Reference Database
Every citation, in one place.
Each source used anywhere on this site is recorded once here, then referenced by the encyclopedia entries, journal articles and product pages that draw on it. When a source is updated or superseded, it changes everywhere at once.
34 sources
- 2024Guidance
Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — NCCIH
General public-health guidance on the use of botanical supplements.
- 2024Government Resource
Dietary Supplement Label Database
Office of Dietary Supplements — National Institutes of Health
A public database of supplement labels and ingredient declarations maintained by the NIH.
- 2021Systematic Review
Panax ginseng: a systematic review of the pharmacology of ginsenosides
Various — Journal of Ginseng Research
A synthesis of the pharmacological literature on ginsenosides, the principal constituents of Panax ginseng.
- 2021Meta-Analysis
Withania somnifera and the stress response: a review of controlled trials
Various — Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Pools the available controlled human trials on standardised ashwagandha root extract.
- 2021Fact sheet
Vitamin C — Health Professional Fact Sheet
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — NIH ODS
Reference sheet covering vitamin C function, intake and food sources.
- 2020Guidance
Asian Ginseng
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — NCCIH
Public-health summary of the evidence and safety considerations for Panax ginseng.
- 2020Monograph
Cynomorium songaricum (Suo Yang) monograph
Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission — Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China
Official monograph describing identity, preparation and traditional application.
- 2020Systematic Review
Lepidium meyenii (maca): a review of its traditional use and phytochemistry
Various — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews Andean cultivation, macamide and glucosinolate content, and the human literature to date.
- 2020Systematic Review
Rhodiola rosea: a systematic review of human studies
Various — Phytomedicine
Assesses the quality and consistency of the human literature on Rhodiola rosea.
- 2019Systematic review
Kaempferia parviflora: efficacy and safety in human studies
Chaiyakunapruk N; Sae-Wong C — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews human and preclinical evidence on Thai black ginger and its polymethoxyflavones.
- 2019Mechanistic Study
Clinoptilolite: structure, cation exchange and applications
Various — Molecules
Describes the crystalline lattice and cation exchange behaviour of natural zeolite.
- 2019Mechanistic Study
Methoxyflavones of Kaempferia parviflora: chemistry and pharmacological interest
Various — Journal of Natural Medicines
Characterises the distinctive methoxyflavone profile of black ginger and summarises in vitro findings.
- 2019Database
Acerola (west indian cherry), raw
USDA — FoodData Central
Nutrient composition data for raw acerola fruit.
- 2018Review
Cynomorium songaricum: a review of phytochemistry and pharmacology
Zhang X et al. — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews flavonoids, polysaccharides and triterpenes reported in the fleshy stem.
- 2018Systematic Review
Adaptogens: a review of the concept and its evidentiary basis
Various — Pharmaceuticals
Traces the origin of the adaptogen concept and evaluates the strength of the supporting evidence.
- 2018Systematic Review
Asparagus racemosus: phytochemistry and traditional use
Various — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews shatavarin saponins and the classical Ayurvedic record.
- 2018Government Resource
Senna leaf: assessment report on Senna alexandrina
European Medicines Agency — EMA Herbal Monograph
A regulatory monograph covering sennosides, posology and short-term-use guidance.
- 2017Mechanistic Study
Butea superba: traditional Thai use and constituent profile
Various — Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Summarises flavonoid glycoside content and the Thai manuscript record.
- 2016Review
Myristica fragrans: phytochemistry and traditional use
Peer-reviewed literature synthesis — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews the essential oils, lignans and phenolic compounds of nutmeg seed.
- 2016Systematic Review
Cynomorium songaricum: a review of phytochemistry and traditional application
Various — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews polyphenol and triterpene content alongside the classical Chinese and Arabic record.
- 2016Review
Phytochemistry and traditional application of Butea superba
Manosroi A et al. — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Summarises flavonoid and phytosterol constituents and Thai traditional use.
- 2016Monograph
Chlorophytum borivilianum monograph
Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India — Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
Official Ayurvedic monograph for Safed Musli root.
- 2016Monograph
Asparagus racemosus monograph
Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India — Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
Official Ayurvedic monograph for Shatavari root.
- 2016Monograph
Bacopa monnieri monograph
Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India — Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
Official Ayurvedic monograph for Brahmi.
- 2015Review
Chlorophytum borivilianum: phytochemistry and saponin profile
Kumar S et al. — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Reviews steroidal saponins and polysaccharides of Safed Musli root.
- 2014Systematic review
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on Bacopa monnieri
Kongkeaw C et al. — Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Systematic review and meta-analysis of human randomised trials of Bacopa monnieri.
- 2012Review
Ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Gonzales GF — Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Reviews the Andean traditional use, cultivation and phytochemistry of maca.
- 2009Review
Ginsenosides: chemistry, biosynthesis, analysis, and potential health effects
Christensen LP — Advances in Food and Nutrition Research
Comprehensive review of ginsenoside chemistry and the research literature on Panax ginseng.
- 2008Review
The acerola fruit: composition, productive characteristics and economic importance
Mezadri T et al. — Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety
Reviews the vitamin C and polyphenol composition of Malpighia emarginata.
- 2007Review
Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects
Srinivasan K — Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Reviews piperine chemistry and its studied influence on nutrient absorption.
- 2004Government Resource
Eleutherococcus senticosus monograph
World Health Organization — WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
A monograph covering traditional use, constituents and safety considerations.
- 2003Review
Asparagus racemosus — an update
Goyal RK et al. — Indian Journal of Medical Sciences
Reviews the phytochemistry and traditional Rasayana application of Shatavari.
- 1999Monograph
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants — Radix Ginseng
World Health Organization — WHO Monographs
Official monograph covering identity, constituents and traditional use of Panax ginseng root.
- —Traditional Text
Charaka Samhita
Attributed to Charaka — Classical Sanskrit text
A foundational Ayurvedic compendium describing hundreds of plant preparations.
Sources are selected for methodological quality rather than convenience, and we cite work that complicates our formulations as readily as work that supports them.
How we read the evidence