I was complaining to a friend last night about my monthly cramps. She suggested raspberry leaf tea, explaining that it helped ease her PMS symptoms. So I thought I’d do a little research and learn more about this herbal remedy.
Red raspberry (known to the science types as rubus idaeus) is most often used medicinally as a tea. Both the leaves and the fruit can be used in making a tea; just pour a cup of boiling water over a quarter cup of fresh plant material or two teaspoons of dried plant material. Let it steep for five minutes, then drain. Sweeten if you like.
Remember to ONLY use plant material if you are one hundred percent certain that you have the correct plant. Many plants can look similar, and while one may be safe, another may make you sick.
Raspberry bushes are native to North America. Traditionally, the leaves were used to treat diarrhea, cold, and sore throat. They were also used for general feminine health — including relieving extra heavy menstrual flow, toning uterine muscles, and preventing complications during pregnancy.
Modern science isn’t too sure about how useful red raspberry leaf is for the all-encompassing “feminine issues” but it may actually be useful for relieving diarrhea. The berries and leaves are very high in tannins — substances found in plants that can shrink certain proteins. In wine and tea, tannins give that astringent, puckery feeling in the mouth. Adding milk to your tea can ease the sensation, as the tannins will attack the milk proteins rather than the ones in your mouth.
If you are going to use raspberry leaf to relieve diarrhea, I hope you’re thirsty. Experts estimate that it make take as much as six cups of raspberry leaf tea per day to relieve acute diarrhea.
Will I be trying red raspberry tea to relieve menstrual cramps? It can’t hurt. If nothing else, a nice warm cup of tea will be soothing.