Red ginseng, steamed Asian ginseng root sold as a dietary supplement for energy, sexual health and healthy aging, is best understood as a low-risk, low-to-moderate-yield option: the firmest findings concern menopausal symptoms and erectile function, though erection gains are small; other uses rest on mixed or weak evidence. Rarer, more serious concerns include unexpected bleeding, elevated mood episodes, liver injury with certain drugs and low white cell counts during chemotherapy. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | <120/<80 mmHg | Expected to change; safety check if rising |
| LDL cholesterol | Not specified in the ER | Expected to change |
| Fasting glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Safety check on glucose-lowering drugs |
| ALT and AST | ALT 7–56 U/L, AST 10–40 U/L | Liver safety check |
| INR (warfarin users only) | Stable within the prescribed therapeutic range | Anticoagulation safety check |
| Complete blood count (during chemotherapy only) | Absolute neutrophil count 1.5–8.0 × 10⁹/L | Neutropenia safety check |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; home blood pressure weekly for the first 4 weeks; INR at 1–2 weeks for warfarin users; glucose daily for 2–4 weeks for insulin or sulfonylurea users; then lipids, glucose and liver enzymes at 12 weeks and every 6–12 months during continued use.