Red raspberries, also known as Rubus idaeus, raspberry, and wild raspberry, are native to the United States but are grown in other countries including Canada. Red raspberry tea is not made from the red raspberry fruit but is made from the dried leaves of the red raspberry plant.
The red raspberry leaves taste like black tea but without the caffeine.
Nutrition of Raspberry Tea
Raspberry leaves contain vitamin C and calcium. They are also a good source of other minerals and vitamins including iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins E, B complex, and A.
Red raspberry components include flavonoids (plant pigments with nutritional properties), tannins, and ellagic acid (polyphenol antioxidants). The highest antioxidant content is in raspberry leaves gathered before the bushes flower in spring.
Uses As Herbal Remedies
As an infusion or tisane, raspberry leaf is a commonly used tonic for women who are either pregnant or trying to become so. The raspberry leaf improves uterine contractions, decreases constipation, and tones the uterus. Its nutrients also help with the prevention of leg cramps, anemia, and morning sickness.
Raspberry leaf is not considered an oxytocic herb, so it is not used to start contractions. Rather, it helps strengthen uterine and pelvic muscles to improve efficiency during labor.
Traditional Medicine And Potential Benefits
Historic uses of raspberry tea include sore throat, diarrhea, and postpartum depression. For centuries, red raspberry tea treated canker sores, cold sores and gingivitis, anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and rhinovirus (common cold).
Other uses include rubbing the tea as an astringent on the skin or orally as a mouthwash.
How Much Raspberry Tea Should I Drink?
Although not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, a common dose is 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried, chopped leaves steeped for 10 minutes in 5 to 8 ounces of boiling water to make the tea.
Before pregnancy, a typical dose is a cup of red raspberry leaf tea twice per day. During the first two trimesters, women should abstain from drinking the tea, but at 35 weeks (only upon physician’s approval), 2 cups per day may tone muscles and reduce labor pains.
The Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Benefits
Red raspberry leaf tea is an herbal remedy sometimes recommended by naturopaths and alternative medicine practitioners. High in calcium, iron, and vitamins A, B, C, and E, raspberry leaf tea is recommended for pregnant women and is believed to strengthen the uterus and potentially induce labor.
For best results, talk to your doctor about the possible advantages and ramifications of adding raspberry tea to your healthy diet.
According to the American Pregnancy Association website, red raspberry leaf frequently is used during pregnancy to tone the uterus and overall uterine health, reduce nausea, increase breast milk production, and alleviate labor pains.
Although some alternative doctors recommend taking red raspberry leaf tea throughout pregnancy, many healthcare providers suggest waiting until after the first trimester, due to a lack of scientific evidence and scientific research. Raspberry tea commonly is available in both pre-packaged tea bags and loose leaf and can be found in tea and bulk herb sections of many health food stores.
Raspberry Tea Can Help with Digestive Issues
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends two to four cups of red raspberry leaf tea for people suffering from diarrhea. Thanks to its astringent properties, raspberry tea creates a drying effect on the mucous membranes of the intestines, potentially regulating bowel movements.
To make the tea, add 1 tsp. of raspberry leaf per one cup of hot water and let steep for five to 10 minutes, after which you can drink a half cup each hour, with a maximum of four cups per day.
Other Raspberry Tea Benefits
According to the American Pregnancy Association, red raspberry leaf tea is an iron-rich plant that is likely safe to consume during pregnancy. Most pregnancy tea blends use red raspberry leaf in their formulas. It is said to tone the uterus and increase milk production.
Benefits for Blood and Connective Tissues
Because organic raspberry tea is so rich in iron, it is said to be very beneficial to the blood. In her book “Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health,” Rosemary Gladstar claims the tea is used to restore iron-poor blood and may help with anemia, or other low-energy symptoms when combined with nettle tea.
She also writes that it is rich in niacin and among the highest sources of the trace mineral manganese, which helps the body produce connective tissue and bone cartilage.
More Benefits Of Raspberry Leaf Tea
In addition, due to its astringent properties, the tea may relieve infected gums and is, therefore, an effective mouthwash. Because it is rich in numerous vitamins and minerals, it is also good for a general nutritive tonic, immune system, or when recovering from illness and energy is low.
Potential Side Effects And Potential Risks
Raspberry leaf might adversely affect infants. Women who are breast-feeding must not use it. Diabetics should also be careful, since the tea may drastically lower blood sugar levels. Women who have endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and those who have breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer should avoid the tea as it can affect estrogen levels.
Men with prostate cancer may experience adverse effects, and the tannins in red raspberry leaf tea may interfere with vitamin and drug absorption.
Like many herbs, red raspberry leaf might interfere with some medications and could cause negative reactions in some people. Talk to your doctor before adding regular doses of raspberry tea to your day to reduce the risk of complications and other negative health effects.