...One in three Americans, or about 60 million people, spends an average of $54 on herbals a year, totaling $3.24 billion - Prevention Magazine survey

...Almost 70% of German doctors prescribe herbal supplements for their patients - Reuters News Service

Such impressive statistics may leave those who haven't jumped onto the herbal bandwagon wondering - what am I missing? Statistics can be misleading, so let's probe a little deeper.

It's true that a large percent of the world's people rely on herbal or botanical remedies. Most don't have any other choice. Basic healthcare and pharmaceutical drugs are simply not available in many sections of the world. If you're poor and can't afford medication, you do what you can. That includes using local roots, herbs and onions. Those wealthy enough to make the choice can travel to places like Minnesota's Mayo Clinic for both routine and critical healthcare.

Do you occasionally drink herbal tea? Ever buy a jar of minced garlic at the grocery store? Sometimes add spices or herbs to foods you cook? Then you too are among the 33% of Americans who use herbal products. As you can see, surveys and studies that define use of herbal products use vague criteria. Herbal products can be effective for a variety of conditions if used in the proper context. For many herbal remedies it takes daily - often multiple daily - doses of over the course of many weeks to gain the desire effect. Herbs, for the most part, aren't an quick or easy therapy.

If 70% of German doctors prescribe herbal products, that leaves 30% who won't prescribe them. We're given no information on how frequently this 70% recommend herbs over pharmaceuticals - once a year, once a day, with every patient? In 1995, herbal prescriptions accounted for just 7% of all prescription medications covered by public health insurance in Germany. This figure sheds a little more light on the frequency of herbal practice by German physicians. Of ourse, many herbal products are also available over-the-counter in Germany.