Lod Tanong Daeng: Ancient Thai Herb Meets Modern Science, With Caution for Thai Readers
Lod Tanong Daeng, scientifically known as Trigonostemon reidioides, sits at the crossroads of Thailand’s traditional healing and contemporary pharmacology. In Western Thailand it is called “ข้าวเย็นเนิน,” while in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Nakhon Ratchasima it is known as “ทะนงแดง.” Today, the plant is moving from folk practice toward scientific study, offering potential benefits and clear cautions for safety.
For generations, rural Thai healers used Lod Tanong Daeng roots to address inflammation, food poisoning, asthma, and withdrawal symptoms. Local records from Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Ubon Ratchathani describe a wide range of applications—from laxatives to antidotes for bites, and as poultices to draw out heat from abscesses and sprains. Local names like “ดู่เบี้ย,” “ทะนง,” and “นางแซง” reflect the plant’s deep cultural roots in Thai traditional medicine.