A drawing made for this site. Drag it to turn it.

Pashanbhed

Bergenia ligulata · पाषाणभेद

Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda.

Also called Pashanabheda, Stone breaker, Elephant ears, Heartleaf bergenia

Sanskrit: पाषाणभेद (Pashanabheda)

Few human safety studies

A hardy Himalayan plant whose rhizome is used in Ayurveda for kidney and bladder stones.

Did you know? Its name means stone breaker, because traditional healers believed it could break up stones in the kidney and bladder.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Kidneys, bladder & UTIs. Traditional remedy for kidney and bladder stones. Human trials are missing.
Traditional proof
Inflammation. Lab studies show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Human evidence is lacking.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Kidneys & bladder, Immune system, Joints

Traditional use

Ayurveda uses pashanbhed for kidney and bladder stones, urinary problems and inflammation.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory. Energy: cooling.
Ayurveda: Tridoshic: balances all three doshas. Taste (rasa): astringent, bitter. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Ashmaribhedana (breaks up stones).

How people take it

Rhizome powder or decoction in tradition. No tested human dose is established.

Decoction, powder and capsule.

Where to get it

Grows in the Himalayas and other cold mountain areas. Rhizomes are dug and dried. Several Bergenia species are sold under the same name, so quality and identity vary.

Be careful

Few human safety studies exist. Avoid in pregnancy. People with kidney disease should use it only with a doctor's advice, since stones can need medical care.

Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; kidney disease; kidney stones.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
The classic formula Varunadi vati pairs varuna with pashanbhed for urinary stones.
Works well together
Varunadi vati also includes gokshura.

The honest take

Pashanbhed is a traditional stone remedy, and its claims rest on tradition and early lab work. Human trials for kidney stones are missing. Several Bergenia species are sold under this name, so products can differ.