Raspberry — y-u-u-u-um! This delightful herb has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. It is easy to grow and fun to have in your garden because of its luscious fruit. Both raspberry leaves and fruit are credited with healing properties. Containing modest amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E along with calcium, phosphorus and iron, raspberries are as healthful as they are delicious.

One of the most common uses of raspberry is for women’s issues because it is an excellent uterine tonic. In both Chinese and European herbal medicine, raspberry leaf tea is a classic herbal preparation for pregnant women. In the 1940s, British researchers found that raspberry relaxes muscle spasms in the uterus.

In Chinese medicine, a cup of raspberry leaf tea is recommended to be taken 1/2 hour before meals to prepare for childbirth and to help prevent miscarriage. Raspberry leaf tea is also known for its ability to help with heavy cramping during menstruation.¹ It has also been shown to relax tight uterine muscles and tighten relaxed uterine muscles.² (If you elect to use this herb during pregnancy, please do consult with a physician who is knowledgeable about herbal remedies.)

Dr. John Christopher, who is famous for herbal formulations teaches:³

“Both the leaves and fruit are high in citrate of iron, which is the active alterative , blood-making, astringent and contractile agent for the reproductive area. The tea is a valuable and effective agent for female menstrual area. The tea is a valuable and effective agent for female menstrual problems decreasing menstrual flow without stopping it. …Raspberry leaves stimulate, tone and regulate before and during childbearing, assisting in contractions and checking hemorrhage during labor, relieving after birth pains, then strengthening, cleansing and enriching the milk of mother in the post delivery period.”

But raspberry doesn’t stop at women’s health issues. The leaves tone the mucus membranes throughout the body, soothe the kidneys and urinary tract, and are useful for stopping diarrhea and hemorrhage. And because raspberry leaf has astringent properties and contains tannins, it has been used as a remedy to stop burns from oozing. The tannins cause proteins in healing skin to cross-link and form an impermeable barrier.² The astringent properties of raspberry also make it useful as a mouthwash and a gargle for throat inflammation .

Here is a simple way to make raspberry vinegar as an additive to cough mixtures and gargles: steep 55 grams of the fruit in 1 liter of wine vinegar for two weeks and then strain. The thick red liquid has a pleasant taste and can help disguise the flavor of other herbal expectorants.⁵

References

1. Weiss, Gaea and Sharndor, Growing and Using The Healing Herbs , Wings Books; New Jersey , 1985, p. 217.
2. Balch, P, Prescription for Herbal Healing, Avery Press, New York , 2002, p. 115.
3. Christopher, Dr. John R., School of Natural Healing , Utah , 1999 (11 th printing), p. 157.
4. McIntrye, A, The Complete Woman’s Herbal Henry Holt Company; New York , 1995, p. 25.
5. Ody, P, The Complete Medicinal Herbal ; DK Publishing, New York , 1993, p. 93.

[ Ed. Note : Candace Booth has a natural health practice in Mt. Dora , Florida where she offers consultations in nutrition and overcoming disease symptoms with natural healing remedies. Her new book, How Much Fat Are You Carrying – The Ultimate Fat Loss Guide For People Who Are Sick of Diets is available on her website, www.Destinationhealthplus.com.]

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