An Herb You Can't Live Without
By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski
Imagine an herb from the Rainforest that has the capacity to
protect your liver from poisonous chemicals in our chemically
laden environment. One that can help speed recovery quickly from
Hepatitis B. One that can dissolve kidney stones within 24
hours. One that, in a 1995 study, actually lowered blood
pressures in rats with hypertension.
The herb is Quebra Pedra (or Chanca Piedra, Phyllanthus
niruri - the Indian name means 'to break rock'), and it's my
favorite herb from the rainforest. I consider it one of
mankind's most potent herbs. Its dainty leaves are shown on the
cover of my book, Herbs of the Amazon. Its the twigs that
natives brew and give the tea to those with kidney stones or
urinary tract infections. I've seen patients with kidney stones
pass or dissolve them overnight with this tea. The root has been
used in folklore to alleviate jaundice. In India, a cupful of
the leaf decoction is drunk daily to cure diarrhea. And for good
reason, the leaves contain antibacterial substances phyllanthin,
hypophyltetralin, niranthin and nirtetrakin.
Quebra Pedra also has the capacity to inactivate the
hepatitis B virus. In one study with 88 patients who had been
diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, those who took Quebra Pedra
in powder form showed a substantial increase in appearance of
the antibody to the hepatitis virus. This means it helped their
own body produce antibodies to the virus, a positive and
significant step in their recovery.
Quebra Pedra is full of all kinds of active constituents that
have already been proven beneficial, like quercitin, rutin,
phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin. Quercitin and rutin are members
of the flavonoid group which is considered to be one of the most
significant antocarcinogens. This group also strengthens the
capillaries and helps in improving blood supply to the pancreas.
Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are similar in structure to
certain antiviral lignans, which means that in the future,
researchers may find that this herb ahs antiviral activity. In
fact, some research already shows that Quebra Pedra has activity
against the HIV virus.
Knowing all this about Quebra Pedra now, how can you live
without it? Adding Quebra Pedra to your diet is surely one of
your best preventative health habits. Quebra Pedra is found in
the combinations: Envirozon; Shipibo Treasure Tea; and
Illumination.
References
A Novel Class of Non-Peptidic Endothelin Antagonists
Isolated from Medicinal Herb Phyllanthus niruri. J. Nat
Prod, Vol. 58, #10, Oct. 1995, p. 1515-1520.
Herbs of Genus Phyllanthus in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitus
B: Observation with Three Preparations from Different
Geographic Sites. J Lab Clin Med, Vol 126, 1995, p. 350-352.
HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor from P. niruri. AIDS
Research and Human Retroviruses, Vol. 8, #11, 1992, p.
193744.
In vitro Inactivation of HBsAG by Eclipta alba Hassk and
Phyllanthus niruri. Indian J Med Research, Vol. 76, Dec.
1982, Supplement, p. 124-130.
Isolation and Structure (X-Ray Analysis) of
ENT-Norsecurinine, An Alkaloid from Phyllanthus niruri, J
Nat Products, Vol. 49, #4, July-Aug 1986, p. 614-620.
Medicinal Plants of the East and West Sepik Provinces,
Papua, New Guinea. Internat J Pharmacognosy, Vol. 30, #3,
1992, p. 218-222.
Studies in Pharmacological Activity of Amazonian
Euphorbiaceae. J Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 22, 1988, p.
143-172.
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