Our Evidence Standards
This page outlines the editorial methodology, disclosure policies, and limitations that govern all content published on CentreForMedicalHumanities.org. Readers are encouraged to review these standards to understand how our analysis is produced and funded.
Evidence-Grading Methodology
Every product review and research translation published on this site applies a structured assessment framework. This framework is not a proprietary scoring system — it is a set of editorial questions applied consistently across all content.
Study design assessment: We identify what type of evidence supports a claim. Human randomized controlled trials carry different weight than animal studies, in vitro research, or observational data. When a product cites research conducted on individual ingredients rather than the finished formulation, that distinction is noted explicitly.
Dosage and formulation relevance: Research conducted at clinical dosages may not apply to products using the same ingredient at substantially different amounts. When dosage discrepancies exist between cited studies and product formulations, they are flagged.
Publication quality: We assess whether cited studies appear in peer-reviewed journals, whether they have been replicated, and whether they disclose funding sources or conflicts of interest. Brand-funded research is identified when that information is available.
Claim-to-evidence alignment: The core editorial question is whether a product's marketing language accurately represents the available research. When claims exceed or misrepresent the supporting data, that gap is described in specific terms.
Regulatory context: Supplements sold in the United States are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This means they are not evaluated by the FDA for safety and efficacy before reaching the market — a framework fundamentally different from prescription drug approval. This regulatory context is noted in all supplement reviews.
What We Do Not Do
This publication does not conduct original research. We do not perform laboratory testing, clinical trials, or independent chemical analysis of products. Our editorial work is limited to reviewing, synthesizing, and contextualizing existing published evidence and publicly available information.
We do not provide medical advice. No article on this site should be interpreted as a recommendation to begin, discontinue, or modify any health intervention. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.
We are not a medical practice, healthcare provider, academic institution, research organization, or nonprofit entity. The editorial team does not include physicians or licensed healthcare providers.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some articles on CentreForMedicalHumanities.org contain affiliate links. When a reader clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, this publication may receive a commission from the retailer or brand. This commission comes at no additional cost to the reader.
How affiliate relationships are disclosed: Every article containing affiliate links includes an inline disclosure statement near the top of the content body and a reminder in the attribution block at the end of the article. The disclosure identifies the presence of affiliate links and explains the financial relationship in plain language.
How affiliate relationships affect editorial content: They do not. Products with affiliate partnerships receive the same evidence-grading analysis as products without them. The editorial team has assessed products favorably that have no affiliate relationship, and has published critical findings about products that do have affiliate partnerships. The financial model supports the publication's operations; it does not direct its conclusions.
Per FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255): The material connection between this publication and affiliate partners is disclosed clearly and conspicuously within the content where affiliate links appear, in proximity to those links. This publication takes its disclosure obligations seriously.
Corrections and Updates
If a factual error is identified in any published article, a correction is issued and noted within the article. If new evidence materially changes a prior assessment, the article is updated with the revised analysis and a note explaining the change.
Readers who identify potential errors are encouraged to reach out through the site's contact channels.
About This Domain
CentreForMedicalHumanities.org previously hosted an academic blog operated by Durham University's Centre for Medical Humanities (2010–2018). That project ended in 2018. The Centre has since been renamed the Institute for Medical Humanities and remains an active research institute at Durham University. This website has no affiliation with Durham University, the Institute for Medical Humanities, or any academic institution. The domain name reflects previous ownership and does not indicate institutional authority or academic endorsement.
CentreForMedicalHumanities.org is an independent publication. Not affiliated with Durham University, the Institute for Medical Humanities, or any academic or medical institution. Content is produced by the CMH Evidence Review editorial team. This site does not provide medical advice.