Sourcing and Citations

Our Evidence Hierarchy

  1. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of clinical trials

  2. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials

  3. Observational human studies

  4. Authoritative monographs and pharmacopoeias

  5. Mechanistic/preclinical evidence (in vitro, animal), labeled as such

  6. Traditional/ethnobotanical sources, clearly attributed

Inclusion & Appraisal

  • We favor studies with transparent methods, adequate sample size, and clinically relevant outcomes.

  • We summarize limitations (e.g., small N, surrogate endpoints, risk of bias).

  • When evidence conflicts, we present both sides and explain which findings carry more weight.

Citations on the Site

  • Each Materia page lists key references and, when available, links to DOIs or PubMed.

  • We paraphrase carefully and use quotation marks for verbatim text.

  • Retractions/expressions of concern are monitored; affected pages are updated with notices.

Suggested in-page style: Vancouver/AMA-like references (numbered) with DOI or PubMed link when available.

Example (on an herb page):

  1. Smith AB, Doe C. Title. Journal. 2023;12(3):100-110. doi:10.1234/abcd.efgh

Traditional Knowledge

When describing traditional uses, we attribute the source (e.g., text, materia medica tradition, cultural lineage) and avoid implying clinical efficacy unless supported by human data.

Image & Illustration Policy

  • Botanical plates: custom, copyright-safe (public domain/CC0 or original).

  • Stock images: licensed for web use with attribution if required.

  • We avoid images that imply health outcomes not supported by evidence.

Data Availability

When possible, we link to open-access versions of studies and note when access is restricted.

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