“Red Raspberry Leaf”
The raspberry plant was a favourite household remedy and raspberry vinegars were used for sore throats and coughs, leaves were used in infusions for diarrhoea or as poultices for haemorrhoids.
While raspberry syrup was said to prevent build-up of tartar on teeth. Gerard considered the fruit ‘of a temperate heat’, and this explained why they were easier on the stomach than strawberries which could cause excess phlegm and chilling.
Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus
Common name: Red raspberry leaf
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used: Leaf – Harvested during summer before fruit ripens.
Active Constituents: 
- Flavonoids
- Polypeptides
- Tannins
- Fragarine (uterine tonic effect)
Qualities: Cool, dry, pleasantly aromatic, slight bitterness, Astringent (Ody)
“The fruit is good to be given to those that have weake and queasie stomackes” –John Gerard, 1597
Actions:
- Uterine Tonic
- Partus preparator
- Astringent
- Digestive Remedy
- Nutritive – Mg, K, Ph, Vit A, C, E & B vitamins, calcium, iron
- General Tonic (Ody)
Indications:
- Partus preparator – last 5 mths pregnancy – may shorten duration of labor & prepares uterus strength and tone.
- Aids in involution of uterus after delivery – helping uterus to return to normal size and tone – reduce cervical tear potential.
- Aids productions & maintenance of breast milk
- Adjunctive Tx for menorrhagia
- General & uterine tonic – post surgery – fibroids, pregnancy termination, curette
- Supports ligaments and cartilage
Contraindications: Use with caution in 1st trimester – often only recommended in the last trimester of pregnancy
Cautions: Tannins – may interfere with absorption of mineral – Fe, Ca Mg, some drugs – separate doses by 2-3 hours
Dosage: 25 per 100ml of 1:2 or 1-4 ml TDS
OTHER USES:
- INFUSION: To ease childbirth, take 1 cup daily in the last six to eight weeks of pregnancy and drink plenty of the warm tea during labour. Can also be used for mild diarrhoea or as gargle for mouth ulcers and sore throats
- WASH: Use infusion for bathing wounds. Also makes a soothing eyewash
- FACIAL STEAM/LOTION: tighten skin
- ICE BLOCKS OF PREPARED TEA: Suck on the frozen chips of a strong tea infusion during labour to help moisten the mouth and encourage uterine contraction
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