Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
Biotechnology and Medical Device Report 2011/11/18
In recent years, traditional Chinese herbal medicine has gained popularity in Europe and the United States. Western countries have become increasingly open to alternative therapies in non-mainstream medicine, and regulations have gradually become clearer, leading to significant growth in the global herbal medicine market. According to WHO statistics, approximately 4 billion people worldwide have tried or rely on herbal/plant-based medicines to treat diseases, accounting for 70-80% of the global population.
[By Tsao Chih-Wan and Chen Tang-Chi]
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has become increasingly popular in Europe and the United States in recent years. Western countries have grown more accepting of alternative therapies in non-mainstream medicine, and regulations have become clearer, resulting in substantial growth in the global herbal medicine market.
Germany Publishes "The Complete German Commission E Monographs"
The Bible of Herbal Product Regulations
According to WHO statistics, around 4 billion people worldwide have tried or rely on herbal/plant-based medicines to treat diseases, accounting for 70-80% of the global population.
Herbal medicine is widely embraced in Europe and the U.S., particularly among women, who often use herbs to alleviate symptoms such as headaches, menstrual irregularities, postmenopausal syndrome, and general bone pain.
Germany is the most receptive European country to Chinese herbal products. In the early 1990s, Germany classified herbal medicine as "phytomedicine," requiring registration and regulation. In 1994, the German Commission E published "The Complete German Commission E Monographs," which details 254 verified herbs, their uses, and effects.
Germany imposes strict quality control on herbal products. Any plant-based medicine sold in Germany must comply with the standards outlined in the monograph, which categorizes herbs by grade and specifies requirements for origin, climate, pesticide and heavy metal content, purity, and other indicators.
Additionally, herbal products must have standardized licenses, and their descriptions must include comprehensive information on texture, adverse reactions, and scientific evidence supporting their efficacy.
If a developed herbal product is listed in the German pharmacopoeia, it can bypass toxicological testing and proceed directly to clinical trials. This policy shortens development time, significantly reduces costs, and lowers expenses for pharmaceutical companies.
Germany Includes Herbal Medicine in Health Insurance Coverage
Consequently, herbal product development in Germany leans heavily toward plant-based medicines. The country hosts hundreds of herbal or plant-based pharmaceutical companies and dozens of herbal research institutions, leading the world in the extraction of active ingredients, quality testing, metabolic studies, and formulation research.
The German government established regulatory bodies, laws, and market integration systems for herbal medicine early on. Beyond attracting scientific talent to herbal research, Germany maintains rigorous quality control, especially concerning plant sourcing.
Over the past few decades, Germany’s healthcare sector, medical institutions, and academia have focused on studying the therapeutic and preventive effects of various herbal ingredients, yielding significant clinical results. This has enabled plant extracts to be used in patient prescriptions and covered by health insurance. For example, St. John’s wort, which sparks efficacy debates in other countries, is still used in Germany to treat mild depression.
German herbal products are primarily single-ingredient formulations, developed from plant extracts. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products, which are mostly compound formulations, face challenges due to their complex composition and difficulty in controlling ingredient ratios. Comparatively, single-ingredient products are easier to develop, quality-control, and manufacture, which is one of the main reasons why Eastern herbal products struggle to penetrate the European market.The German government actively promotes the integration of herbal medicine with the Western medical system.
Under German legislation, plant extracts are permitted to be registered as prescription drugs. As a result, herbal products compete with chemically synthesized drugs in both the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
In Germany, herbal medicines are treated as prescriptions, requiring a doctor's prescription or purchase from pharmacies with licensed pharmacists. Consequently, 70% of herbal products are concentrated in pharmacy channels.
In addition to ginkgo, mint, and hawthorn, popular plant extracts in the European market in recent years also include St. John's wort, ginseng, garlic, and grape seed extracts.
Germany's herbal medicine industry has an output value of approximately $2.5–3 billion, accounting for 45–50% of the EU market. The average per capita consumption of herbal medicine in Germany is about $37. Germany leads Europe in herbal medicine exports, with primary markets in Europe, Australia, and Japan. Herbal preparation exports account for about 15–33% of the revenue of German herbal manufacturers.
Herbal medicine is widely recognized by German physicians, not only as part of Germany’s traditional medicine but also because it is backed by scientific validation and government policies. The government boldly formulates advantageous industrial policies to guide the industry toward internationalization.
The German government actively establishes herbal medicine regulations, emphasizes botanical drugs, and requires products to provide proof of safety and efficacy. The standardized CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) and high-quality benchmarks of German herbal products, along with their successful market expansion experience, are indeed worthy of emulation and learning for other countries to develop strategies that align with domestic industry growth.
