Raspberry is better known as a sweet flavoursome summer fruit than a medicinal herbal product, but in fact raspberry has a long history of being administered to treat conditions ranging from tonsillitis to stomach aches and of strengthening the womb in pregnancy.
Advertisement
The botanical name for Raspberry is Rubus idaeus, belonging to the Rosaceae family, but it is most commonly referred to as American red raspberry, the symbol for which is RUID.
This shrubby plant grows naturally in moist woodland and hedgerow areas and is native to many areas in Europe, Haiti, Turkey and the USA. Apart from the use of raspberries in fruit juices, salads, jams and preserves, syrups and deserts, the berries and leaves of the raspberry plant are used both externally and internally for medicinal purposes.
Externally a mixture is prepared for gargling to ease inflamed tonsils and mouth sores, and also to treat wounds on the skin, burns, conjunctivitis and varicose ulcers. The berry itself has been noted as an antiscorbutic and diuretic and when drunk as a juice, can successfully reduce fever, dissolve tartar on the teeth and benefit the heart.
In addition and along with the strawberry and blackberry, raspberry is high in vitamin C and antioxidants and well known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Scientific studies have also shown that these berries have the ability to impair angiogenesis – the excessive formation of tumours, while fruit extracts have shown to inhibit liver, breast and cervical cancer cells.
Traditionally raspberry leaf herbal preparations have been administered to pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy to assist the childbirth processes and studies in Australia, analysing the safety and effectiveness of such use, show no adverse effects to mothers or babies in such cases. This remedy can also be used to induce labour but more research is required to guarantee safe use of raspberry leaf potions for guaranteed safety during pregnancy.
Parts Used
Leaves – harvested in summer and dried
Fruit
Active Compounds
Polypeptides
Flavonoids, mainly glycosides of kaempferol and quercitin
Tannins
Fruit sugar
Volatile oil
Pectin
Citric acid
Malic acid
Mineral salts
What is raspberry used for?
Strengthen and tone the tissue of the womb
Ease labour contractions
Diarrhoea
Tonsillitis
Mouth ulcers
Stimulant
Skin wounds
Stomach aches
Strengthening the female reproductive system
Menstrual cramps
Forms
In South Africa, herbal preparations of raspberry include raspberry leaves powder and raspberry leaves cut. It is however possible to dry the fruit at home for use in tea and occasionally raspberry tincture is available on the local market.
Dosage
Tea
Add two teaspoons of the dried herb to a cup of boiling water and infuse for 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day.
Tincture
Take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
Safety
Little information is available regarding the safe use of raspberry herbal products, but the low dosage recommended by most brands is considered benign. Some herbs are known to react with medication though so consult a physician before taking any herb.
Bookmark with:
What are social bookmarks?