Herbal Supplements

Guest article

Regulations, reorganization, and the road ahead for dietary supplements and natural products

12-Dec-2023 By Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

As 2023 comes to a close, so too does another year of progress and innovation in the dietary supplement and natural product industries that the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) proudly serves. The growth of newer product categories – such as...

Study: 66% of women seeking infertility treatment use herbal supplements

17-Apr-2023

The majority of reproductive-aged women at an academic infertility practice had used supplements in the past, and over half were currently using supplements or herbal medicines, says a new study.

AHPA requests removal of US tariffs on Chinese herbs

27-Jan-2023 By Asia Sherman

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is asking that the US remove retaliatory tariffs on imported Chinese products used in the herbal and dietary supplements industries.

Guest Article: AHPA reflects on 40-year history of defending herb safety as part of continued commitment to move industry forward

13-Dec-2022 By Michael McGuffin, President, AHPA

For the last 40 years, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has defended the safety of herbs and herbal ingredients and worked to ensure that herbal products remain accessible to our families, friends, and neighbors. As the industry has grown—through...

AHPA’s McGuffin on supply chain, MPL, climate change, and more

22-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supply chain issues appear to be easing for the herbal supplements sector, says Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, but the key lesson from the past couple of years is that supply chain management is not simple.

Study adds credibility of antiviral effects of echinacea extract in relation to Covid-19

19-Aug-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

A standardised extract of Echinacea purpurea is an efficient and cost-effective antiviral counter measure to vaccination in the prevention of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and for reducing concomitant viral loads, say scientists.

U of Guelph clears Newmaster of misconduct, journal investigation of controversial paper continues

09-Jun-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Dr Steven Newmaster, a botanist at the University of Guelph (UG) in Canada, has been cleared of misconduct by a university investigation committee despite “many shortcomings” with his work and “a pattern of poor judgement”.

In memory of Ben Zaricor, 1947-2022

Fmali v Heckler: The landmark herb case that changed the industry

02-Mar-2022 By Stephen Daniells

It started with ten-speed bicycles and ended with an Appeals Court decision in 1983 that changed the herb industry and knocked FDA down a peg. Four decades later, it’s time to shine the spotlight on this game-changing court case.

BMC journal launches investigation of 2013 Newmaster paper that sparked NY AG affair

04-Feb-2022 By Stephen Daniells

An explosive article published in Science alleges fraud against Dr Steven Newmaster, a botanist at the University of Guelph in Canada, and again calls into question the 2013 paper on which the damaging NY Attorney General’s investigation of herbal supplements...

Bacopa extract may boost sleep, cognitive & mood measures in kids: Study

26-Jan-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of a specific Bacopa monnieri extract may improve measures of cognitive flexibility and executive functioning in children aged 6 to 14 years, says a new study from Australia.

Elderberry supplement sales skyrocketed to $320 million in 2020: ABC report

15-Sep-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Sales of herbal supplements in the US grew by a record-breaking 17.3% in 2020, with elderberry supplements surging to almost $320 million in the combined mainstream and natural channels.

TOMORROW: Ashwagandha: Ayurveda’s flagship herb goes mainstream

29-Mar-2021 By Stephen Daniells

There is still time to register for tomorrow’s FREE webinar exploring the science, supply and market opportunities for ashwagandha.

Study finds metabolic benefits of multiple supplement use persist into older age

05-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new study has found that consistent use of multiple dietary supplements is associated with better health that persists into older age. The association doesn’t prove a causal link, the authors acknowledge, but is good news for healthy aging strategies...

Emblossom Herbal Business Conference to support emerging botanical brands

05-Feb-2021 By Stephen Daniells

New herbal business conference aims to support emerging botanical brands by providing a venue to learn about formulation, GMPs, sustainable sourcing, claim substantiation, federal regulation enforcement, choosing a contract lab, and more.

USP to hold forums on elderberry standards, pyrrolizidine alkaloids

21-Jan-2021 By Stephen Daniells

USP will virtually host two open forums over the next eight days, one covering possible addition standards for elderberry – one of the hottest and most in-demand ingredients of 2020 – and another covering pyrrolizidine alkaloids – toxic compounds that...

Asian herb shows mood and memory benefits for older adults: RCT

14-Dec-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with an extract of Persicaria minor may improve visual memory and negative mood in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, says a study from Malaysia.

Herbalist & Alchemist CEO: ‘We’ve seen an upsurge in adaptogens and stress support products’

27-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

It’s not just immune support products that are selling well for dietary supplement firms, with consumers also seeking our adaptogens and products to help manage the stress of living through a pandemic, says the CEO of Herbalist & Alchemist.

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

ABC/ BAPP: ‘We are deeply concerned about the integrity of the botanical supply chains’

08-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As disruptions due to the novel Coronavirus ripple through global supply chains, plus FDA’s announcement that it is reducing inspections, the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) is urging buyers to be “more vigilant than ever”.

Echinacea extract shows mild anti-anxiety effects in RCT

03-Jan-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A commercial Echinacea angustifolia root extract may help decrease anxiety in adults, suggests a new gold standard double‐blind, placebo-controlled trial.

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.

ALANUR survey highlights dietary supplement use in Chile and Peru

31-Oct-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Almost 50% of urban Chileans used supplements during the previous three months, while the numbers are not far behind for Peruvians in three of the main urban centers at 42%, according to surveys from ALANUR.

2018 HerbalGram Herb Market Report

CBD supplement sales rocket to take top spot in the US natural channel

23-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

With 332% growth year-on-year and $52 million in sales, cannabidiol (CBD) has taken the top spot as the best-selling herbal supplement in the natural channel, according to the 2018 HerbalGram Herb Market Report by the American Botanical Council.

Call for new category of herbal products likely to fall on deaf ears

29-Mar-2018 By Hank Schultz

Suppliers of herbal ingredients that are well characterized with reams of research continue to chafe about the strictures involved in communicating the benefits of these ingredients in the US market. Word on the street is, that situation is unlikely...

Supplement sales continue to rise: SPINS data

17-Dec-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Sales of dietary supplements and herbal supplements are up about 4% and 17%, respectively, for 2015 compared to 2014, according to new data from SPINS provided to NutraIngredients-USA.

Wildcrafters could become their own endangered species, experts say

10-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

Wildcrafting as an herbal raw material sourcing method deals from time to time in species that are, or could be, endangered.  But it is the wildcrafters themselves who might be endangered, experts familiar with the practice say.

Herbal supplement sales to hit $93.15 billion by 2015: Report

13-Jan-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The global herbal supplements and remedies market is to hit almost $100 billion by 2015, as GMPs and innovations bolster consumer confidence, says a new report.

Mainstream herbal sales soar, says report

11-May-2010 By Lorraine Heller

US sales of herbal supplements in mainstream market channels last year saw the largest growth levels in recent memory, according to a new report from The American Botanical Council (ABC).

Industry defends CAMs against “biased, poorly written” study

02-Feb-2010 By Shane Starling

Industry has slammed a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that highlighted dangers of cardiovascular disease patients using herbal products and called for drug-like laws to apply to the herbal sector.

Cranberry and flax lead herbal supplement sales: Report

19-Jun-2009 By Lorraine Heller

Data pooled from a number of market research sources indicates that sales of botanical and herbal dietary supplements have risen slowly but surely over the past year, with top selling products including cranberry and flaxeed.

ABC sees herbs' progress in 2008 and 2009 to date

19-May-2009 By Jess Halliday

The American Botanical Council is optimistic about herbs’ potential to withstand recession pressures – and some ingredient and finished product suppliers are reporting a record Q1.