Since the dawn of civilization, humans have used natural remedies for their healing properties. Some of the same treatments are still used by billions around the world, based largely on anecdotal evidence and lore. Clinical research on natural treatments is lacking due to costly clinical trials, sparse or restricted funding, and institutional bureaucracies that slow research. These hurdles ultimately prevent viable, affordable solutions from reaching a mainstream market in a timely fashion—or at all.

Rising demand for natural products is dramatically changing that industry sector. The global complementary and alternative medicine market is expected to grow from $100.4 billion in 2021 to $404.66 billion by 2028, according to the “2021 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis” report by Grand View Research. The report further states that traditional alternative medicine, or botanicals, dominated the market in 2020 with a share of 38.48 percent.

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