10 Tried & True Reasons Red Raspberry Is Great For All Women

Red Raspberry Leaf is the herb of choice for pregnancy and for women’s overall health. It’s the best single herb that we can take for total uterine health.

Red Raspberry is an excellent source of the alkaloid fragrine, which tones the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. This really helps lessen or eliminate cramps in the menstrual cycle and makes for an easier birth. 

Red Raspberry leaves also contain many vitamins like vitamin C, E, A, B complex, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, silicon, sulfur, also easily assimilated calcium and iron. All of this makes Red Raspberry leaf the best base available for prenatal and postpartum teas, as well as, pre- and postmenopausal teas.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is full of a naturally occurring calcium. Better assimilated than calcium supplements. Without a ready supply of calcium, only part of the uterine muscle will work as it should. This puts strain the rest of the uterine muscle, adding tremendous pressure on an already stressed body.

Getting enough calcium in this way also eases the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Calcium helps to regulate the hormones your body is flooded with every month. If your calcium supplies are adequate your body will not have to release as many of the hormones that cause PMS . The symptoms of PMS, like cramping, irritability, and depression are all very similar to other calcium-deficient symptoms.

Additionally, while it may not have a strong history of allopathic (mainstream) medical or clinical use, red raspberry leaf does have a long history of use by many midwives and pregnant women. Many claim that RRL helped improve their labors and recovery, compared to previous labors when they had not used it. This was my personal experience as well, and I always recommend RRL during pregnancy for this reason.

10 Tried & True Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf for Pregnancy

Susun Weed writes in Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years (which is currently in it’s 24th printing!):

The benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy include:

~ Increasing fertility in both men and women. Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when combined with Red Clover.

~ Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from an atonic uterus.

~ Easing of morning sickness. Many attest to raspberry leaves’ gentle relief of nausea and stomach distress throughout pregnancy.

~It assists in labor, decreases the length of labor, making for an easier delivery.

~It works during all stages of pregnancy. 

~Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, however, counter the pain of pelvic dilation.

~It does not strengthen contractions, but does allow the contracting uterus to work more effectively and so may make the birth easier and faster.

~ Providing a safe and speedy parturition. Raspberry leaf works to encourage the uterus to return to its prior state.

~ Assisting in the production of plentiful breast milk. The high mineral content of Raspberry leaf assist in milk production.

~It seems to help prevent pregnancies from pre- or post-term gestation (delivering too early or too late)

Benefits In Non-Pregnancy

~Regulates a menstrual period and decreases heavy periods (Drink 2-3 cups per day. After 2-3 months you should obtain a regular cycle.)

~It is good for stomach aches and bowel problems in children and diarrhea in babies.

~It is good for digestion, as an antacid, and for those with bloating and gas.

~Treating Acne: It can act as an astringent on irritated skin by tightening the top layers of skin which effectively reduces secretions, relieves irritation and improves tissue firmness.

~Can be used as a mouth wash to soothe canker sores, swollen gums, and throat irritations.

~It is an effective support to treat UTIs when taken consistently with D-mannose.

Red Raspberry Leaf Pregnancy Tea Recipe

Making Your Own Dried Red Raspberry Leaf Herb

In spring when the young, unsprayed growing raspberry plants are fully leafed-out, it is a good time to pick and dry your yearly stash of tea leaves. This is what my daughter and I have done off and on for years.

To dry your own red raspberry herb, pick clean and healthy leaves, as many as you need. String the leaves on a thread with a needle and hang to permits air circulation. Your herbs should be kept in a dry climate with minimal exposure to sunlight. Check on them once a day to make sure they dry evenly. It may take about a week. Once they are dry, you can crumble them and store them in labeled and dated jars.

Or make tea from fresh leaves by pouring boiling water over the leaves and steeping them for 5-6 minutes or longer. It does not seem to get bitter. We find it very pleasant over ice, even unsweetened. Optional: add mint leaves. It is fabulous on a hot day, and it is very strengthening.

Shoshanna Easling gives us some ways to use red raspberry leaves during pregnancy:

If you don’t have access to red raspberry plants to make your own red raspberry leaf tea, you can purchase it very reasonably in bulk from the Bulk Herb Store.

 “A tea made from Red Raspberry leaves is the best gift God ever gave to women. Its utility in travail is surprising. As a drink before and after confinement, it is unequaled by any other agent. If the pains of childbirth are premature, it will make all quiet. When timely, it will occasion a safe and easy parturition. If the mother is weak, it will abundantly strengthen her, cleanse her and enrich her milk. It is perfect safe under all circumstances.” ~Renowned Quaker herbalist, Henry Box

“He (God) caused the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he (man) may bring forth food out of the earth…” ~Psalm 104:14