Herbal Dietary Supplements

Study: 'Southern Ginseng' herb improves exercise performance

10-Nov-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Dried Jiaogulan extract supplementation, sometimes referred to as 'Southern Ginseng', improves exercise performance in healthy untrained males, a new study has concluded.

ABC’s Blumenthal on how HerbalGram 40 project will shape future & focus of the organization

07-Nov-2023 By Stephen Daniells

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the American Botanical Council, and the 40th year for the organization’s superb HerbalGram peer-review journal (that’s right, HerbalGram pre-dates ABC), and gives ABC the opportunity to take stock and think about...

ABC launches HerbalGram 40 Project and Fund as journal celebrates 40th anniversary

25-Sep-2023

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of HerbalGram, the American Botanical Council (ABC) is instituting a year-long project to enhance the organization’s unique, international, nonprofit research and educational mission, publications, and programs.

Fermedics: Enhancing botanical bioavailability with fermentation

25-Sep-2023 By Olivia Brown

The startup Fermedics has emphasised the potential “breakthrough opportunities” of targeted fermentation to improve the bioavailability and digestibility of botanicals, heightening the effectiveness of dietary supplements.

RCT: Botanical blend Rhuleave-K controls hormones which impact menstrual cramp pain

31-Jul-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A botanical formula of turmeric (Curcuma longa L) and frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has demonstrated abilities to control the hormones that both sense pain and contract the uterus, thereby helping to alleviate menstrual cramps.

Growing consumer pressures driving sustainability in the nutrition industry

26-Jun-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Consumer and legislative pressures, and scarcity of ingredients will be the three main drivers for nutraceutical companies to become more sustainable, according to Monique van der Vijve, innovation manager at Solidaridad, the global sustainability organisation....

Botanical supply experts call on industry to value the wildcrafters

25-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Future generations of wildcrafters will have to be convinced that they can make a reliable and dignified living foraging leaves, roots and flowers, or the herbal supplement industry must be ready to shoulder the costs.

Reaching the endgame: Korea Ginseng Corp views success in the US as final step of its globalisation strategy

08-May-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Korea Ginseng Corp has opened a new R&D centre in a major push to establish itself as the world’s biggest herbal health company, while strategies such as diversification of product categories and formats are in motion to fuel its bold ambitions.

ABC awards botanical excellence at 18th annual celebration ceremony

24-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Christine Burdick-Bell, FairWild Foundation, and Sabinsa were among the recipients at this year’s ABC Botanical Excellence Awards.

ABC in 2023: Support for ‘Burn it, don’t return it’ SOP, 40 years of HerbalGram, (& HerbTV)

23-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

It’s a year of milestones for the American Botanical Council, with the non-profit celebrating its 35th year, the 40th year for HerbalGram, wider acceptance of the ‘historic’ BAPP SOP, and new initiatives like (shhhhh, it’s a secret) HerbTV.

Oxford ICSB: ‘You always learn something from this meeting’

06-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

From authentication and identification of botanicals to approached to establishing safety and efficacy, the 21st International Conference on the Science of Botanicals (ICSB) provides stakeholders in the botanicals space a unique opportunity to learn and...

Dr Joe Betz Joins ABC Board of Trustees

02-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Joe Betz, PhD, an internationally respected pharmacognosist and former FDA and NIH official, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Botanical Council (ABC).

Herbalist & Alchemist expands extraction capacity with new facility

08-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

Herbalist & Alchemist has moved to a larger facility, increasing manufacturing capacity to meet the demand for the company’s liquid and solid botanical extracts.

ABC names Josef Brinckmann as President of its Board of Trustees

17-Jan-2023

The American Botanical Council (ABC) has announced that medicinal plant expert Josef Brinckmann has been elected president of the organization’s Board of Trustees.

Ashwagandha and apple cider vinegar sales surge as consumer spending on herbal supplements continues: ABC report

18-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

US sales of herbal dietary ingredients grew by almost 10% in 2021 as the category exceeded $12.3 billion, according to the 2021 Herb Market Report from the American Botanical Council.

‘Historic’: Adulterants Prevention Program releases ‘Burn it, don’t return it’ SOP

20-Oct-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) has released its long-awaited Best Practices Standardized Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Disposal / Destruction of Irreparably Defective Articles (IDAs).

