A long-used East Asian root whose yellow pigments block two inflammatory routes at once. The clearest human benefit is symptom relief in knee and hip arthritis; thinner evidence covers lower blood fats, reduced gum inflammation, and better mood under stress. Liver injury and lung inflammation shape any decision. The signal is real but narrow. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Alanine aminotransferase | < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women) | Earliest and most sensitive signal of liver-cell injury |
| Alkaline phosphatase | 50–100 U/L | Detects the cholestatic component of the mixed injury pattern |
| Gamma-glutamyl transferase | < 20 U/L (men), < 15 U/L (women) | Confirms that a raised alkaline phosphatase is liver rather than bone |
| Total bilirubin | 0.3–1.0 mg/dL | Marks injury severe enough to impair hepatic clearance |
| Eosinophil percentage | < 3% of white cells | Supports an immune-mediated mechanism when enzymes rise |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | < 1.0 mg/L | Tracks the anti-inflammatory effect the intervention is taken for |
| Fasting glucose | 75–90 mg/dL | Detects additive lowering when combined with glucose-lowering drugs |
| Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | Target set by the prescribing clinician; track change from the individual's own pre-supplement value | Detects loss of statin effect from transporter interaction |
Cadence: Liver panel at baseline, 8 weeks, and the end of each 12-week course, then before restarting after any break; lipid panel at 8 weeks where a statin is co-prescribed; fasting glucose weekly for the first month where glucose-lowering drugs are in use