas.
When one looks at the map of Peru, one can see that the Peruvian mountains are but a tiny sliver along the Pacific Coast.
A substantial part of the Amazon jungle lies within the borders of Peru, or zones 10a to 12b, as we may apply it to the zones; that we are familiar with in Ohio. Logically, this jungle plant is native to Peru.
Stone Breaker grows from 6 to 12 feet tall. Being a Peruvian native, you will find these medium-sized shrubs growing in the jungle. When growing them indoors at home, you should water them every nine days.
If it doesn’t get direct sunlight, Chanca Piedra needs .8 cups of water in a five-inch pot. Leaf drops happen without ample sunlight.
If you see this leaf drop, it’s a key to recognize that you need more sunlight. Ideally, place this shrub three feet away from a south-facing window to maximize growth potential.
As Chanca Piedra grows, it will adequately deplete the soil of the nutrients you planned for the plant to grow.
Therefore, as the plant grows, replace the soil with fresh soil in the larger pot. Expect the plant to double in size each year. If you do want to grow Chanca Piedra at home, the most likely problem is wet soil.
When you overwater Chanca Piedra, the leaves may appear to be curling or drooping. Underwater, nutrient deficiencies, or pests cause yellow leaves.
What I found spectacular about this plant are all its health benefits. First, the traditional use for Chanca Piedra is, as its name states, Stone Breaker.
The variety of phenolic compounds in Chanca Piedra affects the body in different ways.
The spasmolytic properties of the alkaloids present in Chanca Piedra help to relax the muscles of the urinary paths and bile ducts, thus making removal of the stones easy.
Traditional Peruvian medicine reveals that Chanca Piedra helps with digestion problems, vomiting, bloatedness, gripes, gall stones, kidney stones, infection of the digestive system, intestines, liver, hepatitis, asthma, bronchitis, and fever, combat the viruses Staphylococcus Aureus, and Pasteurell pestis.
This list from Peruvian history is written in their heritage of health. Research going on right now reveals more health benefits and confirms what we already know.
The easiest and fastest way to benefit from this tropical shrub is to swallow the capsules, as I did for some time.
To make Chanca Piedra tea, we use .1 to .2 ounces of the herb with three cups of cold water. Add the herb to the water and cook for 5 to 10 minutes on a low setting until it boils. Drain and strain the tea.
For a standard dose of Chanca Piedra tea, take one four-ounce glass three times daily. Split the number of doses in two for children.
I hope you enjoy strolling through your indoor and outdoor gardens. If you find a problem, let me know at ericlarson546@yahoo.com. Thank you for participating in our column.