Dried root-stem of a daisy-family plant, used for two thousand years to settle digestion. Its clearest documented effect matches that use: more relief of long-term abdominal pain and loose stools than dummy treatment. Weaker signals cover blood sugar, blood fats and gut bacteria. Never tested alone in people; commercial root is routinely sulfur-treated. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium | 4.0–4.5 mmol/L | Detects the aldosterone-suppression effect before it becomes dangerous |
| Sodium | 138–142 mmol/L | Tracks the fluid-shifting effect claimed for this herb |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | <25 U/L men, <20 U/L women | Screens for liver injury, the commonest serious harm from botanical products |
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Confirms or refutes the reported glucose-lowering effect and flags additive hypoglycaemia |
| Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) | 4.8–5.2% | Gives the 3-month glucose average, the endpoint used in the diabetes trials |
| Platelet count | 200–400 × 10⁹/L | Provides a floor against which the antiplatelet signal can be judged |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) | <0.5 mg/L | Tracks the claimed anti-inflammatory action objectively |
| Plasma aldosterone | No established target for this herb; track change from the individual's own baseline | Directly measures the one mechanism uniquely attributed to this herb |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; potassium and blood pressure rechecked at 2 and 6 weeks; full panel reassessed at 12 weeks, then every 6–12 months while use continues. Alongside anticoagulant, potassium-sparing or glucose-lowering medication, the 2-week interval runs for three months.