Quebra Pedra
Common Use: Quebra Pedra has traditionally been used to strengthen and fortify the liver and gall-bladder functions by stimulating bile production. It has been useful in the treatment of hepatitis and liver problems. Quebra Pedra can also clear obstructions throughout the system by promoting the elimination of mucous and kidney stones and as a diuretic it will help with all afflictions of the urinary system, stimulating the elimination of uric acid and helping with urinary tract infections. It may also be of benefit in the treatment of bronchitis, diabetes and hypertension. Not recommended if nursing or pregnant.
New research at the University of Modena in Italy has confirmed some of the positive benefits of the herb Phyllanthus niruri, known in Brazil as Quebra Pedra 'the stone breaker' - and also widely known under its Spanish name of Chanca Piedra.
Used by generations of South Americans to treat renal calculi - Kidney and Gall stones, this wonderful herb is free from side effects and interactions, and can be safely used alongside other therapies.
The conventional approach to removal of stones usually involves shattering the stone using ESWL (Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy) - but this often leaves residual fragments which often require the treatment to be repeated.
The new research, published in the medical journal 'European Urology Supplements' , assessed the benefit of taking an extract of Quebra Pedra following ESWL treatment. After six months the stone free rate in those treated with just ESWL was 80% - but for the patients taking Quebra Pedra during their recovery, the stone free rate was 97%. Concerning lower caliceal stones the stone free rate of those using the herb was 94.1% versus 64.28% among those who just had ESWL.
The conclusion of the researchers was simple - the use of the Quebra Pedra extract results in an increased stone free rate and in a lower percentage of re-treatment. They concluded that its efficacy 'together with the absolute lacking of side effects make this therapy suitable to improve overall outcomes of ureteral stones shock wave lithotripsy.'
Recent research has also confirmed the liver protective potential of the herb, and its antispasmodic activity has also been documented. In Brazil, where much of the research has taken place - the Quebra Pedra infusions are used for the removal and prevention of stones as an alternative to the use of ESWL - and it is also widely used for Urinary tract infections.
Chapeu de Couro
| Latin Name: | Echinodorus macrophyllus |
|
Brazilian Name: |
Chapéu de Couro |
| English Name: | Leather hat |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Description: | Erect aquatic perennial, growing to 50 - 170 cm tall. The lower part is immersed in water, while the leaves and flowering stalk are above water. It can stay totally immersed in water but will not flower. Leaves are simple, base, erect, long peceolate, or cordeform, shaped like an inverted heart. 11 or 13 prominent veins run longitudinally with many fine veins running laterally. The texture of the leaves is leathery, hence the name. Numerous white flowers with yellow interiors are arranged on a thick yellow green flowering stalk 50-150 cm tall. The flowers are hermaphrodite. |
| Habitat: | Native to the American continents, found mainly in Brazil, Mexico, Antilles, USA. Grows in marshy areas and flood plains, riverbanks and lakesides. |
| Parts Used: | Aerial parts |
| Key Constituents: | Flavonoids - rutin (known for modulating inflammation), quercetin, saponin mixture - echinocystic acid as the major aglycone. Apigenin, camferol, carquejol, clerodane derivatives diterpenoids, essential Oils, flavonoids, glycosides, hispidium, hispidulin, luteolin, neptin, resins, squalene |
| Therapeutic Action: | Astringent, diuretic, depurative, anti-rheumatic, laxative, stimulant, hepatogogue, cholagogue |
| Indications: | Rheumatism, arthritis, liver ailments, kidney and urinary infections, syphilis, dermatitis, cutaneous eruptions. |
Cavalinha
Horsetail is a mild diuretic, indicated in cases of static and pos-traumatic edema, genitourinary infections and gout.
Early Medieval herbals indicate Horsetail's extensive use in folk medicine as a diuretic and astringent in general kidney and bladder conditions and edematous conditions of the heart and lungs.
Guacatonga
| Latin Name: | Casearia sylvestris, Samyda parviflora, Casearia parviflora, Anavinga sayda |
|
Brazilian Name: |
Guaçatonga |
| English Name: | Wild coffee |
| Family: | Flacourtiaceae |
| Description: | A shrub / small tree, small white-cream flowers. |
| Habitat: | Native to Mata Atlantica, heliophyte, pioneer, selective hydrophilic. Occurs in secondary forests and is characteristic of dryer forests. |
| Parts Used: | Leaves, bark, roots |
| Key Constituents: | Leaves & twigs contain lapachol, clerodane diterpenes (essential oils of leaves) have anti-tumour action, HIV replication inhibitor, antibiotic. Common flavonoids. |
| Therapeutic Action: | Wound-healing (bark & leaves), anti-inflammatory (bark and leaf), anti-gastric ulcer, tonic, depurative, and anti-rheumatic (leaf), analgesic (bark and leaf), sexual stimulant, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-herpetic. |
| Indications: | Wounds, gastric ulcer, inflammation, fevers, chest and body pain (roots), diarrhoea and herpes (leaves), snake bites (bark and leaf protect against Bothrops jararaca venom). |
Content (per capsule):
Powdered quebra pedra ----»
70 mg
Powdered chapeu de couro ----» 70 mg
Cavalinha dry extract ----» 70 mg
Powdered guaçatonga ----» 70 mg
| OVER x UNITS | UNIT PRICE |
| 2 | $ 15.75 |
| 5 | $ 14.00 |
| 10 | $ 13.20 |
| 20 | $ 12.25 |
