Two bottles sit side by side on a shelf. One says "used for centuries". The other says "backed by science". Which is better? They are telling you different things, and a trustworthy brand should say which is which. This is what the Farmicine evidence tiers do. Every claim we publish carries its tier and, alongside it, its clock. Here is how to read both.
Why grade evidence at all?
Because the word that gets a wellness company into trouble is almost never the plant; it is the verb. "Traditionally used to support digestion" and "lowers HbA1c by two points" are claims of very different strength, and Indian rules — FSSAI's nutraceutical regulations, the ASCI code — stop the second being said when only the first is true. Our doctrine: advocate widely and honestly, restrain the language to the evidence, withhold only for safety. A tier decides how specific we may be, never whether a good plant may be offered.
What are the five tiers, T1 to T5?
- T1 — Traditional and ethnobotanical use. A long, documented record of use in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani or folk practice. What we may say: "traditionally used to support…" — honest, non-specific, never a promise. Example: shankhpushpi for study and sleep.
- T2 — Nutritional rationale. The benefit follows from what the food contains. What we may say: "nourishes…", "helps maintain…", grounded in composition. Example: amla as a natural source of vitamin C; ragi and sesame for calcium.
- T3 — Mechanistic and phytochemical. Laboratory or animal work shows a plausible pathway. What we may say: the pathway, in plain language, stated as a mechanism rather than an outcome. Example: bacosides and acetylcholine signalling.
- T4 — Preliminary human studies. Small or single human trials and pilot studies. What we may say: "early human studies suggest…", with the limitation stated. Example: tart cherry and sleep duration in older adults.
- T5 — Human randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. Replicated, placebo-controlled trials in people, ideally pooled. What we may say: the most specific, study-backed benefit, with population, duration and size of effect stated honestly. Example: ashwagandha root and perceived stress over six to eight weeks; bacopa and recall at twelve weeks.
Note what T5 does not permit. It does not permit absolute words — the ones that suggest the matter is settled for everyone, for ever — because a meta-analysis of stressed adults over eight weeks says nothing about a different person over eight years. It permits us to say what was found, in whom, for how long, and what the limits were.
What are the A, B and C product grades?
Tiers grade a claim. Grades rate a product, combining human evidence with its safety record — a herb with a good trial and a bad interaction profile is not a good product.
- Grade A — strong, replicated human evidence and a clear safety profile within trial ranges: Steady, Bright, Clear, Recall, Even, Level and Cycle.
- Grade B — moderate-to-good human evidence with manageable, clearly stated cautions. Rise (rhodiola), Rest (magnesium, tart cherry, valerian) and Vigour.
- Grade C — preliminary or mixed human evidence, defensible only in selected cases, usually via a practitioner rather than the shelf.
Anything below C is kept off the shelf however well it sells elsewhere. Mucuna (its activity comes from L-DOPA, closer to a medicine than a wellness herb), ginkgo and B12 for people who are not deficient are in that category; they may appear in education, never in a cart.
Why does every claim also carry a clock?
Because the second commonest way to mislead is not the claim but the timeline. A person takes bacopa for ten days, feels nothing, and concludes that herbs do not work. So each Farmicine aid states its honest onset on the pack and the page — Clear within about an hour, Rest and Rise within one to four weeks, Steady and Bright over six to eight, Recall at twelve. The clock comes from the trials, not from marketing.
How do you read a Farmicine product page?
Every page follows the same anatomy.
- The permitted claim — one sentence, written to the tier. "Supports a calmer response to everyday stress", never a promise to remove it.
- The tier badge — T1 to T5, with the citation, year, population and main limitation when the tier is T4 or T5.
- The clock — honest onset, in hours or weeks.
- The grade — A, B or C, and whether the aid is an accelerator, brake or daily.
- The caution panel — who should not take it, which medicines interact, and the stop-and-see-a-doctor signs, published as prominently as benefits.
- The batch — what the extract is standardised to (for example 20 percent bacosides by HPLC) and the certificate of analysis for identity, heavy metals, microbes and pesticide residue, from Farmicine's facility near Solur.
- The standing disclaimer — these are food supplements under FSSAI regulations, not medicines; consult a qualified practitioner, especially if pregnant, lactating or on medicines.
Does a lower tier mean a worse plant?
No, and this matters to us. Triphala has millennia of use and little trial work; it is a T1 and T2 plant and an excellent one. A T1 label means "we will speak modestly about this", not "this is inferior". The only reason a plant is held back is safety. The product pages and the twelve root causes are built on this rule, and the AI Wellness Assistant speaks at the tier of the evidence it draws on.
When to see a doctor. An evidence tier tells you how confident we can be about a benefit; it says nothing about whether a supplement is right for you. See a doctor before starting any product, whatever its tier, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, have a condition under medical care, or take blood thinners, thyroid, diabetes, heart, sedative or mood medicines. And see one promptly for any symptom lasting beyond two weeks; a supplement is never a substitute for a consultation.
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between a tier and a grade?
A tier (T1 to T5) rates the evidence behind one claim. A grade (A, B or C) rates a whole product, combining the human evidence with its safety and interaction record.
Does T5 mean a supplement definitely works?
No. T5 means replicated human trials or a meta-analysis exist. We describe what they found, in whom and for how long, and we avoid absolute words altogether.
Why does Farmicine sell T1 plants at all?
Because traditional use is an honourable basis for offering a safe plant, as long as the language stays modest. We withhold a plant only for safety, never for lack of a trial.
What is the 'clock' on a product page?
The honest onset time from the trials — about an hour for Clear, up to twelve weeks for Recall. Understating onset is the commonest cause of disappointment, so we state it plainly.
This guide is wellness education, not medical advice, and does not replace a consultation with your doctor. Farmicine products are food supplements that support structure and function; they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
