Ginseng, often called the "root of life," has been used for thousands of years in Asian countries for revitalizing and strengthening the body. Doses of ginseng are said to result in increased vitality that can offer anything from a quick pick-me-up to prolonged general vitality.

Some studies have shown that select herbal therapies, such as echinacea, have produced more than placebo effects, according to researchers at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah.

Raegan J. Tennant '03 has been using herbal therapy for years. The biggest draw for Tennant is that the products are all-natural.

"I don't use any synthetic products, such as Tylenol or aspirin," Tennant said. "I think that in the long run, you can be hurting your body by taking unnatural substances."

When she gets a headache, Tennant turns to essential oils; to stay awake, Tennant makes herself a cup of peppermint tea.

Essential oils, as a form of aromatherapy, is a growing branch of herbal remedy. Popular scents like lavender and chamomile are said to induce relaxation.

Gloria R. Deckro, an instructor at the Mind Body Medical Institute at UHS, says herbal therapy could prove effective for some people.

"For some people, the sense of smell can be very powerful. In any relaxation technique, it is possible to set up a ritual that can be associated with a scent," she says. "Perform this procedure regularly, and you can condition yourself to elicit a response."

The Growing Herbal Remedy Market

Don't like to swallow pills? Don't worry--most herbs are now available in many forms, including tinctures (concentrated extract drops that can be added to beverages), tea or in its raw, root form. Natural herbs are also becoming attractive advertising pitches for meal supplements, such as power bars or power drinks.

The new wave of health/power drinks are designed to appeal to teens and college students.

SoBe Wisdom drinks contain ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort and, according to the label, are said to "sharpen the mind" and promote "focused thought."

Fresh Samantha's Super Juice contains echinacea and is advertised as a drink to bolster the immune system.

Last year, SoBe CEO John Bellows said to Time Magazine, "Coke had cocaine when it started. What we have in our product are legal highs, things that make you feel better and perform better."

Time also reported that these companies do not offer very specific claims, for fear of provoking the Food and Drug Administration. These drinks may contain only a trace of the mentioned herbal ingredient.

"There's no way the consumer can know if any of these beverages are really doing all that they claim to do," said Dr. Gabe Mirkin, associate professor at Georgetown University Medical School, to Time. For example, it takes six bottles of SoBe Wisdom to reach the amount shown in clinical studies to reduce stress.