While use of well-established medicine has declined among rich, liberal elites in America's wealthiest, most educated states, untested and sometimes dangerous herbal dietary supplement sales in the United States rose to $6,000,000,000 - an increase of 7.9% over 2013.
As expected, sales in "natural" food stores were strongest, rising by 8.8%, but even regular food and drug stores had a 7.7% over 2012 sales, reflecting a growing distrust of science among the organic and alternative medicine communities.
The top-selling herbs, as coded by primary ingredient, were horehound (Marrubium vulgare), for sore throats, followed by yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe) for sexual performance, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) for its claimed benefit of helping to prevent urinary tract infections, black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), which claims to manage menopausal symptoms, and senna (Senna alexandrina), used as a laxative.
In addition to retail, herbal dietary supplements are sold through mail order catalogs, Internet sites, network marketing firms that sell directly to the consumer, and people who sell supplements from their homes and offices, among other channels.
Citation: Lindstrom A, Ooyen C, Lynch ME, Blumenthal M, Kawa K. Sales of herbal dietary supplements increase by 7.9% in 2013, marking a decade of rising sales: turmeric supplements climb to top ranking in natural channel. HerbalGram. 2014;103:52-56. Source: American Botanical Council
