A ginseng-family root traditionally used to stop bleeding and move blood. The most consistent human evidence is for easing chest pain in heart disease and supporting recovery after a clot-type stroke as an add-on; longevity, bone, and brain claims rest on lab and animal work. The clearest concern is bleeding, especially with blood thinners or before surgery. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Complete blood count (platelets, hemoglobin) | Platelets ~200–400 ×10⁹/L; hemoglobin sex-appropriate | Detects bleeding-related changes and baseline platelet status |
| PT/INR and aPTT (clotting times) | Within normal lab range unless anticoagulated | Tracks the root's anticoagulant effect, especially with blood thinners |
| Lipid panel (LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglycerides) | LDL-C <100 mg/dL (lower if high cardiovascular risk) | Assesses the cardiovascular/lipid benefit signal |
| Fasting glucose / HbA1c | Glucose 70–90 mg/dL; HbA1c <5.4% | Monitors possible additive blood-sugar lowering |
| Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) | ALT/AST roughly <25 U/L (functional) | Screens for the rare liver toxicity seen in animal studies |
| Kidney function (eGFR, creatinine) | eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73m²; creatinine sex-appropriate | Screens for kidney toxicity and tracks diabetic-kidney benefit |
Cadence: Baseline before starting, then ~4–8 weeks after starting, then every 6–12 months with chronic use; more frequent for anyone on interacting medications.