Our sources
Follow the claim.
Keep the uncertainty.
SO·DYK is an independent educational reference created by Karlon Cromwell. His background is in the health food store industry. The site is not a medical practice and does not claim independent clinical review of its entire library.
Three kinds of material
- Reference sources
- Entries link to background sources used in compiling them. A citation does not necessarily support every sentence on a page. Open the source and compare the preparation, population, and outcome with the claim.
- Source-checked collection notes
- The five evidence cards published on September 14, 2026 were checked against their linked NCCIH references. The label-reading collection links to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. A source check is an editorial step, not a medical review or personalized recommendation.
- Related literature
- Some entry pages have papers imported by topic and publication date. These are collapsed under “not reviewed for these claims.” They can include plant or laboratory studies. They are a discovery list, not proof that an herb works in people.
How to read an evidence claim
Ask what was studied, which preparation was used, who or what was studied, and which outcome was measured. A plant experiment, a traditional use, and a clinical trial answer different questions. Keep limitations and contrary findings alongside the result.
For example, NCCIH distinguishes peppermint leaf from peppermint oil; an outcome for a specific oil capsule does not establish the same outcome for tea.
What is still being improved
The older reference library is being checked for claim-to-source alignment and outdated links. It has not all undergone the same source check as the launch collection notes. Dates on collections show when those materials were published; they are not a claim that every linked study is new.
Corrections and questions
Send the page link, the claim, and a source explaining the concern to hi@sodyk.com. Please do not send personal medical records. We can correct the reference; a qualified provider should answer questions about your own treatment.