Supplement brand Herbalist & Alchemist celebrates 40 years in business as it plans move to new facility

16-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

Herbalist & Alchemist, a manufacturer of liquid dietary supplements, celebrated its 40th anniversary last week.

Verdure CEO on 25 years of scientific success, stewardship, and the opportunity to formulate with Indian botanicals

27-May-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Twenty-five years is a long time in business. The relationships and commitments to people and communities forged over that time by Indiana-based Verdure Sciences have helped the company weather the challenges and disruptions of the past couple of years,...

Ethnobotanical survey points to fragility of traditional medicine knowledge

28-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

A recent survey sheds light on the trove of ethnobotanical information held as a cultural asset by an indigenous people in a remote part of India. Experts say that such traditional knowledge is in danger of being extirpated as world urbanizes and industrializes...

Rising research pace, secure supply broadens ashwagandha's playing field in stress management

17-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

Ashwagandha is cementing its place in the stress management sphere with booming sales and developing science, observers say. It’s one of a trio of adaptogenic herbs that have come to dominate the current marketplace, said an herbal expert.

Arizona naturopathic college’s new facility helping to create better botanical extracts

11-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

A substantial gift has helped a prominent naturopathic college in Arizona become a botanical research partner that can help companies produce products verified for their biological activity, school officials say.

PLT says third-party audit verifies sustainability of its Boswellia sources

28-Feb-2022 By Hank Schultz

A third-party audit commissioned by PLT Health Solutions has verified the sustainability of the company’s Boswellia serrata sources within India, the company claims. The popularity of the botanical combined with its slow growth has raised supply concerns...

Review of devil’s claw data reveals history of use, multiple benefits for under appreciated botanical

29-Jul-2021 By Hank Schultz

The author of a new review of data supporting the benefits of devil’s claw supplements said its high time the botanical had a more prominent place in the US market.

ABC announces search for day-to-day replacement for founder Blumenthal

22-Apr-2021 By Hank Schultz

The American Botanical Council says it’s planning for the future in seeking a new day-to-day chief executive as founder Mark Blumenthal shifts to a more advisory role.

Ancient Nutrition commits to becoming carbon negative

21-Apr-2021 By Hank Schultz

Superfoods supplement purveyor Ancient Nutrition has launched a plan to make the brand carbon negative by 2024 by planting a million trees and pursuing other regenerative practices on land the company owns in Missouri and Tennessee.

New herbal joint health blend debuts promising functional benefits

15-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new herbal formula for joint health has debuted on the market to compete with old category standbys glucosamine and chondroitin. The Indian/American company behind it says its vegan positioning and clinical backing sets it apart.

Rhodiola supply: Experts call for control of international wild supply, recommend more cultivation

21-Jan-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Increasing demand for Rhodiola rosea L. – which is primarily from wild sources – is straining the global supply, and controls need to be introduced to monitor the trade of wild R. rosea, according to a new review.

Botanical sourcing and sustainability priorities for 2021

16-Dec-2020 By By Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

Each New Year presents an opportunity to take stock of where we are and to reevaluate our priorities for the near- and long-term future. We each make our resolutions and then motivate ourselves to meet our goals, whether modest or lofty. With 2021 upon...

Shared values paved way for Gaia—Salus partnership

30-Oct-2020 By Hank Schultz

A recognition of shared values lead Gaia Herbs to team up with German firm Salus Haus to do something it hadn’t done before — enter into a distribution agreement.

Herbal supplements had another stellar year in 2019 with 8.6% sales growth, ABC report says

02-Sep-2020 By Hank Schultz

Herbal supplements continued the strong growth they have enjoyed for over the past decade by notching an 8.6% sales gain in 2019, according to the American Botanical Council.

TODAY: Webinar to delve into the frenzy surrounding immune health ingredients

22-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

Consumers' interest in immune-boosting products remains at an all time high, and manufacturers are rushing to market with products to fill that need, including many botanical formulas.

AHPA’s McGuffin: ‘When Americans believe their health is at risk, they turn to natural products’

21-May-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Speaking via video, Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), discussed a range of issues, from new supplement users sticking with the products, voicing support for recent FDA/FTC actions against egregious drug claims,...

Herbal ingredient supplier benefits from incontinence product supply problems

07-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

The unpredictable spikes in demand that are distorting the supply chain in the current crisis has created another opportunity, in this case for herbal ingredients that help adults deal with urinary incontinence issues.

