Last verified: April 2026

Sources and References

आधार — Adhara — the foundation; that upon which everything rests

Every factual claim on Ayurveda Codex traces to a primary classical text, API monograph, WHO publication, or peer-reviewed research with DOI. This page documents all source tiers, editions used, and key research citations. Sources are chosen for permanence — classical texts, government publications, and DOI-identified research will remain verifiable long after any URL changes.

Source philosophy

Every factual claim on this site traces to one of the four permanent source tiers below. Sources that may disappear (wellness blogs, commercial websites, Wikipedia) are never cited. Classical text references are given as chapter and verse — the text itself is the permanent record, not any URL. Research citations include DOI identifiers — permanently resolvable even when journal URLs change.

Tier 1 — Classical texts (permanent)

The primary sources for all classical documentation on this site. No URLs required — these texts are the permanent record. Cited by Sthana (section) and Adhyaya (chapter).

Brihat Trayee — The Three Major Classical Texts

Charaka Samhita

Primary edition used: P.V. Sharma (Ed.). Charaka Samhita. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, Varanasi. (Critical edition with Chakrapanidatta commentary, multiple volumes).

English reference: R.K. Sharma and Bhagwan Dash. Charaka Samhita. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series, Varanasi. Vols 1–7.

Sections referenced: Sutrasthana, Nidanasthana, Vimanasthana, Sharirasthana, Indriyasthana, Chikitsasthana, Kalpasthana, Siddhisthana.

Sushruta Samhita

Primary edition: Jadavji Trikamji Acharya and Narayan Ram Acharya (Eds.). Sushruta Samhita with Dalhana commentary. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi.

Sections referenced: Sutrasthana, Nidanasthana, Sharirasthana (including Marma), Chikitsasthana, Kalpasthana, Uttarasthana.

Ashtanga Hridayam

Primary edition: Krishnadasa Sanskrit Series edition with Arundatta (Sarvangasundara) and Hemadri (Ayurvedarasayana) commentaries. Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi.

Sections referenced: Sutrasthana, Nidanasthana, Sharirasthana, Chikitsasthana, Kalpasthana, Uttarasthana.

Laghu Trayee — Three Minor Classical Texts

Sharangadhara Samhita — Sharangadharacharya (approx. 13th–14th c.). With Dipika commentary by Adhamalla and Gudhartha Dipika by Kashirama. Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan.

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Bhavamishra (approx. 16th c.). With commentary by Dr. K.M. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey. Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, Varanasi. (Standard teaching edition for all Bhavaprakasha citations on this site.)

Madhava Nidana — Madhavakara (approx. 9th c.). With Madhukosa commentary. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan.

Rasa Shastra texts

Rasa Ratna Samucchaya — Vagbhatacharya (distinct from Vagbhata of Ashtanga Hridayam). Krishnadas Sanskrit Series, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan.

Rasa Tarangini — Sadananda Sharma. Standard modern Rasa Shastra textbook in Indian Ayurvedic colleges. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Tier 2 — Government publications (permanent)

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The official quality standards document for all Ayurvedic single drugs and compound formulations. Available at: apiindia.org and ayush.gov.in

Part I (Single drugs): Volumes I–VII. Part II (Compound formulations): Volumes I–IV. All API citations on this site are given as: API Part I/II, Volume number, Monograph/Formulation name, page number.

WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

World Health Organization. Volumes 1–4. Available at: who.int. Cited as: WHO Monographs, Vol [number] ([year]), [plant name], p.[page].

Covers: Vol 1 (1999): Aloe vera gel, Garlic, Ginger, Valerian, 28 others. Vol 2 (2002): Andrographis, Ashwagandha, Bacopa, 29 others. Vol 3 (2007): 32 plants. Vol 4 (2009): 32 plants.

Tier 3 — Peer-reviewed research (DOI-cited)

All research citations include DOI identifiers — permanently resolvable independent of journal website changes. Journals prioritised: Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Phytotherapy Research, Phytomedicine, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Ayu (CCRAS journal).

Key research citations by herb

Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M (2011). An overview on ashwagandha: a rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 8(5S):208–213.PMID: 22754076WHO Monographs Vol 2 covers Withania somnifera.

Ambiye VR, Langade D, Dongre S, et al. (2013). Clinical evaluation of the spermatogenic activity of the root extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in oligospermic males. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.DOI: 10.1155/2013/571420PMID: 24371462

Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A, et al. (2004). Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 75(12):1672–1677.DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.028761PMID: 15489378Documents L-DOPA bioavailability from Mucuna pruriens seed powder.

Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD (1995). Salutary effect of Terminalia arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure. International Journal of Cardiology, 49(3):191–199.DOI: 10.1016/0167-5273(95)02308-XPMID: 7649665Primary clinical trial for Arjuna in cardiac conditions.

Stohs SJ, Preuss HG, Shara M (2016). A review of the human clinical studies involving Cissus quadrangularis extracts. Phytotherapy Research — [Note: Shilajit specific citation].Stohs SJ (2014). A review of the phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties of shilajit. Phytotherapy Research 28(4). DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5058

Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, et al. (2016). Clinical evaluation of purified shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia, 48(5):570–575.DOI: 10.1111/and.12482PMID: 26395129

Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, et al. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4):353–356.DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957450PMID: 9619120Documents 2000% increase in curcumin bioavailability with piperine.

Bano G, Raina RK, Zutshi U, et al. (1991). Effect of piperine on bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of propranolol and theophylline in healthy volunteers. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 41(6):615–617.DOI: 10.1007/BF00314987PMID: 1815978Primary piperine bioavailability enhancement documentation.

Datta K, Singh AT, Mukherjee A, et al. (2009). Eclipta alba extract with potential for hair growth promoting activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 124(3):450–456.DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.05.023PMID: 19481594Bhringaraj hair follicle anagen-phase research.

Uebaba K, Xu FH, Ogawa H, et al. (2008). Psychoneuroimmunologic effects of Ayurvedic oil-dripping treatment. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(10):1189–1198.DOI: 10.1089/acm.2008.0273PMID: 19055324Shirodhara cortisol and ANS documentation.

Sharma H, Chandola HM, Singh G, Basisht G (2007). Utilization of Ayurveda in health care: an approach for prevention, health promotion and treatment of disease. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(9):1011–1019.DOI: 10.1089/acm.2007.7017PMID: 18047450

What this site does not cite

Wikipedia, wellness blogs, supplement company websites, WebMD, Healthline, or any source without institutional authorship. If a claim cannot be traced to a classical text, API monograph, WHO publication, or peer-reviewed paper with DOI, it is not included.

Corrections and additions

Classical text citation disputes, correction requests, or addition suggestions: codex@thecodex.expert