Traditional Medicinals Review: Do the Wellness Teas Actually Work?

Throat Coat is the tea that makes the strongest case for the whole brand. The formula leads with slippery elm bark and marshmallow root — both demulcents, meaning they're rich in mucilage that forms a slick, gel-like film when steeped. Add licorice root for a rounded sweetness, and the result is a cup that genuinely coats. On our first sip, the texture was unmistakable: slightly thick, faintly sweet, with a clinging smoothness that lingers down the throat. That mouthfeel is the active mechanism, and it's why this blend feels different from a plain herbal tea.

Taste-wise, it's polarizing. Licorice root makes it noticeably sweet and slightly earthy-anise, which some people love and others find medicinal. It is not a casual everyday tea — it's the cup you reach for when your throat is raw from a cold, a cough, or too much talking. Used that way, it's excellent. Traditional use here is for temporary relief of minor throat irritation, and the demulcent herbs are well-suited to that purpose.

One honest caveat: the licorice root that makes it taste good is the same ingredient that warrants restraint. Heavy, sustained licorice intake can affect potassium and blood pressure, so this isn't a tea to drink six cups a day, every day. As an occasional sore-throat remedy, though, it's the most effective thing in the box.

Of every tea in this review, Smooth Move is the one whose effect is not up for debate. Its active ingredient is senna leaf, a stimulant laxative the FDA recognizes as an over-the-counter active for the relief of occasional constipation. Senna works by irritating the lining of the bowel to stimulate movement — and it does, typically within 6 to 12 hours. The supporting cast (licorice, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, coriander) is there to soften senna's harshness and ease cramping.

We treated it accordingly — a single bag, steeped 10–15 minutes, taken at night. The flavor is mild, sweet, and a little spiced from the fennel and cinnamon; it's honestly pleasant, which is part of the risk. Because it tastes like a cozy bedtime tea, it's easy to forget you're taking a laxative. Don't. The label is explicit that it shouldn't be used for more than one week without medical supervision, isn't for use in pregnancy, and isn't a weight-loss product no matter how the 'detox tea' corner of the internet markets it.

Used as directed — occasionally, short-term, for genuine constipation — it's effective, gentle relative to a pill, and the spiced flavor makes it far more tolerable than most. Used as a daily 'cleanse,' it can cause dependency and cramping. The product is good; the way people misuse it is the problem.

After two teas built around potent botanicals, Peppermint is a palate-cleanser in every sense. It's a single-herb tea — just organic peppermint leaf — and the quality of that leaf is the whole story. It brewed up notably brighter and more menthol-forward than the dusty supermarket peppermint we compared it against, with a cooling finish that actually registers on the tongue. There's no bitterness and no need to over-steep; five minutes gives you a full, aromatic cup.

This is the tea we'd recommend a first-time Traditional Medicinals buyer start with. It's caffeine-free, so it works after dinner or before bed; it's naturally calorie-free and unsweetened; and unlike Throat Coat and Smooth Move, there's no licorice or senna to ration. You can drink it daily without a second thought. The one mild caveat is for people prone to acid reflux, since peppermint can relax the lower esophageal sphincter — but for most people it's a clean, soothing, genuinely useful everyday cup.

On a per-cup basis it's also the best value in the lineup, and the leaf quality justifies choosing it over a cheaper generic. If you only buy one box from this brand, this is the low-risk, high-satisfaction pick.