The medicinal plant Rang Jued is native to Thailand and Malaysia and has been cultivated there for many centuries. Even in our country, its detoxifying, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects are increasingly appreciated. In the form of tea, capsules or powder, baths, tinctures or poultices, the plant helps with many ailments: elevated cholesterol, liver disease, alcohol hangover, asthma, hay fever, herpes, neurodermatitis, psoriasis and numerous allergic reactions.
Occurrence and cultivation of rank jued
The flowers of the perennial plant form fruit capsules. Rang Jued (pronounced: Rang Tschut) belongs to the genus Thunbergia within the plant family Acanthus. The evergreen and especially perennial climbing plant with the scientific name thunbergia laurifolia grows in tropical and subtropical areas. It can grow up to 15 meters high. Due to the large light blue flowers that play into purple, Rang Jued resembles the orchid and is used in Asia as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks. The flowers of Rang Jued are almost always arranged in groups. The yellowish funnel is surrounded by five flowers. The lower, larger petal with a clearly visible bulge at the entrance of the funnel is characteristic. The flowers of the perennial plant form fruit capsules. Its elongated and heart-shaped leaves reach a length of five centimeters. The shrubby plant is extremely hardy, but tolerates almost no frost. It grows mainly in shady places in subtropical areas.
Effect and application
The medicinal plant is characterized by a particularly high content of antioxidants called polyphenols. These substances fight free radicals in our body, slow down the aging process and have a great importance in cancer prevention. In addition, the leaves contain iridoid compounds that provide the plant with natural protection against pests and predators. However, the exact chemical composition is not yet fully understood scientifically. Rang Jued is a central component of Traditional Thai Medicine, a millennia-old healing art that historically evolved from traditional Chinese medicine and the Indian school of Ayurveda. The plant is administered primarily in the form of tea. For a cup of medicinal tea, two teaspoons of the crushed dried leaves are poured over boiling water, allowed to steep for ten minutes and strained. The tea is drunk in small sips three times a day. To avoid habituation effects and possible long-term side effects, it is recommended to interrupt the cure for a short time after six weeks and to take another herbal tea with comparable effects. Today, Rang Jued is also frequently offered as a capsule preparation or as a powder. Often these are imports from Thailand, which are sold through Internet stores. One to two, maximum six, capsules should be taken daily. In powder form, the preparation is dissolved in low-carbon water: 400 to 800 mg three times a day (equivalent to one-fifth to one-half teaspoon). However, especially in Asia, the medicinal plant is also used externally through poultices, baths, washes and tinctures. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, thunbergia laurifolia provides soothing relief for skin inflammations, burns, cuts, as well as dermatological diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis, skin eczema and acne. By the way, for the preparation of an infusion and tinctures, the fresh leaves of the plant can also be used.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The plant has the strongest healing effect on the liver: the water-soluble active ingredient of thunbergia laurifolia provides a lasting detoxification of the blood and liver cells. It stimulates metabolism, prevents fatty degeneration of the liver and protects against cellular toxins. In case of liver damage due to Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, the remedy can positively influence fat metabolism. The mode of action of the medicinal herb has also been proven in short-term symptoms of intoxication such as alcohol hangover. In order to launch the product successfully in Western markets, marketing places particular emphasis on this anti-hangover effect. Rang Jued is not only supposed to alleviate the symptoms of an existing hangover. It is also supposed to have a prophylactic effect by avoiding a “hangover” when taken before alcohol consumption.The detoxifying effect of the plant is also used in other areas: as a liver protector and adjuvant (auxiliary agent) in chemotherapy, and as a means of removing synthetic substances such as food additives and preservatives. Rang Jued has also proven to be an effective remedy for asthma as well as a natural anti-allergic. In particular, it helps relieve allergic symptoms such as eye redness, tearing, and swelling of the mucous membranes. Unlike many synthetic antihistamines, the natural preparation has no side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness or dizziness. For it to have an anti-allergic effect, it must be taken regularly over a period of at least three months. The medicinal plant also has a positive effect on blood lipid levels. Both cholesterol and triglycerol levels can be reduced by taking Rang Jued. Other uses reported in the literature include: Arthritis, various viral infections (for example, herpes), hay fever, deafness, and hypermenorrhea (heavy menstruation). Despite these diverse treatment options, the drug is still relatively unknown in Germany. Likewise, its active ingredients have not yet been adequately researched. Especially the contained antioxidants as well as the iridoids offer great therapeutic potentials both in cancer prevention and in the treatment of poisoning of the blood and liver. The described effect of Rang Jued as an “anti-hangover plant” and useful remedy after drug abuse seems to predestine it to a lifestyle preparation in the western world. It is precisely to prevent this that serious scientific research needs to look closely at its mode of action.
