The market

Australia is one of the leading countries in the world with regard to practice and teaching of alternative and complementary medicine. The alternative and complementary medicine industry in Australia is growing rapidly and the current estimated market worth is over one billion dollars, with more than 20% of that market being herbal medicine and related products. This market appears to be growing at about 30% per year. The rapid growth is largely due to a growing demand from the public, with reportedly more than 50% of Australians using herbal or complementary medicines.

Western herbal medicine is one of the most popular forms of alternative medicine and the National Herbalists Association of Australia is the national body for practising herbalists. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has existed in Australia since the influx of Chinese migrants to the gold fields over 100 years ago and many herbal practitioners even incorporate some Ayurvedic principles and herbs into their practice though there are very few purely Ayurvedic practitioners in Australia. Herbs used in these systems are all imported from overseas.