This page explains how the articles and tools on this site are written, so that you can judge them.
The classical texts
Ayurvedic writing rests on a small group of Sanskrit works. The ones we rely on most are:
- the Charaka Samhita, the main text on internal medicine, attributed to Charaka and revised by later editors,
- the Sushruta Samhita, the main text on surgery, attributed to Sushruta,
- the Ashtanga Hridayam by Vagbhata, a verse summary of the whole of Ayurveda, usually dated to about the seventh century CE,
- later works on medicinal substances, such as the Bhavaprakasha and the Dhanvantari Nighantu, for the properties of herbs and foods.
Scholars disagree about the dates and authorship of the older works, and we say so rather than choose one date as settled. Where we quote or paraphrase, we name the text and, where practical, the chapter. We use published translations and name them. We are not a substitute for the original texts, and where translators differ on a key term, we say that too.
How claims are written
Every statement about what Ayurveda says is attributed to the tradition. Every statement about what modern research shows is attributed to the research, with the kind of study stated. We keep the two apart on purpose. A herb being described in an old text is a historical fact. Whether it helps with anything is a separate question, and we answer it only from reliable studies, such as systematic reviews and regulatory assessments, never from marketing material or from a single small study.
We do not make cure claims. We do not say that any herb, food, oil or practice treats, cures, prevents or detoxifies a disease. We give no doses for health purposes, and every herb guide carries a safety box covering medicine interactions, pregnancy and breastfeeding, children, and conditions where it should be avoided.
Tools
A tool states its inputs, shows its working and says which text or convention it follows. It runs in your browser. Where a tool sorts someone into a category, such as a dosha type, it says plainly that this is a simplified questionnaire and not an assessment by a practitioner.
Corrections
If you find a mistake, a missing caution or something that could mislead, please tell us through the contact page or at [email protected]. We check each report against the sources, correct the page, and note the change at the bottom of the page with its date. Safety corrections are made first. We do not quietly rewrite a page to hide an earlier mistake.
Independence
We do not sell herbs, supplements, oils or treatments, we do not take payment to feature a product or a clinic, and we do not run advertising. If that ever changes, this page will say so.
Medical disclaimer
All of this is education. It is not medical advice. Please read the medical disclaimer.