October 27, 1998 – According to the American firm Information Resources Inc., the total value of herbal products reached $ 587.3 million in the 52 weeks ending May 17, 1998, compared to $ 292.1 million for the corresponding period ended May 18, 1997.
Ginkgo biloba and St. John’s Wort products were the big stars of the year, both exceeding $ 100 million in revenues, as shown in the following table.
|
|
52 weeks ended May 18, 1997 |
52 weeks ended May 17, 1998 |
|
Total sales value |
$ 292,192,768 |
$ 587,336,112 |
|
Echinacea / Goldenseal |
$ 32,508,184 |
$ 63,553,612 |
|
Garlic |
$ 65,550,763 |
$ 81,090,618 |
|
ginkgo biloba |
$ 52,056,152 |
$ 126,230,314 |
|
Ginseng |
$ 76,485,744 |
$ 96,219,614 |
|
Pycnogenol / grape seeds |
$ 7,393,439 |
$ 11,074,712 |
|
St. John’s Wort |
$ 1,019,662 |
$ 102,939,518 |
|
Other plants |
$ 57,148,820 |
$ 106,139,614 |
The explosion in sales of St. John’s Wort, which have multiplied by 100 in one year, can be explained by the publication of hundreds of articles in major daily newspapers and major American magazines on the virtues of this plant as a mild antidepressant.
The significant growth in sales of ginkgo biloba is probably explained for the same reasons, except that the virtues of ginkgo relate to improving memory performance and improving concentration, particularly in people with dementia. Alzeihmer’s disease or senile dementia.
HealthPassport.net
Source of figures: Nature’s Resource, from Information Resources Inc., Scanner Data, FDM (Food, Drug, Mass Market combined), Total US, 52 weeks ending May 18, 1997 and May 17, 1998.
From Herbal Gram, no 43, Summer 1998
