What are the effects of raspberries?
The dried leaves of raspberries are used for medicinal purposes (in the form of raspberry leaf tea). Their astringent effect, i.e. their astringent effect on the upper layers of tissue, is used mainly for the treatment of mild diarrhea, based on many years of experience. The relaxing effect of raspberry leaves on the muscles of the digestive tract is also helpful.
The relaxation effect also affects the muscles of the uterus. Mild cramping menstrual cramps are therefore another traditional application of raspberry leaf tea.
There is also good experience with the external use of the tea infusion in the treatment of mild inflammation of the mouth and throat.
Does raspberry leaf tea kick-start childbirth?
So far, however, there is no scientific evidence for the birth-preparing and -inducing effect of raspberry leaf tea. Expectant mothers who are nevertheless hoping for a birth-inducing effect can start drinking the tea should discuss this with their midwife, gynecologist or obstetrician.
Does raspberry leaf tea help with childbearing?
Even women who are not pregnant but would like to be, often rely on raspberry leaf tea. Infertility patients often drink the tea in the first half of the cycle (= time from the 1st day of menstruation to ovulation). The plant estrogens contained in the tea are supposed to support the development of the uterine lining (in preparation for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg).
However, fertility doctors are skeptical: the safety and efficacy of raspberry leaf tea for infertility have not yet been adequately studied.
How is raspberry used?
Raspberry as a home remedy
For a raspberry leaf tea for mild diarrhea or period pain, pour two to four grams of dried, chopped leaves (1 tsp = about 0.8 grams) over about 150 milliliters of boiling water. Let the infusion steep, covered, for ten minutes before straining the leaves. Drink such a cup of raspberry leaf tea three to four times a day between meals. The recommended dosage per day is six to eight grams of raspberry leaves.
Alternatively, you can prepare the tea as follows: Put the leaves with cold water and boil the whole thing briefly.
You can also use the raspberry leaf tea as a mouthwash and gargle solution. This can help with mild inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat.
Ready-made preparations with raspberry
There are ready-made raspberry leaf tea, offered as medicinal tea, in the pharmacy, health food stores or well-stocked drugstores. Some tea blends also contain raspberry leaves.
What side effects can raspberry cause?
So far, no side effects are known for raspberry leaf tea.
What you should bear in mind when using raspberry
There are no special instructions for use of raspberry leaves.
During pregnancy and lactation, you should in principle ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist for advice regarding selection and dosage before using medicinal herbal teas.
For raspberry leaf tea from the pharmacy, you should follow the instructions of the package insert or your doctor or pharmacist.
How to get raspberry and its products
In pharmacies you can get dried raspberry leaves (whole or cut). They come either loose or in tea bags. In addition, raspberry leaves are sometimes part of tea blends.
The raspberry (Rubus idaeus), like the closely related blackberry, is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). It is widespread in the temperate zone of Europe and Asia, but also in the northern regions.
In summer, raspberry bushes bear pinnate leaves with white felty hairs on the underside and inconspicuous white flowers. From these develop the sweet-sour, red fruits – the raspberries. Nutritional values such as B vitamins and vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron, as well as secondary plant compounds (such as flavonoids) make raspberries healthy.
At the same time, they are anything but fattening: in addition to the main ingredient water, there is relatively little sugar and hardly any fat in raspberries. The calories (more precisely: kilocalories / kcal) thus amount to a modest 43 per 100 grams of raw fruit.
