My mountain is full of wild raspberries. They are everywhere, which makes the walks we take more tolerable for the husband. But Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is used medicinally for its leaves, not the fruit.
The main claim to fame for raspberry leaves is as a pregnancy tonic. The leaves can be used to make a tea that can be used throughout pregnancy. This is a rarity for herbs. There are very few herbs that can be taken in pregnancy and even the otherwise super-duper-safe chamomile should be avoided in the first 12 weeks. But raspberry is good for reducing morning sickness and preventing miscarriage, two symptoms which tend to occur early on in pregnancy.
Its benefits do not end after the first trimester though. It has a relaxing and toning effect to smooth muscle, especially of the uterus and colon. Drinking this tea throughout pregnancy can help to prepare the body for labor, making the contractions of labor more orderly, rhythmic and productive. This makes labor less painful, and a clinical trial showed that it shortens the second stage of labor (the most painful one)
And the benefits still don’t end there! It decreases post partum bleeding and can improve both uterine and bladder prolapse. Raspberry’s only contraindication is in constipation, iron deficiency and malnutrition because of the tannins in the leaves. Drinking the tea away from iron supplementation (most prenatals) is vital to making sure that momma gets all of that iron absorbed and to her baby.
[Complete tangent: one of the reasons why vegans and vegetarians tend towards iron deficiency is due to their higher consumption of tannin-heavy teas and lower levels of stomach acid that turns useless ferric iron in plants to useful ferrous iron which is found in meat naturally]
Pregnant ladies aren’t the only people who can benefit from raspberry leaves. It is a plant rich in calcium, magnesium, trace minerals and Vitamin C. It’s astringent, hemostatic and a mild alterative, so it can be used for gastrointestinal bleeding and diarrhea, frequent urination, and topically as a gargle for sore throat or tonsillitis, or as an eye wash for conjunctivitis.
Jen Williamson, ND is a native of Buffalo, New York who earned her Bachelor of Science at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania and a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. While in medical school, she became very involved in the student community, most notably as the President of the Student Government Association. For her service, upon graduation she was given the Outstanding Leadership Award.
In the spirit of Docere, the Naturopathic principle of the doctor’s role as teacher, Dr. Williamson was an adjunct professor in the Complementary and Alternative Therapies program at Daemen College. She has had articles in a variety of publications, includingNaturopathic Doctor News and Review, SheKnows.com, local Buffalo magazines and papers, as well as her own newsletter, blog and website. While practicing in Buffalo, she also offered over 30 different classes to the public at various events and locations.
In 2012, Dr. Williamson moved to Vermont to expand her practice of Naturopathic Medicine as well as provide an atmosphere that resonates with her medicine for her son, Victor, and husband, David. As a Primary Care Physician at Avalon Natural Medicine, Dr. Williamson focuses on mental/emotional, gastrointestinal, and endocrine disorders. Most of her treatment plans include a combination of nutritional, herbal and homeopathic remedies, but she has also received additional training in Hair Trace Mineral Analysis and Bowel Nosodes.