NutraCast Podcast: Nina Mullen on Hilma's 'clinical herbal' category

13-Mar-2020 By Danielle Masterson

After looking in her medicine cabinet and finding that the natural options weren’t backed by science and science-backed products weren’t clean label, Nina Mullen and her two co-founders, Hilary Quartner and Lily Galef, came up with the brand Hilma.

Guest article

CBD, climate crisis, sustainability: ABC takes a look at 2019 and beyond

20-Dec-2019 By Stefan Gafner and Mark Blumenthal, American Botanical Council

The news about CBD and hemp extracts dominated 2019, says the American Botanical Council. But issues surrounding the ongoing climate crisis, questions of sustainability, and the ongoing questions of adulteration were important topics as well.

BAPP bulletin cites significant oregano adulteration

30-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

Oregano in the spice, supplement and fragrances trades is significantly adulterated with ‘filler’ materials, according to a new BAPP bulletin.

News in brief

Oxford Botanical conference calls for abstracts, opens for registration

29-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The 20th annual Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals is now accepting abstract submissions. The event is held March 30th - April 2nd, 2020 in Oxford, Mississippi.

Tariffs starting to inflict real pain, trade association exec says

24-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

A vast and growing majority of American companies doing business in China have been negatively affected by the US-China trade war, an expert on the matter said at a recent meeting.

Gencor’s new prostate health ingredient: ‘There hasn’t been much innovation in this category until now’

24-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Gencor is aiming to shake up the prostate health category with its Ageratum conyzoides extract. The category, which has not been the focus of much innovation for years, is dominated by saw palmetto.

News in brief

Sustainable Herbs Program forms advisory group

22-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

The Sustainable Herbs Program has announced the formation of its initial Advisory Board, which includes 16 experts from the fields of herbal product formulation and research.

Elderberry sales grow as demand increases for superfruits and functional ingredients

02-Oct-2019 By Danielle Masterson

With the flu making its rounds, consumers are stocking up on different supplements to keep seasonal illnesses at bay.

Editor's Spotlight

Torii Labs co-founder bets on the liquid shot format as the future of herbal supplements

21-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

Shots are the future of botanical supplements, says entrepreneur Giles Hayward, whose company Torii Labs was selected by PepsiCo as one of the first members of its new Nutrition Greenhouse incubator.

Herbal supplement specialist Organic India first in the industry to get certified by Fairtrade America

16-Aug-2018 By Adi Menayang

Herbal supplement specialist Organic India will debut a new fair trade seal on its supplements at the upcoming Expo East. Certifying organization Fairtrade America says it’s the first supplement line to get this certification.

Paper on history of herbal fertility aids points to need for further research, expert says

24-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

A new study looks at historical herbal fertility treatments used in North America as a way to shed light on what might be worth further research today, as well as elucidate what herbs women are already using behind the scenes.

Gaia Herbs expands operations in North Carolina

23-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

Category leader Gaia Herbs will invest more than $12 million in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel by 2021 as it expands its operations in North Carolina.

NUTRAINGREDIENTS-USA AWARDS 2018: HIGHLIGHT

MEET THE WINNERS: Products of the Year

20-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

We wrapped up the inaugural NutraIngredients-USA Awards on Monday, where three finished product companies won awards for best probiotic, omega-3, and botanical supplement.

What’s in my product? Supplement brands, suppliers get creative as they vie for consumer trust

18-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

From profiling their ingredient suppliers to setting up codes consumers can look up, supplement brands are using transparency to win over consumer trust.

Allowing matter to lapse dooms patent suit filed over feverfew formulation

23-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

The maker of a dietary supplement focused on migraine relief has prevailed in a patent suit based on a legal doctrine relating to how long a case remains quiescent.

Arjuna launches ‘highly potent’ ashwaganda; clinical trials on ingredient ongoing

29-Mar-2018 By Adi Menayang

Indian ingredients company Arjuna launched a new ashwagandha extract product called Shoden for the US market this week.

The erosion of predictability: Climate change and the botanical supply chain

22-Mar-2018 By Stephen Daniells

From changes to the times when plants are flowering, fruiting, and harvested, to disruptions to nature’s synchronization between plants and their insect pollinators, climate change is exerting significant pressure on the botanical supply chain, and companies...