**Top-Selling Herbal Medicines in Europe:**
1. **Peppermint**: In Europe, peppermint is used to treat various conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint oil capsules remain highly popular in Western Europe.
2. **Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)**: A traditional herb widely used in Western Europe for migraines, rheumatism, and other ailments.
3. **Hawthorn**: Hawthorn from Western Europe has effects somewhat similar to digitalis, acting as a cardiotonic. Many elderly patients with heart disease or heart failure symptoms benefit from hawthorn capsules. Hawthorn flavonoids may help dilate blood vessels and enhance heart function.
4. **Ginger**: Traditionally used in Europe as an antiemetic. Today, ginger powder capsules are widely available in European pharmacies for treating nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
5. **Aloe Vera**: Aloe has blood sugar-lowering effects and is very safe for humans, making aloe-based preparations a potential adjunct therapy for non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Since Type II diabetes is prevalent in Europe, aloe could become one of the most promising natural medicinal plants for blood sugar management.
6. **Ginkgo**: Currently, ginkgo preparations have total sales exceeding $2 billion in Europe and other global markets.
**Germany’s Three Major Herbal Medicine Companies:**
1. **Schwabe**: Germany’s oldest herbal medicine company, founded in 1858, and one of the leading manufacturers of natural product-based pharmaceuticals.
- Its ginkgo preparations have dominated the market since the 1960s, used for peripheral and cerebral circulatory disorders or exercise-related injuries. It is considered one of the most thoroughly researched products on the market.
- In 1994, global sales of ginkgo reached $2 billion, making it the highest-selling single herb worldwide. With the aging global population, sales are expected to grow annually.
2. **Maddaus**: Germany’s second-largest herbal medicine manufacturer and a major producer of natural medicines.The company's products are only sold in pharmacies and hold a strong position in liver protection and laxatives. Its herbal laxatives account for 20% of the OTC laxative market, with sales reaching £3 million.
3. Natman Company: The company's main products include ginkgo supplements, laxatives, laxative teas, garlic, vitamins, and minerals.
Apart from the three major companies mentioned above, other significant players include Lichtwer and Schaper.
Source:
Chinese Herbal Medicine Industry Yearbook 2004 / Biotechnology Development Center - Liao Meizhi, Wu Wenling
Source: http:/ / mag. udn. com/ mag/ newss……_SUB_ID=1020& f_ART_ID=354052
Chinese Herbal Medicine Goes Global: Learning from Germany's Experience
In recent years, traditional Chinese herbal medicine has gained popularity in Europe and the United States. Western countries have become increasingly open to alternative therapies in non-mainstream medicine, and regulations have gradually become clearer, leading to significant growth in the global herbal medicine market. According to WHO statistics, approximately 4 billion people worldwide have tried or rely on herbal/plant-based medicines to treat diseases, accounting for 70-80% of the global population.
[By Tsao Chih-Wan and Chen Tang-Chi]
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has become increasingly popular in Europe and the United States in recent years. Western countries have grown more accepting of alternative therapies in non-mainstream medicine, and regulations have become clearer, resulting in substantial growth in the global herbal medicine market.
Germany Publishes "The Complete German Commission E Monographs"
The Bible of Herbal Product Regulations
According to WHO statistics, around 4 billion people worldwide have tried or rely on herbal/plant-based medicines to treat diseases, accounting for 70-80% of the global population.
Herbal medicine is widely embraced in Europe and the U.S., particularly among women, who often use herbs to alleviate symptoms such as headaches, menstrual irregularities, postmenopausal syndrome, and general bone pain.
Germany is the most receptive European country to Chinese herbal products. In the early 1990s, Germany classified herbal medicine as "phytomedicine," requiring registration and regulation. In 1994, the German Commission E published "The Complete German Commission E Monographs," which details 254 verified herbs, their uses, and effects.
Germany imposes strict quality control on herbal products. Any plant-based medicine sold in Germany must comply with the standards outlined in the monograph, which categorizes herbs by grade and specifies requirements for origin, climate, pesticide and heavy metal content, purity, and other indicators.
Additionally, herbal products must have standardized licenses, and their descriptions must include comprehensive information on texture, adverse reactions, and scientific evidence supporting their efficacy.
If a developed herbal product is listed in the German pharmacopoeia, it can bypass toxicological testing and proceed directly to clinical trials. This policy shortens development time, significantly reduces costs, and lowers expenses for pharmaceutical companies.
Germany Includes Herbal Medicine in Health Insurance Coverage
Consequently, herbal product development in Germany leans heavily toward plant-based medicines. The country hosts hundreds of herbal or plant-based pharmaceutical companies and dozens of herbal research institutions, leading the world in the extraction of active ingredients, quality testing, metabolic studies, and formulation research.
