1. Current Status and Trends of Traditional Chinese Health Maintenance
Traditional Chinese health maintenance is no longer limited to middle-aged and elderly people. More and more young people are paying attention to health maintenance, especially with the fast-paced lifestyle and increasing stress, which causes young people to face health issues such as cervical pain, eye fatigue, insomnia, and other sub-health conditions. As health awareness increases, they actively seek traditional Chinese health practices. Today’s health maintenance methods have become diversified. From traditional goji berry tea to herbal foot soaks, Eight-Section Brocade exercise, and more, consumers’ needs for health maintenance are expanding.
In response, the market has seen a surge in new types of traditional Chinese health products, such as coix seed water, yam water, black sesame pills, and other functional foods. These products not only meet consumers’ health needs but also drive the development of plant extraction technologies. Product forms are continuously innovating, and there is a growing demand for health products that are more scientific and personalized.
2. Market Scale and Development Trends of Traditional Chinese Health Maintenance
As the public’s awareness of health continues to rise, the market scale of traditional Chinese health maintenance is steadily expanding. For example, the market size of traditional Chinese health water reached 450 million RMB in 2023, and it is expected to surpass 10 billion RMB by 2028. The overall market for traditional Chinese health-related industries, including health food, health drinks, etc., is showing rapid growth.
In addition, product innovation is a driving force for industry development. In the future, traditional Chinese health maintenance products will focus more on convenience, specificity, and personalization, integrating modern technology to enhance the precise application of plant extracts. For instance, advanced extraction techniques can be used to extract the active ingredients from plants, meeting consumers’ diverse health needs.
3. Benefits for the Plant Extract Industry
With the rise of traditional Chinese health maintenance, the plant extract industry has gained significant market opportunities. First, as consumers’ attention to Chinese health practices increases, the demand for plant extracts continues to expand, especially in the food, beverage, and health supplement sectors. The application of plant extracts is widespread, with the share in health foods and functional drinks accounting for a larger portion of the market.
At the same time, as product innovation accelerates, the technological research and development in the plant extract industry will also see growth. Many plant extracts are no longer just raw materials but are now subjected to more refined processes to extract and concentrate active ingredients, thereby enhancing the product’s efficacy. For example, specific saponins from ginseng are now selectively isolated to better target a particular health benefit.
Moreover, the plant extract industry has entered a stage of industrial integration. With more companies joining the market, cooperation along the entire plant extract supply chain— from raw material supply and processing to product development and sales—has become more efficient. This not only improves the industry’s overall competitiveness but also accelerates the expansion of the market.
4. Development Strategies for Plant Extract Enterprises
The plant extract industry is currently in a somewhat crude stage, with many companies focused on how to efficiently extract target components from plants using equipment. However, with the rise of traditional Chinese health maintenance, companies should pay attention to deeply researching and developing new raw materials, innovating product processes, and exploring new applications. Enterprises can adopt two strategies to seize the market: meeting demand or creating demand. The first requires companies to anticipate market trends and launch corresponding products during the initial stages of demand growth to enjoy market rewards. The latter involves companies innovating and developing products that do not yet exist in the market, thereby guiding consumers to form new consumption behaviors.
Overall, the rise of traditional Chinese health maintenance brings greater market demand and opportunities for growth to the plant extract industry. Enterprises can enhance the overall level of the industry through technological innovation, market guidance, and personalized customization.
