Bhumi Amla / Chanca piedra / Stonebreaker / Gale of the wind / Seed-under-leaf / Tamalaki / Jagli amlai / Bahupatra / Uttama, etc. is a tropical plant that grows 50-70 cm in height. This herb is known as “Bhumi Amla” because it’s a small plant present in Bhumi (land) usually found in rainy season. This plant is found in temperate climate all over costal India.
The whole plant is used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Phyllanthus is one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for the liver. This is one of the few herbs that are equally effective in treating both acute and chronic hepatitis.
Uses:
– Phyllanthus is one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for the liver. This is one of the few herbs that are equally effective in treating both acute and chronic hepatitis.
– The juice of this whole plant is used for various medicinal disorders like loss of appetite, hyperacidity, anorexia, thirst, constipation, diarrhea and dysentery conditions etc.
– The decoction of Bhumi Amla is used for maintaining your liver function tests.
– Chew few leaves of Bhumi Amla on empty stomach it will help to balance your doshas in the body.
– The plant acts as a tonic for an individual.
– Take 15 ml juice of Bhumi Amla for treating splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, fever and various other disorders.
– For indigestion, jaundice, anemia, anorexia and hyperacidity 15-20 ml of Bhumi Amla juice should be taken on empty stomach.
– Fresh leaves decoction is used for treating malaria, typhoid and various type of fever.
– For blocked nose use juice of Bhumi Amla in nasal drop form.
– Phyllanthus increases the ability of the liver to process glucose, normalizes the functioning of the pancreas and small intestine, and has a choleretic property. Phyllanthus helps dissolve kidney stones and the bladder.
– Bhumi amla is successfully used in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, eczema. The alkaloids contained in the plant have a depressing effect on fungi of the genus Candida, chlamydia, ureplasm and Escherichia coli.
Cautions: One species of chanca piedra – Phyllanthus niruri – is safe and non-toxic. Common side effects are mild and include: Stomach pain, Diarrhea, Headache or dizziness.
However, the other species – Phyllanthus amarus – could be toxic in high doses (it enlarged blood vessels and caused kidney damage in rats and mice).
*Pregnant women and women taking fertility-enhancing drugs should avoid taking chanca piedra. Traditionally, this plant was used for abortions and may cause abnormalities with the fetus. It should also not be taken while breastfeeding or by children due to the lack of safety data in these two populations. Although there is no clinical evidence, chanca piedra lowered both male and female fertility in mice.
* Drug Interactions: Consult your doctor before supplementing with chanca piedra if you are on medication. Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus amarus) inhibits the activity of the CYP540 family of liver enzymes that break down (or activate) drugs (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP2B1/2, and CYP3A4). Inhibition of these enzymes may cause unpredictable drug interactions (e.g. with midazolam, some antidepressants, beta-blockers, statins, warfarin, and anti-seizure drugs).
*Additionally, chanca piedra may reduce blood sugar levels. Its combination with anti-diabetes therapies (e.g. glimepiride, insulin, rosiglitazone, tolbutamide) might cause excessive drops in blood sugar levels.
Since chanca piedra may reduce blood pressure, it may also increase the effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs.
*Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus amarus) can increase urination and interfere with the effects of water pills (diuretics); this can result in additional fluid loss.
*This herb may also counter the effects of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine constricts blood vessels, while chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) contains a compound that can relax them.