Herb

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.

K. Patel Phyto Extractions adopts the herb Senna through ABC’s Adopt-an-Herb Program

11-Jul-2019 By Adi Menayang

Mumbai-based K. Patel Phyto Extractions has adopted senna (Senna alexandrina) through the American Botanical Council’s (ABC) Adopt-an-Herb program.

Oil palm leaves, Gale-of-the-wind…Malaysia supplement firm to ramp up R&D efforts on local plants with IPO proceeds

08-Aug-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Nova Wellness, a Malaysia supplement firm, is increasing its R&D activities to incorporate local herbs and plants, such as oil palm leaves, in the making of health supplements.

Collaboration will make industry stronger, new AHPA science officer says

19-Jan-2018 By Hank Schultz

Increasing collaboration within the herbal industry will drive the sector forward. That’s one of the goals Holly Johnson, PhD, has in her new role as chief science officer of the American Herbal Products Association.

Guest Article

For herbs, 2017 was a very good year

20-Dec-2017 By Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council

The past year had been a good one for the industry, with sales rising toward $8 billion and supporting clinical evidence for the category continuing to accrue.

HerbalGram Herb Market Report for 2016

Ayurvedic herbs’ rise continues as turmeric & ashwagandha post big YOY growth

11-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Turmeric/curcumin continues to be a standout performer in the herbal sector with data from the HerbalGram Herb Market Report for 2016 showing massive growth across both mass and natural retail channels.

Industry pays tribute to Bill Brevoort's 'remarkable life'

04-Aug-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The natural products industry has paid tribute to Bill Brevoort, a pioneer of Chinese medicinal herb, who recently passed away at his home in Kona, HI at the age of 75.

AHPA launches GACP-GMP resource center

03-Aug-2017

The American Herbal Products Association has developed a set of free assessment tools for use with AHPA's recently released Good Agricultural and Collection Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices for Botanical Materials (GACP-GMP).

Online event to examine promise, potential pitfalls of botanicals

12-Jul-2017 By Hank Schultz

The botanicals sector has driven much of the innovation in the dietary supplement industry over the years. It’s also a point of risk, with regulators, lawmakers and media commentators voicing suspicions about this class of products

Naturopathica supports ABC’s Adopt-an-Herb Program for arnica

07-Dec-2016

Naturopathica has adopted arnica (Arnica montana) through the ABC Adopt-an-Herb Program.

NBTY to DNA barcode herbal ingredients after agreement with NY AG

29-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplement giant NBTY has reached an agreement with NY AG Eric Schneiderman to use DNA Barcoding to authenticate herbal ingredients and invest in herbal genetic research.

Special Edition: Botanicals

Turmeric leads the charge as herbal sales continue to bloom

22-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

With 118% growth in the mass channel and 32% growth in the natural channel, turmeric/curcumin was the stand-out ingredient in 2015, with overall sales for the ingredient exceeding $50 million in mass & natural channels.

Vox Pop: What do consumers know & think about botanical supplements?

21-Sep-2016 By Adi Menayang

There’s a lot of distrust of botanical supplements. And even among those that buy and take them, consumers still ask for more evidence and stricter regulation.

Herbal product sales rise 7.5% according to ABC

09-Sep-2016 By Hank Schultz

Herbal supplement sales increased by 7.5% according to a new report by the American Botanical Council’s 2015 report. Consumers in the US spent $6.9 billion on herbal products during the year, according to the publication.

SPECIAL EDITION: AYURVEDA

Changing conversation around Ayurveda leading to massive growth for herbal products

29-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Disillusionment with allopathic medicine among Americans is driving interest in Ayurveda and other herbal supplements, says Amy Keller, Director of Education and Training at Organic India.

AHPA awards: Sen. Tom Harkin get Lifetime Achievement Award

15-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA retired), Dr Steven Dentali, Dr Paula Brown, Robert Ullman, and Aveda were recognized for their substantive and positive contributions to the herbal products industry at the 2016 AHPA Awards last week.

‘Herbal Ed’ Smith named ABC Champion Award recipient

07-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Ed Smith, medical herbalist and co-founder of Herb Pharm, has been named the recipient of the American Botanical Council’s second Champion Award.

NAHS Therapy launches plant-based food fortification powder for bone health

04-Mar-2016 By Adi Menayang

A mixture of powdered extracts and powdered spices, herbs, and mushrooms by North American Herb and Spice is promoted to provide bone and joint support.

Niche ought to be carved out of GMP compliance picture for ultra small herb companies, experts say

23-Dec-2015 By Hank Schultz

A place ought to be found within the regulation of the dietary supplement sector for artisanal herbal companies that might struggle with some of FDA’s more labyrinthine strictures on identity testing, experts say.

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.

Schneiderman takes 13 devil's claw manufacturers to task over species intermixing that experts say is 'non-issue'

10-Sep-2015 By Hank Schultz

NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has sent cease and desist letters to 13 companies marketing devil’s claw supplements claiming the products fraudulently mixed one species of the botanical with a closely related species. Herbal experts, however, say...

ABC report shows US herbal supplement sales rose 6.8% in 2014

09-Sep-2015 By Hank Schultz

Overall sales of herbal dietary supplements rose 6.8% in 2014, according to new information released by the American Botanical Council.

How are herbal supplement sales post NY AG? Better than last year...

03-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Sales of herbal formula supplements are up almost 13% compared to the same time last year, according to new data from SPINS provided to NutraIngredients-USA.

ABC offers exhaustive look at history, implications of NYAG affair

10-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

The American Botanical Council has released an in-depth look at the history and implications of the New York Attorney General affair on the organization’s website. The 9,500-word article, containing 71 references, is the most detailed look at the situation...

