Organika, Chanca Piedra, 90 Capsules

Organika Chanca Piedra is a Canadian supplement providing a 10:1 concentrated extract of Phyllanthus niruri (chanca piedra), a plant long used in South American and Ayurvedic traditional medicine. Each vegetarian capsule provides 500 mg of 10:1 extract, equivalent to 5,000 mg of raw whole plant material. Chanca piedra -- whose name translates to "stone breaker" in Spanish -- has been traditionally used to support urinary tract health, help the body eliminate kidney and gallbladder stones, relieve mild urinary tract infection symptoms, support liver health through bile production, and provide a cleansing action on the urinary and biliary systems.

Each vegetarian capsule provides chanca piedra whole plant extract (Phyllanthus niruri) 500 mg at a 10:1 concentration ratio, yielding the equivalent of 5,000 mg of raw plant material. Phyllanthus niruri contains several studied bioactive compounds including phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin (lignans with hepatoprotective and antilithiatic activity), geraniin (an ellagitannin with antioxidant and anti-spasmodic properties), quercetin and rutin (flavonols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity), alkaloids including phyllantine and securinine, and various organic acids. The mechanism proposed for its traditional stone-breaking use involves reduction of urinary calcium and oxalate excretion (reducing the ionic concentration that drives stone crystallization), inhibition of crystal aggregation, and smooth muscle relaxation in the ureter that may facilitate passage of small stones. Non-medicinal ingredients: brown rice flour, magnesium stearate, hypromellose/pullulan (vegetarian capsule).

Chanca Piedra may be relevant for adults interested in supporting urinary and kidney health, those with a history of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate kidney stones seeking complementary nutritional support, individuals with mild urinary tract discomfort, and people supporting liver and gallbladder function. Recommended dose: 1 capsule 3 times daily. Drink adequate water when using this product, as hydration is fundamental to urinary tract health and stone prevention. Important precautions: chanca piedra should not be used as a substitute for medical evaluation of kidney stones -- kidney stones can cause severe complications and require physician assessment, particularly for large stones or stones causing obstruction. Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. People with hypoglycemia or taking diabetes medications should consult a physician, as Phyllanthus niruri has been associated with blood glucose-lowering effects in some studies. Those on diuretics or blood pressure medications should consult a physician. Not for use in children without medical advice.

Chanca piedra occupies a distinct botanical category from the most common urinary health supplements (cranberry, D-mannose, dandelion) by targeting a different mechanism: rather than preventing bacterial adhesion to the bladder wall (cranberry/D-mannose) or acting as a diuretic (dandelion), chanca piedra has been specifically studied for reducing stone-forming mineral excretion, inhibiting crystal aggregation, and supporting smooth muscle relaxation for stone passage -- mechanisms relevant to lithiasis rather than infection. The 10:1 concentration ratio means each 500 mg capsule delivers the phytochemical equivalent of 5,000 mg of raw plant, at a dose consistent with the amounts used in published clinical investigations. Organika's manufacturing at their Richmond, BC facility under GMP and ISO 9001 dual certification provides a quality standard above industry minimums -- particularly relevant for botanical extracts where raw material quality and extraction consistency directly determine product potency. Organika holds Health Canada NPN authorization, which requires the safety and efficacy of the specific claims to be reviewed under Canadian natural health product regulations. Fully vegetarian capsule with no animal-derived ingredients.

Organika is a Canadian natural health company founded in 1990 in Richmond, British Columbia, by Thomas Chin, who was inspired by a natural remedy for kidney stones. Family-owned for over three decades, Organika has grown from four products to more than 600 natural health solutions. The company manufactures its own products in-house at its Richmond, BC facility, holds GMP and ISO 9001 certifications, and is a CarbonNeutral certified company. All products carry Health Canada NPN approval and are third-party tested for purity and potency.

Organika was the first health supplement company in Canada to receive ISO 9001 certification on top of GMP certification, a management systems standard rarely pursued by supplement makers. It also earned GMP certification a full decade before Health Canada required it. On the product side, Organika launched Canada's first collagen powder and bone broth powder, establishing itself as the category pioneer before collagen became a mainstream supplement trend. The company vertically integrates from formulation to manufacturing at its own Richmond, BC facility and has been recognized by the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas.