Methodology · The Codex Scale
The Codex Scale.
One ten-point rubric, applied to every compound on the site. It reflects the strength and relevance of the evidence in humans — not how popular, promising, or widely sold something is. A compound can be everywhere and still grade poorly.
The Codex Scale · 1–10
Every one of 100 compounds graded the same way.
One ten-point scale, applied without exception — from 10 · Established down to 1 · Unsupported. Here's where the field actually sits today.
10Established
FDA-approved for this exact use, confirmed by large randomized trials and meta-analyses.
9Strong
Multiple large RCTs, widely replicated. Approved or in active phase-3.
8Good
RCTs with consistent results — some scale, duration, or population limits.
7Moderate
Multiple phase-2 trials, generally positive. Real human data, not yet definitive.
6Preliminary
Small or short RCTs — suggestive but not settled.
5Early
Pilot studies, open-label trials, or case series — early human signal only.
4Animal-leaning
Multiple animal models with some preliminary human signal.
3Animal only
Animal data only. May or may not translate to humans.
2Theoretical
Plausible mechanism, but no outcome data shows it does what is claimed.
1Unsupported
Marketing or anecdote only — nothing credible behind the claims.
- Strong evidence grades 8–10 Real human evidence — confidence ranges from "approved blockbuster" to "consistent phase-2 trials."
- Moderate evidence grades 5–7 Some human data, but limited in size, duration, or replication. Suggestive, not settled.
- Weak / none grades 1–4 No meaningful human evidence yet. Could be promising mechanism, animal-only, or pure marketing.
- Animal data is not human data. Most compounds that work in rats never pan out in people. We say so plainly — the 1–4 grades exist for exactly this reason.
- Mechanism is not proof. "It should work because of pathway X" is a hypothesis, not a result. That's a 2, not an 8.
- We flag who did the research. When most studies on a compound come from a single lab or are industry-funded, that matters and pulls the grade down.
- Legal ≠ effective ≠ safe. Whether something is approved, whether it works, and whether it's safe are three different questions. We keep them separate.
- Grades update. When a new phase-3 trial reads out or a major safety signal lands, we re-grade and note it in the changelog.
Educational content, not medical advice — a grade is never a recommendation to use a substance.