Health Benefits of Phyllanthus Niruri- Gale of the Wind

When it comes to health, the plant kingdom has a great deal to offer. Long before the advent of modern medicine, people identified plants for their health benefits and traditional systems of medicine continued to use them.

Phyllanthus nuri is one such plant with a very long history of use. It is commonly used by Ayurvedic practitioners as a remedy for liver conditions and a range of other common conditions.

What is Phyllanthus Niruri?

Phyllanthus niruri belongs to the Phyllanthus genus of plants which also includes Phyllanthus emblica. The plant is commonly known by various other names including Gale of the wind, Stonebreaker, Leafflower and Seed-under-leaf.

The plant grows in many tropical parts of the world as well as subtropical regions. Many parts of the plant including its leaves, root and stems are used to make medicine which is available in the form of capsules, tinctures and extracts. It is also commonly used to make a healthy tea or decoction.

The fresh leaves of the plant can also be applied topically in the form of a poultice to treat rashes, sores  and other skin complaints.

Health Benefits of Phyllanthus

Gale of the wind has been used for traditionally for hundreds of years to treat a wide variety of conditions including liver disease, kidney issues and inflammation. A growing body of modern, scientific research appears to support many of these traditional uses.

The following are some of the main potential health benefits of the plant :

Liver Health

A number of studies have found that various species of Phyllanthus including Phyllanthus niruri and Phyllanthus emblica may have benefits for the liver by preventing inflammation of the liver protecting against liver disease.

A study, published in 2012, examined the hepoprotective effects of 11 phyllanthus species. The researchers found that three species of phyllanthus – Phyllanthus emblica, indofischeri and polyphyllus – had a significant protective effect on liver cells.

The laboratory study found that extracts from the plant helped protect these cells or hepatocytes from oxidative damage when they were exposed to toxic hydogen peroxide. (1)

The results of these in vitro studies appear to have been confirmed by several animal studies. In 2006, a study on mice found that the antioxidants present in phyllanthus niruri helped protect the liver against toxicity. (2)

A more recent animal study, published in 2017, added more support to these earlier findings. The researchers found that extracts of Phyllanthus niruri halted the progression of non – alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats and may also help treat atherosclerosis.

Both of these conditions are known to cause insulin resistance and the study found that extracts of the plant helped both decrease insulin resistance and the level of fatty acids present in the liver. In fact, not only did the extract help to normalize liver enzyme levels, it also eradicated scarring on the liver tissue.

The researchers attributed these effects to a the presence of phyllanthum – a polyphenol, unique to the plant. (3)

Most of these studies have drawn criticism because they included people with acute infections in their research. People recently affected with the acute form of hepatitis B typically recover spontaneously with around 90% experiencing total recovery without any treatment.

One study, published in 2010, looked at the effects of a herbal product containing phyllanthus niruri and 6 other herbs. The researchers found that those treated with the herbal extract recovered faster than those in the control group. They also reported various side effects including diarrhea and abdominal pain.(4)

However, a review, published in 2011, concluded that the studies provided no conclusive evidence that phyllanthus was any more effective than a placebo in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B. (5)

While studies suggest that phyllanthus has certain benefits for the liver, the claims that it can treat chronic hepatitis B are unproven.

Antioxidant Benefits

Antioxidants are extremely important for your health. They help protect us against disease caused by oxidative stress known as free radical damage. Antioxidants can protect the cells and even reverse damage already done. By protecting the cells, antioxidants can help protect against a wide range of disease including serious diseases like heart disease and cancer.

According to one study, published in 2014, phyllanthus niruri leaf extract exhibited very powerful antioxidant activity in the laboratory. (6)