Herbal medicines accounted for £38 million of sales, representing 53 percent of the market, by far the largest share. It is calculated that sales of the complementary medicines referred to in this survey have grown by 36 percent since 1991. Mintel predicts that they will be worth £104 million by the year 2001. [As of 1/13/98 the exchange rate was $1.6215 US = £1 sterling.]
[The European Journal of Herbal Medicine 3(2). Fall 1997.]
Top Selling Herb Supplements in Mass Market - 1997 Total Sales
12-Week Period 52-Week Period U.S. Dollars
Ending 12/28/97 Ending 12/28/97 Total Herbal Supplements
$141,227,680
$441,502,560 Ginkgo
29,425,772
90,197,288 Ginseng
20,057,994
86,048,080 Garlic
17,870,164
71,474,288 Echinacea/Goldenseal
19,114,476
49,189,576 St. John's Wort(*)
28,081,530
47,774,792 Saw Palmetto
5,789,359
18,381,592 Grapeseed
2,479,788
9,965,772 Evening Primrose
1,789,713
7,299,353 Cranberry
1,739,309
6,182,210 Valerian
1,763,096
6,104,450 Bilberry
1,296,568
4,555,723 Milk Thistle
923,081
3,037,672 Kava Kava
933,182
2,950,132
(*) Reflects sales of echinacea and goldenseal as individual products as well as the combination.
(**) St. John's wort sales reflect the May 5 Newsweek article and June 27 ABC "20-20" program which featured the herb as a treatment for depression.
Source: IRI Scanner Data, FDM (Food, Drug, Mass Market combined), Total U.S., 52 weeks and 12 weeks ending 12/28/97.
Article copyright American Botanical Council.
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By Barbara Johnston