Botanical Adulterants Program endorsed by four international health professional groups

06-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium, American Herbalists Guild, and Irish Register of Herbalists have thrown their support behind the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program.

To Herb is Human

30-Apr-2015 By Steve Mister, President & CEO, Council for Responsible Nutrition

We all make mistakes, but how we deal with them and learn from adversity, that’s the measure of a better person. At least, that’s what my grandfather used to say. But these days, it seems that the New York Attorney General (NYAG), faced with the growing...

Gaia Herbs: Our sales are growing as consumers move to a brand they trust

23-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumers are not turning their backs on herbal supplements in response to the NY AG’s probe, but are shifting to brands they can trust, says Gaia Herbs, with the North Carolina company reporting impressive sales growth year-on-year.

What opportunities are there in the NY AG botanical probe?

16-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The New York Attorney General’s investigation into herbal supplements has been headline news for over a month, but for every problem there is an opportunity. NutraIngredients-USA caught up with some industry giants to see if there is a silver lining in...

ABC names award recipients for research and literature

27-Feb-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The American Botanical Council has named the 2014 recipients for its Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award, the Varro E. Tyler Award for Phytomedicinal Research, and the James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award.

NY Office of the Attorney General: ‘We will not be publishing the data for peer review. This is part of an ongoing investigation'

04-Feb-2015 By Stephen Daniells

The Office of the Attorney General of New York has defended its testing and choice of researcher to conduct its tests, but will not be releasing its data for peer-review, NutraIngredients-USA can reveal.

Leading British herbal organizations endorse Botanical Adulterants Educational Program

30-Jan-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) and the British Herbal Medicine Association (BHMA) have thrown their support behind the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program.

Organoleptic ID of botanicals still valid if supported with documentation, experts say

14-Jan-2015 By Hank Schultz

A recent FDA warning letter to a company making products based on whole dandelion parts and other herbs seems to call into question whether organoleptic identification of incoming botanical specimens still passes muster as far as the agency is concerned....

AHPA grows membership by 12% as 45 companies join in 2014

04-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has welcomed 45 new members to its fold in 2014, with 17 new members joining during the third quarter.

AHPA launches free, publicly-accessible Botanical Identity References Compendium

08-May-2014

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has launched the free, publicly-accessible AHPA Botanical Identity References Compendium for manufacturers and researchers to accurately identify botanical ingredients.

AHPA’s new members represent diverse sectors of the botanical industry

23-Apr-2014

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has welcomed 15 companies as new members in 2014, with the new members including ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers, finished products makers, and more.

Future looks increasingly bright for herbal supplements, market researcher says

11-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

The economic downturn has had a depressing effect on new product launches in the herbal dietary supplement industry, said Steve French, managing director of the Natural Marketing Institute. But the good news is that opportunity abounds, in that herbal...

ABC celebrates 25th Anniversary and 100th issue of HerbalGram

05-Dec-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The American Botanical Council (ABC) has issued the 100th issue of its quarterly journal HerbalGram, a notable achievement that coincides with the organization’s 25th anniversary.

FDA sends warning letter for DMAA-containing product, GMP violations

25-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to Oklahoma City-based Pure Energy Products, Inc. for products containing controversial compound DMAA.

Herbal supplement sales rose 5.5% in US in 2012, ABC says

19-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Herbal dietary supplement sales increased 5.5% in the United States in 2012 according a new report in HerbalGram, the publication of the American Botanical Council.

ABC's HerbalGram celebrates 30th anniversary

13-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

The American Botanical Council hit a milestone with the 30th anniversary of its quarterly publication, HerbalGram. The publication, which began life as a simple newsletter, has now transformed into an 80-page, full color magazine/journal hybrid featuring...

News in brief

2013 AHPA Awards recipients named

06-Mar-2013

The American Herbal Products Association has named its 2013 AHPA Awards recipients, with Alkemist Labs’ Sidney Sudberg and Élan Sudberg, and Josef Brinckmann from Traditional Medicinals among the winners.

Botanical Adulterants Program hits milestone of over 100 supporters

01-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The goal of ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program to reduce, ‘perhaps even eliminate’, some of the adulteration in the market is edging closer as the program reaches the impressive milestone of having more than 100 underwriters and endorsers.

“Cowboy sector” blamed for black cohosh problems

02-Nov-2012 By Shane STARLING

Last week’s warning from the UK medicines regulator that menopausal herb black cohosh must carry warnings about potential liver problems is not a problem of the mainstream food supplements sector, says the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH).

Herbal supplement sales hit $5.3 billion, ABC report says

05-Sep-2012 By Hank Schultz

A report in the latest issue of HerbalGram, the publication of the American Botanical Council, shows herbal supplements sales in all channels hit $5.3 billion in the United States in 2011, representing a healthy 4.3% increase from 2010.

ABC: Why is skullcap still being adulterated with germander?

22-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Germander is still being used as a substitute for skullcap in dietary supplements, despite ongoing attempts to raise awareness about the problem, according to a new paper published by the American Botanical Council (ABC).

Utah firm agrees to change 'antibiotic herb' ads following NAD challenge

14-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Utah-based Barlow Herbal Specialties has agreed to stop making certain claims in ads about its top-selling LDM-100 supplement after an ad claims watchdog determined they were not supported by scientific evidence.

USDA expresses skullcap supplement concerns with new analytical method

30-Aug-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Scientists with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed a ‘simple, fast, and easy’ method to test for adulterants in skullcap herbal formulations, a timely development given potential short-comings with formulations currently on the market.