About Us - Information Sourcing
Information Sourcing: The Root of Everything We Do
At Social Herbalists, we believe wellness starts with knowing better. In a world where anyone can share health advice online, we choose a different path — one grounded in evidence, context, and care.
Our content — whether it’s a blog, product description, or encyclopedia entry — isn’t just written to inform. It’s built to empower. And behind every sentence is a thorough, evolving process of high-quality research, traditional wisdom, and cross-referenced verification.
Why We Take Information So Seriously
The wellness space is noisy. From Instagram health trends to miracle cure claims, it can be hard to separate science from sales. That’s why we made a commitment from day one: if it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny, it doesn’t make it onto our site.
Whether you’re sipping a calming tea, browsing our herbal encyclopaedia, or reading up on adaptogens — you deserve clarity, not confusion. You deserve content you can trust.
What We Consider ‘Credible Information’
- Peer-reviewed academic studies from medical journals and scientific institutions.
- Authoritative organisations such as:
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- The NHS and MHRA (UK-based guidance)
- The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP)
- Evidence-based platforms like Examine.com and Cochrane Reviews.
- Cultural & traditional uses of herbs — including Ayurvedic, Western Herbal, and Traditional Chinese Medicine — clearly marked as traditional use, not modern clinical evidence.
- Emerging research, where it is supported by promising data (not just trends).
Our Internal Grading System
| Grade | Type of Source | Weight in Content |
|---|---|---|
| A | Peer-reviewed journals, meta-analyses, WHO, EMA | Very High |
| B | University-backed research, NHS, national health bodies | High |
| C | Practitioner handbooks, modern herbal texts, BHP | Moderate |
| D | Traditional knowledge, ethnobotanical uses, case studies | Contextual |
| F | Anecdotal evidence, unverified blogs, commercial claims | Not Used |
Behind the Scenes: Our Research Workflow
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Topic Discovery
We choose topics based on customer questions, seasonal relevance, keyword trends, and wellness priorities (e.g. stress, immunity, digestion, sleep). -
Academic Deep Dive
We use platforms like PubMed, Google Scholar, and national libraries to source clinical trials and monographs. We also cross-reference traditional uses via texts like the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. -
Source Verification
Every claim is checked across multiple references — we don’t rely on a single study or unverified blog. -
Writing & Simplifying
We explain things clearly in plain English — no jargon, no fluff. -
Internal Review
Content is checked for accuracy, consistency, tone, and updated when needed.
Case Study: How One Blog Came to Life
Our article on Chamomile wasn’t just whipped up in an afternoon. It involved:
- Referencing 3 peer-reviewed studies on chamomile and anxiety
- Cross-checking dosage info with WHO monographs
- Adding historical context from European herbal traditions
- Verifying side effects with NHS and EMA guidance
- Linking to similar herbs like lemon balm and lavender
Explore the Chamomile Database Entry →
Debunking the Wellness Myths
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"Detox teas flush toxins."
The truth: your liver and kidneys already do that. Some herbs support them, but none are magic bullets. -
"Natural = Safe."
Herbs are powerful — but dosage, quality, and timing matter. -
"If it’s traditional, it must work."
Traditional use is valuable but not a substitute for evidence. We always compare the two.
Tools & Resources We Use
- PubMed – for peer-reviewed study access
- WHO Monographs – global health reference
- Examine.com – plain-English summaries of supplement research
- Cochrane Reviews – gold standard in evidence synthesis
- The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia – clinical + traditional data
- National Library of Medicine – active compound data
We also maintain a private internal library of all sources used — ensuring consistency across everything we write.
Why This Matters to You
In a wellness world full of bold claims and quick fixes, we slow things down to bring you facts that hold up. When you read our content, you know:
- Where the info came from
- How strong the evidence is
- Whether it’s supported by science, tradition, or both
- How it applies to you
That’s our promise — not just clarity, but accountability.
Explore Our Work
Got Questions? We’ll Show You Our Sources.
Transparency isn’t a buzzword here — it’s how we work. If you’re ever curious about the evidence behind something we say, just ask. We’ll gladly share the links, the studies, and the thought process behind our words.
Because informed wellness isn’t just a philosophy — it’s the foundation of everything we do.