Every claim on this site is filtered through the same rubric. This page is the rubric — written down, signed by both editors, updated quarterly, and open to challenge. If something feels wrong on a guide page, it should be checkable against the rules below.
§ 01
Editorial principles.
Six rules that shape every page. They predate the rubric. They are the reason the rubric exists at all.
01
Independence first.
We earn no affiliate revenue, accept no brand sponsorship, and refuse PR samples.
02
Evidence, then experience.
If an RCT contradicts what we see in clinic, we say both. The trial is the headline.
03
Specificity over hedging.
If a product works, we say so. If it doesn't, we say so. No 'may help' wallpaper.
04
Update or retire.
Every guide is reviewed at least every 12 months. If it can't be updated, it is retired.
05
Make the boring honourable.
We do not chase novelty. We chase the molecule that holds up across replications.
06
Two reviewers minimum.
Dr. Paul leads research; Dr. Sundeep leads medical review. Both sign every guide.
§ 02
The four-tier rubric.
Tiers A–D apply to ingredients, products, and supplements alike. The criteria differ slightly by category (below). The badge stays the same so you can read it at a glance across the site.
Tier
Evidence threshold
Consensus
What we say
Tier A
≥ 2 RCTs, n > 50, vehicle-controlled, replicated end-points
International guideline body lists as standard of care
Recommended without qualification
Tier B
1 RCT or strong observational data; mechanism well-established
Mainstream practitioner adoption
Recommended for the right person, with caveats
Tier C
Mixed or modest data; small studies; preliminary signals
Some practitioner support, no consensus
Optional; try if low-cost and low-risk
Tier D
No human evidence, contradicted by trials, or marketing-only claims
Marketing exceeds science
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§ 03
Adjustments for products.
A product Tier reflects the formulation as a whole — not just the active. We assess: in-spec dose of the active, vehicle quality (penetration / stability), realistic price-per-use, and complete ingredient list (we down-grade for known sensitisers in unnecessary positions).
✓Active concentration verified
✓Vehicle pH where relevant
✓Compatibility with claimed routine
✓No known issue ingredients without reason
§ 04
Adjustments for supplements.
Supplement tiers weight bioavailability, third-party testing, and human (not in-vitro) outcomes more heavily. Anything Rx-only carries a parallel safety review by Dr. Sundeep before publication.
✓Human RCTs, not in-vitro
✓Standardised extract documented
✓Realistic real-world dose
✓Drug-interaction and pregnancy review
§ 05
Conflicts of interest.
We declare every relationship our editors have with the industry. Both editors clinical-practice; that practice is disclosed. Any product, brand, or molecule discussed on this site that touches an editor's practice is reviewed by the other editor only.
What we accept
✓Reader donations (rare, capped, listed)
✓Publication revenue (book, course)
✓Honoraria for academic teaching (declared)
What we never accept
✕Affiliate links of any kind
✕Brand sponsorship or display ads
✕PR product samples
✕Paid placement in Trend Watch or guides
§ 06
Review cadence.
WEEKLY
Trend Watch
Eight new claims graded each Monday.
MONTHLY
Sources sweep
Every guide checked against new publications in the last 30 days.
QUARTERLY
Tier audit
Reassign any guide where new evidence has shifted the tier.
ANNUAL
Full editorial review
Every guide read end-to-end by the second editor; retired if not defensible.
§ 07
Corrections policy.
If something on the site is wrong, we want to know. Substantive errors are corrected within seven days, with a dated note at the foot of the page describing what changed and why. We do not silently edit. The corrections log is public.
The site costs roughly ₹ 18,000 a month to run (hosting, citation tools, a research assistant). It is funded by reader donations and the editors' clinical practice. The complete annual budget is published every January.
Reader donations
62%
1,840 donors · capped at ₹ 5,000
Editor practice
31%
Subsidised by clinical income
Speaking / books
7%
Non-recurring, declared
Paul
Dr. Paul · Research Lead
Sundeep
Dr. Sundeep · Medical Review Lead
Dossier last updated 2 April 2026. Signed by both editors. Public PDF on file.
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