Niruri

This large genus includes 650-700 species of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, found widely in tropical and warm temperate regions. In many species the new growth is flushed red, and the foliage has an interesting structure, often with flattened, leaf-like stems (cladophylls) that give the appearance of pinnate leaves. As is characteristic of the family Euphorbiaceae, the foliage exudes and irritant milky sap when damaged. A number of species are medicinally used in Asia and are important in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Two very different species are particularly important: Phyllanthus emblica, a tree with small gooseberry-like fruits; nad P. niruri, a common annual weed in many parts of tropical Asia. The former is known in Hindi as amalaki, ("nurse"), because it heals so many ailments. Emblic fruits, which are among the highest known source of vitamin C (3000mg per fruit), are used in many different preparations in Ayurvedic medicine; when unripe they are exceedingly sour. The fruits are a key ingredient of chyavanprash, the most important Ayurvedic restorative, which is also applied as paste to the head for mental disorders. They are also and ingredient of the triphala ("three fruits"), another rejuvenative tonic that also included Terminala chebula, (See, myrobalm) and T. belerica, (Bastard Myrobalm). Other species include P. urinaria, a potent diuretic, used for liver and kidney diseases and urinary tract infections; it is strongly antibacterial, and a useful remedy also for dysentery, eye infections, and boils. Phyllanthus reticulatus is also diuretic and astringent, and is used to heal burns and sores, and to treat diarrhea in children, dysentery, and asthma. Among the constituents in Phyllanthus species is phyllanthin, which acts as a fish poison. Phyllanthus is from the Greek phyllon, "leaf", and anthos, "flower", referring to the fact that in some species the flowers are produced on the edges of leaf-like stems.

"Chanca piedra" literally means "break stone", and an extract taken from this small shrublike plant native to the Amazon rain forest is used to break up and expel kidney stones and gallstones. Chanca piedra is also used to treat edema, gout, asthma, and fever, an d it appears to have antispasmodic, antiviral, and hypoglycemic activity.

Erect slender annual, branched at the base, with oblong to elliptic leaves, to 8cm (3in) long, composed of two ranks of dark green, leaflet-like cladophylls. Minute flowers are borne in the axils, followed by tiny globose fruits.

Common Name:	Niruri
Other Names:	Chanca Piedra, Dukong Anak, Derriere Dos, Jaramla, Rami Bush, Seed on the Leaf
Botanical Name:	Phyllanthus niruri syn. P. debilis
Genus:	Phyllanthus
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Native Location:	Tropical Asia, Amazon
Cultivation:	Well-drained soil in sun with high humidity.
Propagation:	By seed sown when ripe.
Harvest:	Whole plants are collected during summer and autumn and used fresh or dried in decoctions, or pounded with roots as a poultice. Fruits are collected when unripe or ripe for decoctions, powder, and candy. Roots and bark are collected as required for decoctions.
Height:	40-50cm (16-20in)
Width:	15-25cm (6-10in)
Hardiness:	Tender
Parts Used:	Whole plant
Properties:	A cooling, bitter, astringent herb that relaxes spasms, improves digestion, and has potent diuretic effects; also lowers blood sugar.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for urinary tract infections, urinary stones, diarrhea, gonorrhea, jaundice, yellow fever, and diabetes. Externally for sores, ulcers, wounds, bruises, scabies, ringworm, and eye infections. To treat urinary tract infections, poor appetite, constipation, the flu, and pain.
Possible Side Effects:	Chanca piedra has no reported side effects when used properly under a physician's supervision.
Drug Interactions:	Taking chanca piedra with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose) Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide) Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide) Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) Glimepiride, (Amaryl) Glipizide, (Glucotrol) Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip) Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm) Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase) Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance) Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R) Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet) Miglitol, (Glyset) Nateglinide, (Starlix) Pioglitazone, (Actos) Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin) Rosiglitazone, (Avandia) Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet) Tolazamide, (Tolinase) Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab)
Bibliography:	Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pps. 312-313 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grosberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp 141-142