In 1974  Traditional Medicinals^® started making bulk teas in a small retail herb shop in northern California.  Today, you will find 47 different herb teas in Traditional Medicinals^®'s Natural Pharmacy of Plants^™.

A long and unblemished history of safe consumer use accompanies the Traditional Medicinals^® name as they only produce teas that are safe, beneficial and made from natural botanical sources.

This dedication to excellence has made Traditional Medicinals^® the undisputed leader in medicinal herb teas today.  Traditional Medicinals^® tea is the best selling medicinal tea in the U.S. for one good reason:  a long standing tradition of quality.

Traditional Medicinals Company Profile

Traditional Medicinals was founded in 1974 based on the idea of providing herbal self-care for health-conscious consumers. Many of the original Traditional Medicinals herb teas have become some of today’s most popular items. They include Breathe Easy, Smooth Move, Throat Coat, Gypsy Cold Care, Nighty Night and Easy Now. Strong consumer demand quickly grew the company to become the leading medicinal herb tea brand in North America.

In 1982 the company undertook the task of producing teas to FDA Drug Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) allowing for specific claims to be made for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Traditional Medicinals became the first herb tea company to develop OTC herbal medicines by successfully converting the tea blends to OTC drugs. For example, the active ingredients in each dose of Smooth Move laxative tea are 20 milligrams Sennosides A&B, naturally occurring in the senna leaf contained in the blend, which conforms to FDA requirements for stimulant laxative active ingredients. Senna is an herb traditionally used for its gentle regulating action.

 By 1984 the company had grown to include OTC products, functional teas, and a line of beverage teas. During the next three years the company began to market their medicinal herb teas as Traditional Herbal Medicines in Canada by acquiring Drug Identification Numbers from the Canadian Health Protection Branch. In the United Kingdom the teas were sold as Traditional Herbals.

 In 1999 Traditional Medicinals repositioned many of its teas as Herbal Dietary Supplements in compliance with the provisions of the Dietary Supplement Health And Education Act (DSHEA). The labels now include allowable ‘structure and function’ claim statements supported by evidence and a ‘supplement facts’ box containing phytochemical and essential nutrient levels. The company manufactures these Herbal Dietary Supplement teas according to FDA’s proposed current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in manufacturing, packaging and storing dietary supplements, published in February 1997.

 Traditional Medicinals is a socially responsible and environmentally conscious company, providing high-quality botanical products with a balance of responsible business practices as its guide. The company strives to create a positive, healthy and supportive working environment. Employees are encouraged to participate in community services and the company actively donates time, products and profits to charitable, environmental and educational non-profit organizations.
First in Medicinal Herb Teas™

 Traditional Medicinals represents the standard of excellence in the medicinal herb tea category.

 For over twenty-five years Traditional Medicinals have been a primary manufacturer of its own teas while maintaining strict drug Over-the-Counter (OTC) requirements for quality control, production and labeling. Traditional Medicinals does not use outside contractors to produce any of its domestic medicinal products because no other facility can duplicate the level of product quality and regulatory compliance we demand.

 Traditional Medicinals is proud of its leadership in the medicinal herb tea industry.

 Traditional Medicinals was the first herbal tea company to:

• Receive FDA drug manufacturing status for its medicinal teas thereby pioneering the OTC medicinal herb category in the natural products industry.
• Label its teas as botanical drugs and include cautionary statements and recommended dosages on its OTC products.
• test for the potency of active ingredients to ensure the safety and efficacy of its medicinal herb tea blends.
• Introduce the single tea bag overwrap to protect the active herbal ingredients and volatile oils and protect the consumer from product tampering with a tamper-proof seal.
• Use unbleached tea bags and recycled packaging materials.

   Being first is a constant challenge. As other companies attempt to capitalize on Traditional Medicinals’ success Traditional Medicinals is challenged to raise its level of excellence, to educate its trade customers and the consumer. Traditional Medicinals willingly accepts that challenge and look to succeed by focusing on health-conscious consumers seeking natural remedies for self-care.