A typical story about a laxative might arouse giggles and potty jokes, but the story of Smooth Move® truly inspires. Formulated in the 1970s by TM’s co-founder, world-renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, Smooth Move® was one of our very first products; today, it is still our #1 best-selling tea. Over the years, we’ve added to our laxative line of products with Smooth Move® Senna Capsules, Smooth Move® Senna Chamomile, and Smooth Move® Senna Peppermint. Our formula is based on the senna plant, traditionally used to relieve occasional constipation.*
We source senna, the active ingredient in Smooth Move, primarily from small family farmers in India’s Thar Desert, where our work supports women’s education and water collection initiatives.
The magic behind our formula
In herbalism, healthy digestion and elimination are an essential part of healing, so being constipated can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. When you consider that the digestive tract stretches 36 feet from the mouth to the rectum, healthy elimination and processing of food has an enormous impact on your health and energy levels.
That’s where the senna plant (Cassia angustifolia) comes in handy. As the key active ingredient in our Smooth Move teas and capsules, senna leaf works by gently stimulating your intestines and aiding your body’s natural elimination process. Formulated with traditional herbs like fennel, coriander and ginger to reduce the potential for unpleasant feelings like cramping, Smooth Move works best when taken at bedtime, as it generally produces a bowel movement within 6-12 hours.*
Senna can be a powerful herb, so please make sure to read the product box to see if Smooth Move is right for you. Sweet and slightly bitter, with spiced orange notes, it’s a pleasant and beneficial tea. Smooth Move Peppermint offers the same formula with a minty twist and Smooth Move Chamomile with a more floral one. Smooth Move Capsules provide the same benefits as the tea in a convenient, on-the-go format.
The magic behind our sourcing
We source our favorite senna for Smooth Move from India’s Thar Desert, one of the hottest spots on earth. Many villagers suffer from lack of water—particularly women and girls, who must walk miles to and from community ponds each day, carrying heavy pots of water on their heads. The mental and physical burden they carry inspired us to launch the Revive! Project® to reimagine new futures for these women.
Together with villagers, Traditional Medicinals Foundation, WomenServe and other partners, we have desilted and expanded 17 community ponds, dug and rebuilt 350 agricultural rainwater catchment systems, and constructed 554 underground rainwater catchment systems for families. Revive! has since blossomed into a full-blown development program that’s built five community schools, trained village healthcare workers, started women’s self-help groups, and donated hundreds of bicycles to give children easier access to school.
Through your conscious choice to use Smooth Move, you aren’t just making good decisions for your health; you’re also making a positive impact on the lives of these hard-working farmers and their families.