raspberry tea leaf

[S.K.]

my friend said to drink this i am having some female issues and she said that this helps you my dr thinks i'm starting to go thru premenopouse which i just turned 39 does this stuff help and can i drink it with being on thyroid meds

 

she also said to take evening primirose oil but no where does it say anything about period help me please

[Mother]

S.K., Raspberry tea is a very good all around tonic for women. It is especially good at toning and strengthening the uterous but truthfully, the herbs or supplements you use will depend on the reason for your problems. Normally hormonal caused it can also be physiological in nature too. Even thyroid issues can affect the female hormones.

 

At 39, it is possible for you to be starting into peri-menopause but that is a bit early. It is sad that more and more women and even young girls are having hormonal problems. The unsaid story for a lot of our hormonal problems stems from the hormones given to the animals we eat. Unless you are raising your own chemical free animals you have probably been getting these chemicals for ages already. Add to that the sprays on our produce and grains, the various chemicals that are used in industry, the preservatives, and additives and you will be able to see the accumulation could cause serious problems.

 

Raspberry tea and the other herbs, like evening primrose oil or cohosh and etc, can help but they can't do it well as long as you are still putting things into your system that interferes with the normal rythms and actions of the body. There are a lot of sites on the web that address herbs for woman's problems but try to choose one that isn't trying to sell you something. Most of those are slanted towards their products.

 

In just a quick search I came up with dozens like this one http://www.compleatmother.com/womens-health/hormones/herbs.shtml but haven't checked them out. From my knowledge of herbs and health though, this one at least gives some realistic ideas of the usages of certain herbs and nutrition.

 

 

Please, do your research and decide which best fits your personal situation and really consider looking at the foods you eat in relationship to your problems. Where do they come from, how are they grown, what were they fed and etc.

 

Good luck, it's definitely not fun to deal with female issues and starting into peri-menopause at 39 could mean many many years of problems.

[coastygirl]

I wish I would have known about the raspberry tea----I went thru early menopause at 31. Good thing I had my kids before I was 25. In our family, it was hereditary.

[Ambergris]

SK, make a little tea like you would mint tea, about ten leaves per cup steeped for about 15 minutes, and drink a cupful one day. The next day, unless you had problems, drink a cupful morning and evening. If you think you might want to drink this year round, go out before the fruit ripen and pick all the clean, brighter-colored leaves you can conveniently collect. Dry them gently and store in a cool place.

 

If I were you, I'd be careful of taking this with a soy-heavy diet. Soy is a potent phytoestrogen, and can really mess up your hormone balances.

[Andrea]

http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/component/content/article/40-herbal-encyclopedia/236-raspberry-the-female-toner.html

 

 

Raspberry, the Female Toner by Sue Sierralupe Red Raspberry, Rubus idaeus

Raspberry photo/Sue Sierrlupe

Raspberry is a woman's best friend. The tea soothes menstrual cramps, tones the uterus and eases childbirth. Even the berries stock the body with vitamins that relax the impact of both PMS and menopause. No one thinks of the medicinal actions of raspberries as they sprinkle them on yogurt yet this fruit is doing its work in the body just the same.

Children love raspberries too. Besides the joy of nibbling on their bright, sweet fruit, kids find this the tea that calms their stomach aches and decreases diarrhea to be easy to swallow. The dried leaf tea is fairly bland with a slightly fruity taste that is easy to give to kids who have a low tolerance for variety in flavors. This makes childhood a more pleasant place to be for both the kids and their parents.

Medicinal Properties and Actions of Raspberry

Raspberry leaves contain properties that tone the entire reproductive system. Unlike other herbs, raspberry releases its constituents further down in the digestive tract than the stomach. This means the uterus gets to enjoy the majority of the medicinal qualities raspberry possesses. Raspberry contains fragirine, which tones the muscles of the pelvic region. If used regularly, it tones the female reproductive system and alleviates a multitude of problems that cause women problems throughout their lives.

Midwives recommend raspberry leaf for women after birth as well. Not only does this herb help the uterus retain its former shape but it stimulates breast milk production. The tea is a welcome companion to a nursing mother as it calms digestion and prevents colic as it transfers from mother to baby through breastmilk. Since raspberry leaf soothes digestion, it can be given to children throughout childhood.

As a nutritive herb, raspberry leaf and fruit have a lot to offer. The berries are full of vitamins. The tingle of ascorbic acid can tickle your tongue if you allow yourself to savor a raspberry long enough. Raspberries in fruit and leaf form are high in chelated iron, magnesium, and calcium. These are minerals doctors advise women to be certain to focus on to avoid serious health problems in the future.

