Phyllanthus urinaria has been traditionally used in various systems of herbal medicine, especially in Asia, for supporting liver and gallbladder health. In traditional practices, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, this plant has been utilized for its purported ability to "clear heat" and "promote bile flow," which are thought to help with gallbladder-related issues, including gallstones. However, the direct use of Phyllanthus urinaria for the specific treatment or dissolution of gallstones is not robustly documented in classical texts, and references tend to be anecdotal or generalized to liver and gallbladder support rather than gallstones specifically.

From a scientific standpoint, there is very limited evidence supporting the use of Phyllanthus urinaria for gallstones. A handful of in vitro and animal studies have investigated the hepatoprotective and choleretic (bile-promoting) properties of the plant, and some research on related species (like Phyllanthus niruri) has explored effects on kidney stones, but not gallstones. No high-quality clinical trials or substantial preclinical studies have validated its efficacy for gallstone dissolution or prevention. Most claims are extrapolated from traditional use or from studies on related but distinct conditions (such as kidney stones or general liver health).

In summary, Phyllanthus urinaria is used traditionally for general liver and gallbladder support, but scientific evidence for its use in gallstone treatment is very weak or lacking.