Eleuthero is the root of a Far Eastern shrub, sold for stress and fatigue. Only one controlled trial gave a clear result on a general health questionnaire, and that gain faded with continued use. Endurance, immune, mood and fatigue claims conflict or come from multi-herb formulas. Side effects match placebo; the worst harm traced to a substituted plant. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | 110–125 / 70–80 mmHg | Detects either direction of the disputed pressure effect |
| Fasting blood glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Catches additive glucose lowering with diabetes medication |
| Glycated haemoglobin | 4.8–5.3% | Tracks average glucose independent of a single day's reading |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | Under 0.5 mg/L | Tests the claimed anti-inflammatory action |
| Morning serum cortisol | 10–15 µg/dL drawn at 08:00 | The stress-axis target of the whole adaptogen claim |
| DHEA-sulfate | No established target; upper third of age/sex range | Interpreted alongside cortisol to judge adrenal balance |
| Total testosterone, men in heavy training | 600–900 ng/dL | Detects the testosterone-to-cortisol shift seen in athletes |
| Alanine and aspartate aminotransferase | 10–26 U/L | Confirms no liver injury from a substituted or contaminated product |
| Serum digoxin, only if taking digoxin | 0.5–0.9 ng/mL | The one documented drug interaction |
| Fasting lipid panel | Triglycerides under 80 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol above 55 mg/dL | Tracks the lipid changes reported in the open study |
Cadence: Baseline before the first dose. Home blood pressure twice weekly for the first four weeks, then monthly; glucose, liver enzymes and the morning stress-hormone panel at 8 weeks and again at 6 months, then every 6–12 months. Serum digoxin at 2–4 weeks after starting and again after stopping.