Holistic Health Herbal Medicine Popular Herbs in the United States By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Updated on June 23, 2020 Print BSIP/UIG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States report taking an herbal supplement. A survey identified the most commonly used herbs and the percent of the adult population that uses them, based on estimates from the 2012 National Health Interview Study: Echinacea - 17.3%Ginseng - 11.9%Gingko biloba - 10.6%Garlic supplement - 11.7%St. John's Wort - 3.3%Flaxseed oil/pills - 15.7%Ginger supplement - 3.0%Soy - 4.9%Cranberry supplement - 5.6%Kava kava - 13% Other research has identified the most commonly used supplements among certain sub-groups: An intake survey of 146 hepatocellular carcinoma patients conducted between 2008 and 2012 revealed that 71% had used vitamins and 45% had used supplements. The most commonly used supplements were antioxidants (51%), multivitamins (46%), vitamin D (25%), and milk thistle (23%). Hepatitis C patients were more likely to use milk thistle and people with hepatitis B were more likely to use vitamin C.A study examining the results from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that children in the United States appear to use herbs or dietary supplements at a much lower rate than adults. Echinacea and fish oil were the most commonly used herbs and supplements among children.A survey of adult dental patients at a dental school clinic in the United States found that out of 1,240 participants, 12.6% reported using one or more herbal products, with the top five used being green tea, garlic, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng. A 2014 review examined herbal product use by older adults and found that the most commonly used herbs were ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginseng, aloe vera, chamomile, spearmint, and ginger. Gingko biloba and garlic were the most commonly used among community-dwelling older adults.A literature review of supplements used in dermatology (using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey) found that the most popular supplements were fish oil, glucosamine, glucosamine chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids. A Word From Verywell It's crucial to talk with your doctor before trying any form of alternative medicine. Many popular herbs and supplements can interact with prescription and non-prescription medications and have other potential adverse effects. Yet according to a study published in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, 47.6% of people who use complementary and alternative medicine did so without informing their doctors. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Wu CH, Wang CC, Tsai MT, Huang WT, Kennedy J. Trend and pattern of herb and supplement use in the United States: results from the 2002, 2007, and 2012 national health interview surveys. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:872320. doi:10.1155/2014/872320 Lee V, Goyal A, Hsu CC, Jacobson JS, Rodriguez RD, Siegel AB. Dietary supplement use among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Integr Cancer Ther. 2015;14(1):35-41. doi:10.1177/1534735414550038 Abebe W, Herman W, Konzelman J. Herbal supplement use among adult dental patients in a USA dental school clinic: prevalence, patient demographics, and clinical implications. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011;111(3):320-5. doi:10.1016/j.tripleo.2010.10.012 De souza silva JE, Santos souza CA, Da silva TB, et al. Use of herbal medicines by elderly patients: A systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2014;59(2):227-33. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2014.06.002 Landis ET, Davis SA, Feldman SR, Taylor S. Complementary and alternative medicine use in dermatology in the United States. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(5):392-8. doi:10.1089/acm.2013.0327 Laiyemo MA, Nunlee-bland G, Lombardo FA, Adams RG, Laiyemo AO. Characteristics and health perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine users in the United States. Am J Med Sci. 2015;349(2):140-4. doi:10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000363