The astringent quality of raspberry gives this herb a broad spectrum of applications in treating swollen tissue in the mouth and throat. The pleasing taste and gentle energy makes raspberry a perfect companion for any parent with sick children. Most symptoms of the stomach flu relax under raspberry's tender care.

Conditions Best Helped by Raspberry

Menstrual cramps are the bane of many women's existence. Just a cup or two of delicious raspberry leaf tea eases menstrual flow and the accompanying cramping. Raspberry, as a uterine tonic, serves to regulate uterine muscles by either relaxing or increasing uterine tone as the situation requires. The alkaloid fragine interacts with the lower pelvic region of the body as it is released deep within the bowels.

Raspberry is an ideal herb for pregnancy support. Other than toning the uterus and providing nutrition, raspberry also eases morning sickness. Raspberry leaf tea can be a stimulant if used excessively. One or two cups of tea daily is more than enough to stabilize digestion and soothe the pelvic region.

Diarrhea and bed wetting is a big childhood problem. Raspberry leaf has tannins that slow the flow of liquid in to the intestines, which allows the body to form a solid stool. It also tones the pelvic region, which allows the bladder to regain control even as the child sleeps. Be certain the little one doesn't drink this helpful tea too close to bedtime. A cup with dinner is perfect. Adults can make good use of this herb as well. Menopausal women who find their bladder is losing its tone will benefit from a daily dose of raspberry leaf.

Sore throats and einflamed gums are soothed by a raspberry gargle. Try a spoonful of raspberry vinegar in a 1/2 cup of warm water to rinse the mouth during your tooth brushing routine. This herb prevents bleeding gums and throat conditions in which the glands are swollen. Excessive phlegm dries up when red raspberry leaf is on the job.

Consider using cooled raspberry leaf tea or tincture in a wet cloth to sooth minor burns. The tannins in raspberry treat inflamed tissue by stimulating the protein in your skin to build a protective barrier so the area can heal properly. This treatment is very soothing to sunburns.

For more information on the conditions best helped by this herb, see the topics in Conditions.

List of Raspberry's Medicinal Actions

Astringent, tonic, parturient, stimulant and nutritive.

Medicinal Processing for Raspberry

Raspberry leaf tea photo/Sue Sierrlupe

Raspberry is one of the few herbs that must be processed from dry leaves. Fresh leaves contain a substance that causes stomach upset as they wilt. Making a tincture from raspberry leaves is simple. The easiest way to process this tincture is to add dried raspberry leaves to brandy. The results, after it has been shaken regularly for a few months and strained, is a delightful tincture that is easy to take straight from the dropper.

If you are processing raspberry leaf tincture using whiskey or vodka, be sure to add a bit of glycerin to bring out the herb's natural sweetness. I add a little extra water to my alcohol preparations, which can bring the alcohol level down to 1/3 of the liquid contents. The water soluble constituents are the focus of these tinctures and seem to pack a greater wallop than do those processed as high alcohol tinctures.

Raspberry leaves are very easy to dry. Simply hang a few stalks upside down in a dark, well-ventilated spot. The leaves dry quickly so check the stalks daily. Once they are dry enough for use, they will be brittle and display a green color on the upside of the leaf with a grayish white color on the opposite side of the leaf. Wear gloves when stripping the leaves from their stalk to prevent injuries from the hairy prickles.

An afternoon of stove top attention can produce raspberry leaf glycerin or syrup that is perfect for a child with stomach flu symptoms. Raspberry glycerite is made by cooking dried raspberry leaves on low heat in a covered container with liquid that is 1/4 water and 3/4 glycerin. After the glycerin mixture has had time to cook and has darkened in color, remove the glycerite from the stove. Strain the results through cheesecloth and refrigerate. It will last 6 months in the refrigerator. As this formula involves the use of dry herb, more can be made at any time of year.

For more information on basic herbal preparations, see the topics in Herbal How-to.

Raspberry in the Garden

Raspberries are native to North America and tolerate a wide range of zones. They are very easy to grow in their native North American soil. They fall under the mantle of "soft fruits" because they grow on canes and do not store well without preservation. Raspberries prefer rich, heavy soil that is 6.0 pH or lower. Soil that is 7.0 pH is prone to iron deficiency which stunts the fruit harvest. Second year canes will bear fruit the same year that they are planted making them a pleasure for almost any gardener.

All varieties are self-fertile. Some bear in summer and some in fall. Virus free varieties are also available in garden shops. Raspberries tend to get leggy so some support is needed. A few bamboo canes or a fence with air circulation will do. There are everbearing varieties that provide fruit all summer long and need no support at all.

