Arjuna, an Indian tree bark and traditional heart remedy, is sold as a heart-health dietary supplement. Human studies are small, often brief. A branded extract modestly improved a measure of heart pumping strength in company-run studies; other benefits remain unsettled. Short-term side effects look minor; liver processing of heart and anti-clotting medicines is untested in people. For health-focused adults managing heart risk: an inexpensive, plausibly helpful but unproven add-on. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | <130/80 mmHg | Expected to change; safety check for excess lowering |
| LDL cholesterol | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change |
| HDL cholesterol | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change |
| Triglycerides | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change |
| ALT and AST | ALT 7–56 U/L; AST 10–40 U/L | Safety check (stop if raised) |
| TSH | 0.4–4.0 mIU/L | Safety check (rat thyroid-suppression signal) |
| HbA1c | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change (diabetes only); safety check with diabetes drugs |
| LVEF | 50–70% | Expected to change (cardiac patients) |
| INR (warfarin users) | No established target for arjuna use; compare with own stable INR | Safety check (bleeding risk) |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; home blood pressure weekly for the first month, then monthly; lipids, liver enzymes and TSH at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months; HbA1c every 3 months in diabetes; INR within 1–2 weeks of starting for warfarin users