Red Raspberry popular as a folk remedy for painful and profuse menstruation and as a tonic during pregnancy. Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy are traced to the nourishing source of vitamins and minerals found in this plant and to the strengthening power of fragrine.
Red raspberry has health benefits beyond women’s issue. Red raspberry also valued traditionally as an astringent treatment for diarrhea, nausea, stomach ailments, colds, mouth sores, and inflamed mucous membranes of the throat. The tannins in the leaf make it effective in soothing inflammation in the digestive tract and can alleviate diarrhea, especially in children. Red raspberry leaves also contain significant amounts of vitamins A, C and E as well as the entire B-complex.
It is the abundant citrate of iron in the raspberry leaf and berry that gives this plant an excellent prevention and treatment for anemia, female organ "regulating" properties as well as the contracting action on the female genitalia and other tissues and membranes. Raspberry leaf drinks also acts as an astringent on irritated skin by tightening the top layers of skin or mucous membranes effectively reducing secretions, relieving irritation, and improving tissue firmness. As a mouth wash it is sued to soothe mouth and throat irritations.
How to prepare red raspberry tea? Place one ounce of dried raspberry leaves into a pint of boiling water (or half a pound per gallon) and simmer for ten minutes (though some recommend two to three hours to get maximum benefit from them). Drink the tea cold.
Caution: red raspberry is a mild uterine stimulant. Pregnant women should consult a qualified health care practitioner before using it.
Red Raspberry Drinks
