The increasing acceptance of botanical medicines seems likely to continue, for generally good reasons
Scientists have renewed efforts to study botanicals, resulting in increasing scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of many botanical medicines, especially for chronic diseases and health maintenance.
Although botanical medicines are classified as dietary supplements, not drugs, it is common knowledge that botanical medicines are medicines. As such, Americans use them much like conventional medicines to treat diseases and disease symptoms.
Health maintenance and disease prevention
Botanicals are also commonly used to maintain health and prevent disease. There is good research to support these uses:
 Immune-active botanicals, such as echinacea, strengthen and tone immune functions.- Antioxidant botanicals, such as green tea, prevent cancer, slow aging, and maintain cardiovascular functions.
- Botanicals, such as St. John's wort, alleviate common psychological symptoms, such as insomnia, anxiety, or mild depression. It has also been used in combination with black cohosh to relieve mood symptoms associated with menopause.
- Valerian can also help with insomnia, and kava can help reduce anxiety.
- Botanicals, such as ginger, treat or prevent a variety of gastrointestinal problems, from nausea to constipation.
- Botanicals, such as black cohosh and saw palmetto, treat reproductive system problems, such as menopause and prevention of prostate enlargement
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Top 10 Best Selling Botanicals
- Garlic
- Echinacea
- Saw palmetto
- Ginkgo
- Cranberry
- Soy isoflavones
- Ginseng
- Black cohosh
- St. John's
Wort
- Milk thistle
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