A long-used calming botanical. The clearest human signal is a modest easing of stress and, in some studies, lower stress-hormone levels, with possible help falling asleep and a narrow benefit for mouth bacteria. Brain-aging, cellular-energy, and anticancer promises stay confined to lab and animal work. Human trials are few, small, and often industry-funded. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Morning serum cortisol | ~10–15 µg/dL | Stress-axis activity, the main target |
| DHEA-S | Mid-to-upper range for age and sex | Balances cortisol; adrenal reserve |
| Fasting glucose | 75–90 mg/dL | Screens the metabolic effects seen in preclinical work |
| HbA1c | <5.4% | Longer-term blood-sugar control |
| ALT and AST | <25 U/L | Liver safety with long-term botanical use |
| TSH | 1.0–2.0 mIU/L | Baseline thyroid status before ongoing use |
| hs-CRP | <1.0 mg/L | Tracks systemic inflammation, a proposed target |
Cadence: Baseline, then recheck liver enzymes and metabolic markers at ~12 weeks and every 6–12 months thereafter