Traditional Medicinals

At Traditional Medicinals, we’re committed to using high quality pharmacopoeial grade herbs and embracing ingredient purity, sustainability, and social and environmental activism. We were and are pioneers in the wellness tea categories and will continue to lead the way.

We don’t just make formulas because they sound good. We’re passionate about passing along the centuries-old wisdom of how to use plants for wellness. Every tea and herbal product that we make must have sufficient evidence of safety, quality and efficacy in support of our claim statements and formulation rationale.

The Early Roots of Traditional Medicinals

Third generation herbalist Rosemary Gladstar was raised close to the earth in the farmlands of Northern California. In the late 1960s, while living in the coastal redwood forest, she met community activist and environmentalist Drake Sadler. The young couple was part of a movement of back-to-the-land baby boomers seeking an alternative lifestyle, including natural foods and herbal remedies. Together, they shared a vision for the rebirth of herbalism in North America, and in 1974 they co-founded Traditional Medicinals.

Today, Rosemary is often referred to as the god mother of modern herbalism. She is a well respected teacher and author who also founded The California School of Herbal Studies and the nonprofit United Plant Savers. No longer active in the company, Rosemary’s original herbal formulas (including Throat Coat, Mother’s Milk, and Smooth Move), continue to fulfill the promise of quality and integrity.

After decades of leadership, Drake transitioned away from company management and is now focused (with support from Traditional Medicinals Foundation) on working with and empowering the mostly indigenous and impoverished communities around the world that collect and cultivate medicinal plants. These investments in supplier community well-being provide food and water security, access to health care, education and training, economic development, and gender equality.

As Rosemary has a continued commitment to herbal education, Drake remains passionate about environmental stewardship and social equity. Forever kindred spirits, their founding values are infused into the core principles of the company and serve as a model for responsible business.