Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2002; 7: 412
Total retail sales for herbal dietary supplements in the USA fell about 21% during the year 2001 in food stores, drug stores and mass market retailers (FDM), reflecting a third year of falling sales. The year-end report reflects sales of almost 40 million units of product valued at US$337 431 200, according to market statistics compiled by Information Resources Inc of Chicago.1 These statistics, however, include only the FDM channel of distribution and do not include high-volume warehouse buying clubs, convenience stores, the natural foods market, multi-level market companies, health professionals, mail order or the Internet. As reported for sales in the year 2000, figures for herbs in these markets are difficult to estimate.2
Table 1. The 20 top-selling herbal supplements in FDM market retail outlets in the USA
| Rank | Herb | Retail Sales ($) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ginkgo | 46115692 | –35.3 |
| 2 | Echinacea | 39700408 | –20.2 |
| 3 | Garlic | 34834928 | –17.3 |
| 4 | Ginseng | 30964420 | –32.8 |
| 5 | Soy | 27625944 | –3.6 |
| 6 | Saw palmetto | 24616420 | –13.5 |
| 7 | St John’s wort | 24132972 | –40.5 |
| 8 | Valerian | 11777825 | –13.3 |
| 9 | Cranberry | 10279853 | 6.9 |
| 10 | Black cohosh | 9639506 | 105.8 |
| 11 | Kava kava | 9316924 | –16.3 |
| 12 | Milk thistle | 7044696 | 12.8 |
| 13 | Evening primrose | 5760010 | –11.5 |
| 14 | Grape seed | 4002785 | –15.1 |
| 15 | Bilberry | 3521756 | –10.5 |
| 16 | Yohimbe | 2013491 | –2.8 |
| 17 | Green tea | 1717237 | –13.2 |
| 18 | Pycnogenol | 1448488 | –27.5 |
| 19 | Ginger | 1211835 | –21.1 |
| 20 | Feverfew | 667353 | –23.9 |
| Multi-herbs | 6355926 | 68.8 | |
| All other herbs | 34688456 | –26.9 | |
| Total herbs | 337431200 | 21.0 |
