The national consumer survey revealed that more than two-thirds of Canadians believe that herbal supplements can be as effective as prescription and OTC drugs in preventing and treating health problems. More than half the population say they would be "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to take an herbal supplement to treat a cold, and one in three has taken Echinacea.

In addition, 37 percent of consumers have tried a medicinal tea, including 44 percent of the women surveyed. More than 68 percent said they would be more likely to buy herbal supplements if the label provided information on the product’s health benefits. The survey involved 1,003 adult Canadians and is considered accurate within a 3.0 percentage point margin of error, 19 in 20 times.

It was conducted by Gallup Canada for Traditional Medicinal, the leading medicinal tea company in North America. Last year, Canadians spent $3.8 billion on natural remedies, a market that is growing by 15 percent annually.