Herbal products are developed across a variety of formats and uses, such as teas, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, and veterinary supplements, and are becoming influences within the wellness and nutrition industries because they are viewed as natural and therapeutic. The benefits of herbal products can be categorized to enable manufacturers, researchers, and consumers understand how to use products safely and the regulatory factors relative to health, personal care and food.
Herbal Product Categories Across Food, Health, and Wellness
Herbal products are developed across a variety of formats and uses, such as teas, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, and veterinary supplements, and are becoming influences within the wellness and nutrition industries because they are viewed as natural and therapeutic. The benefits of herbal products can be categorized to enable manufacturers, researchers, and consumers understand how to use products safely and the regulatory factors relative to health, personal care and food.
Comprehensive Classification of Herbal Product Categories
| S.no | Herbal Product Category | Description |
| 1 | Herbal Teas (Infusions) | Water-based infusions made from herbs, flowers or spices; consumed for purpose of wellness or medicinal benefits. |
| 2 | Herbal Beverages | Broad category of beverages that includes herbal decoctions, juices, and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages using herbal extracts; does not include standard tea infusions. |
| 3 | Herbal Dietary Supplements | Capsules, powders or tinctures made from herbal extracts that offers a source of nutritional supplementation for denoting internal use. |
| 4 | Herbal Medicines | Plant derived preparations for therapeutic purpose; includes herbal extracts, pastes, oils, syrups and tablets. |
| 5 | Herbal Cosmeceuticals | Are either skin care or personal care products that use herbal actives (neem face wash or aloe vera lotion); |
| 6 | Herbal Animal Feed Supplements | Are herbal additives whose purpose is to enhance animal digestion, immunity or productivity (e.g., herbal prebiotics in cattle feed). |
| 7 | Herbal Functional Foods | Are food products that include herbal ingredients to offer enhanced health benefits (e.g., moringa cookies or ashwagandha bars). |
| 8 | Herbal Food | Are everyday food items as core ingredients using herbs for nutritional or flavor purposes (e.g., herbal rice mixes, seasoned ghee, curry powders). |
| 9 | Herbal Shots | Small-volume concentrated liquid extracts from herbs used for detoxification, energy enhancement or immune enhancement |
| 10 | Herbal Drink Powders | Instant-capsules from herb powders to make health drinks (e.g., tulsi latte mix or chyawanprash powder). |
| 11 | Herbal Protein Shakes | A blend of plant protein with herbal extracts specifically used for sport, weight management or wellness (e.g., ashwagandha-protein shake). |
| 12 | Herbal Flavours & Fragrances | Essential oils or aromatic compounds that are derived from herbs, which may be found in perfumes, soaps or food products. |
| 13 | Culinary Herbs | Edible herbs used to season or prepare foods and carry mild health benefits (e.g., thyme, mint, basil). |
| 14 | Herbal Dermatological Products | Medicated topical herbal formulations used in dermatology (e.g., eczema, acne – fungal infections). |
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