Pruning is the key to successful raspberry gardening. The berries produce fruit on the second year canes, so after the fruit has been harvested, these are the canes that must be pruned to ground level. The new canes without fruit will bear next year so those should be left alone. Remember to add compost to the soil every fall after pruning.

If birds are stealing you best fruit, you have two choices: cover your canes with bird netting or plant more than you can harvest and enjoy the wildlife show. The joy of being an herbalist really shines with raspberries since even if you lose all your fruit, you still have the leaves to enjoy for medicine.

Quick ID tips Raspberry Appearance: Tall shrubs that grow in stands up to 6 feet high. Single branches grow from ground armed with prickles completely covering their whitish bark. In spring, alternate, trifoliolate, lobed leaves appear followed by white flower clusters and red or black globe-shaped fruit. When harvested, raspberry fruit is hollow, unlike its cousin blackberry which holds onto its core when harvested. Taste:

Bright red fruit is sweet and tasty. Leaves are astringent and bland yet reminiscent of green tea's flavor.

Odor:

Tangy fruit scent. Leaves have very little odor.

Harvesting Raspberries

Raspberry clusters photo/Sue Sierralupe

Gather raspberry fruit in the summer when it's ripe. The best time to collect raspberries is in the morning when it has the strongest flavor. Raspberries are fragile so do not collect them in deep baskets or they will be crushed under their own weight. Rinse your produce gently to avoid bruising.

There are two schools of thought on collecting raspberry leaves. One is to collect them in the spring when the leaves have the most energy. The other is to collect them in the fall after berry season has passed to make best use of the entire plant. Either method produces leaves that must be dried before use so it is the opinion of this herbalist that either method is suitable.

The easiest way to harvest raspberry leaves is to cut down the entire raspberry stalk. Turn the stalks upside down and tie in clusters 4 or 5 stalks to dry. Look for healthy raspberry leaves with deep green color. Keep an eye out for damage by insects or mold that could cause problems later. It is much easier to see the undesirable leaves when they are fresh than wehen they are dried.

Using Raspberries to Care for Animals

Raspberries offer nutritious food for a wide variety of animals. Poultry and livestock enjoy the leaves straight from the stalk. Pregnant animals benefit from raspberry in the same way pregnant humans do. The nutritious berries are considered delicacies for animals both fresh or dried.

Try bathing a dog with oily skin or a heat rash in raspberry tea to offer them relief. The tannins cut the musty smell and condition the skin to help your pet regain good health. On the spot, topical treatments for burns or heat rash are comforting to dogs and the scent of raspberry leaf is not one that their sensitive noses will find overwhelming.

Recipes, Household Formulas, and Non-medicinal Uses of Raspberry

Raspberry fruit are delicious and refreshing. The list of uses for these tangy, sweet berries are only limited by your imagination. I love to add a handful of frozen berries to yogurt or smoothies. Dried raspberries get cooked into granola or cookies. Fresh raspberries decorate cakes and salads. Just a dab of raspberry jam on toast wakes up the groggy riser.

For more recipes and ideas for using raspberry, see the topics in Recipes.

Cautions for Raspberry

No known cautions exist for raspberries. Discontinue use of raspberries if allergic reactions occur.

Only consume dried raspberry leaves as fresh leaves exude a substance that causes stomach upset as they wilt.

[homeschoolshe]

8 parts Raspberry leaf

3 parts Peppermint

2 parts Nettles

3 parts Alfalfa

 

This is the concoction that a friend prepared for me. Lots of nutritional value for the female body. She also recommended that I use lots of red clover. I didn't see any noticeable changes in me, but then again I was only trying to get and stay pregnant. I always had normal cycles. My oldest daughter went from really sporadic cycles that would take anywhere up to 40 days to commence to cycles that came every 28 days. She would make a quart of tea, drink half and refrigerate the rest until the next day. I think it took 3 months of drinking it everyday before it regulated her.

 

I know this is an old thread, but thought to share anyway.

[sassenach]

thanks for the bump. Sounds like raspberry tea would be good for me too, including about the magnesium levels I am having problems with , and since its in tea form should be easily absorbed by my system. Thanks! Wish I had known about this because I went into early menopause too and figure it had to do with commercial beef I ate so much of and all the pesticides and such in our foods even though you want to think you washed it off. Its in the feed now , commercial food is saturated with it and some of us don't have much choice when it comes to shopping or acquiring grass fed etc, foods.

Thanks for the info on rasberry tea and such. Nice write up

[Andrea]

Just remember that raspberry and strawberry leaves must be dried or they can cause stomach upset. Guess who learned this the heard way!