Herb & supplement monograph

Chanca Piedra Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Chanca Piedra interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Chanca Piedra is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Chanca Piedra is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Chanca Piedra Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Chanca Piedra drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and even the moderate ones rest on lab, animal, or early-stage research rather than confirmed effects in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The combinations we watch most closely involve anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, because a chanca piedra compound reduced platelet clumping in lab studies, and any added bleeding risk matters with these medicines. Lithium also deserves care, since possible diuretic effects could in theory raise lithium levels, and this drug has a narrow safety margin. Chanca piedra may also slow how the body clears certain medications processed by a common liver enzyme, which could nudge some drug levels upward. None of these effects has actually been reported in humans.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications reflects broad, theoretical predictions, not proven harm. Most entries come from how chanca piedra might affect enzymes the body uses to process drugs. In fact, several predicted effects, such as lower blood sugar or blood pressure, did not appear when tested in people.

Check your medications against Chanca Piedra

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Chanca Piedra interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Chanca Piedra

1022 medications have a known interaction with Chanca Piedra, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Chanca Piedra using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Chanca Piedra interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Chanca Piedra combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Chanca Piedra affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Chanca Piedra is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 8 drug categories Chanca Piedra interacts with

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet DrugsCytochrome P450 1a2 (cyp1a2) SubstratesCytochrome P450 3a4 (cyp3a4) SubstratesDiuretic DrugsLithiumNorepinephrine (levophed)Antidiabetes DrugsAntihypertensive Drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, chanca piedra might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research suggests that methyl brevifolincarboxylate, a constituent isolated from chanca piedra, can inhibit platelet aggregation. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, chanca piedra might reduce the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that chanca piedra extract increases CYP1A2 activity. Theoretically, chanca piedra might increase metabolism of CYP1A2 substrates and lower serum concentrations. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, use of chanca piedra might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that chanca piedra extract inhibits CYP3A4. Theoretically, chanca piedra might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of chanca piedra with diuretics might increase diuresis.
Some preliminary clinical research in adults with hypertension shows that chanca piedra has diuretic properties. However, higher quality research in adults with kidney stones shows taking chanca piedra does not increase urine volume when compared with placebo. Until more is known, use cautiously in patients taking diuretic drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Lithium

Theoretically, chanca piedra might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium.
Some preliminary clinical research in adults with hypertension shows that chanca piedra has diuretic properties. However, higher quality research in adults with kidney stones shows that taking chanca piedra does not increase urine volume when compared with placebo. Until more is known, use cautiously in patients taking lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Norepinephrine (Levophed)

Theoretically, chanca piedra may reduce the effects of norepinephrine.
Animal research suggests that methyl brevifolincarboxylate, a constituent isolated from chanca piedra, can reverse blood vessel contraction caused by norepinephrine.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use with antidiabetes drugs might affect glucose control and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research suggests that chanca piedra can have hypoglycemic effects. However, a small clinical study in adults with diabetes shows that chanca piedra extract 25 grams orally daily for 1 week does not lower fasting or postprandial blood glucose levels.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of chanca piedra with antihypertensive drugs might have additive blood pressure lowering effects.
Animal research suggests that chanca piedra can decrease blood pressure. However, this effect was not observed in most hypertensive patients treated with chanca piedra for 10 days.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Monograph

Chanca Piedra: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Chanca piedra is a tropical herb traditionally used as a 'stone breaker' for kidney and gallstones, and for liver and urinary health. Human evidence for these uses is limited and mostly small or preliminary, so it should not replace proven treatments. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a medical condition or take medications.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus niruri
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Part used: Whole plant, leaves, and stems
Common forms: Tea, capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, tinctures, dried powder

People commonly use it for

Kidney stones
Gallstones
Liver support
Urinary tract health
Digestive complaints

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Often well tolerated short-term, but high-quality safety data are limited.

PregnancyPossibly Unsafe

When used during pregnancy or in those trying to become pregnant. Animal research shows that chanca piedra, particularly at high doses, may have contr...

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) is a small leafy herb that grows in warm, tropical regions of the world, including parts of the Americas, India, and Southeast Asia. Its name means 'stone breaker' in Spanish, which comes from its long history of traditional use for kidney stones and gallstones.

The whole plant, including the leaves and stems, is dried and used in many forms. People most often take it as a tea, capsule, tablet, or liquid extract. Besides its use for stones, it has been used in traditional medicine systems for liver problems, urinary tract issues, and general digestion.

How it works

Chanca piedra contains many plant compounds, including lignans (such as phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin), flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. These compounds are thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies.

For kidney stones, researchers have suggested it may help relax the urinary tract and may affect the way certain crystals form, possibly making stones easier to pass. For the liver and against viruses, lab studies have looked at how the plant may protect cells or interfere with viral activity.

It is important to know that most of these mechanisms come from test-tube and animal research. What happens in a lab does not always translate to real benefits in people.

Effectiveness

Does Chanca Piedra work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 29 uses evaluated

1 Possibly effective 1 Leans ineffective 27 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

Possibly Effective Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)