The German government established regulatory bodies, laws, and market integration systems for herbal medicine early on. Beyond attracting scientific talent to herbal research, Germany maintains rigorous quality control, especially concerning plant sourcing.
Over the past few decades, Germany’s healthcare sector, medical institutions, and academia have focused on studying the therapeutic and preventive effects of various herbal ingredients, yielding significant clinical results. This has enabled plant extracts to be used in patient prescriptions and covered by health insurance. For example, St. John’s wort, which sparks efficacy debates in other countries, is still used in Germany to treat mild depression.
German herbal products are primarily single-ingredient formulations, developed from plant extracts. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products, which are mostly compound formulations, face challenges due to their complex composition and difficulty in controlling ingredient ratios. Comparatively, single-ingredient products are easier to develop, quality-control, and manufacture, which is one of the main reasons why Eastern herbal products struggle to penetrate the European market.The German government actively promotes the integration of herbal medicine with the Western medical system.
Under German legislation, plant extracts are permitted to be registered as prescription drugs. As a result, herbal products compete with chemically synthesized drugs in both the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
In Germany, herbal medicines are treated as prescriptions, requiring a doctor's prescription or purchase from pharmacies with licensed pharmacists. Consequently, 70% of herbal products are concentrated in pharmacy channels.
In addition to ginkgo, mint, and hawthorn, popular plant extracts in the European market in recent years also include St. John's wort, ginseng, garlic, and grape seed extracts.
Germany's herbal medicine industry has an output value of approximately $2.5–3 billion, accounting for 45–50% of the EU market. The average per capita consumption of herbal medicine in Germany is about $37. Germany leads Europe in herbal medicine exports, with primary markets in Europe, Australia, and Japan. Herbal preparation exports account for about 15–33% of the revenue of German herbal manufacturers.
Herbal medicine is widely recognized by German physicians, not only as part of Germany’s traditional medicine but also because it is backed by scientific validation and government policies. The government boldly formulates advantageous industrial policies to guide the industry toward internationalization.
The German government actively establishes herbal medicine regulations, emphasizes botanical drugs, and requires products to provide proof of safety and efficacy. The standardized CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) and high-quality benchmarks of German herbal products, along with their successful market expansion experience, are indeed worthy of emulation and learning for other countries to develop strategies that align with domestic industry growth.
**Top-Selling Herbal Medicines in Europe:**
1. **Peppermint**: In Europe, peppermint is used to treat various conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint oil capsules remain highly popular in Western Europe.
2. **Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)**: A traditional herb widely used in Western Europe for migraines, rheumatism, and other ailments.
3. **Hawthorn**: Hawthorn from Western Europe has effects somewhat similar to digitalis, acting as a cardiotonic. Many elderly patients with heart disease or heart failure symptoms benefit from hawthorn capsules. Hawthorn flavonoids may help dilate blood vessels and enhance heart function.
4. **Ginger**: Traditionally used in Europe as an antiemetic. Today, ginger powder capsules are widely available in European pharmacies for treating nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
5. **Aloe Vera**: Aloe has blood sugar-lowering effects and is very safe for humans, making aloe-based preparations a potential adjunct therapy for non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Since Type II diabetes is prevalent in Europe, aloe could become one of the most promising natural medicinal plants for blood sugar management.
6. **Ginkgo**: Currently, ginkgo preparations have total sales exceeding $2 billion in Europe and other global markets.
**Germany’s Three Major Herbal Medicine Companies:**
1. **Schwabe**: Germany’s oldest herbal medicine company, founded in 1858, and one of the leading manufacturers of natural product-based pharmaceuticals.
- Its ginkgo preparations have dominated the market since the 1960s, used for peripheral and cerebral circulatory disorders or exercise-related injuries. It is considered one of the most thoroughly researched products on the market.
- In 1994, global sales of ginkgo reached $2 billion, making it the highest-selling single herb worldwide. With the aging global population, sales are expected to grow annually.
2. **Maddaus**: Germany’s second-largest herbal medicine manufacturer and a major producer of natural medicines.The company's products are only sold in pharmacies and hold a strong position in liver protection and laxatives. Its herbal laxatives account for 20% of the OTC laxative market, with sales reaching £3 million.
3. Natman Company: The company's main products include ginkgo supplements, laxatives, laxative teas, garlic, vitamins, and minerals.
Apart from the three major companies mentioned above, other significant players include Lichtwer and Schaper.
Source:
Chinese Herbal Medicine Industry Yearbook 2004 / Biotechnology Development Center - Liao Meizhi, Wu Wenling
Source: http:/ / mag. udn. com/ mag/ newss……_SUB_ID=1020& f_ART_ID=354052