Used in pregnancy to prepare for childbirth
Used to alleviate diarrhea
A uterine tonic with astringent properties, red raspberry leaf has a history of medicinal use going back centuries in the cultures of Greece, China, India, western Europe, and native North America.
Health writer Michael Castleman tells of the remarkable scientific research that has given confirmation of the effectiveness of this herb: "In 1941, raspberry came into its own when an animal study published in the British medical journal Lancet showed that the herb contains a ‘uterine relaxant principle’. Over the next 30 years, several other studies confirmed this finding. Today, physicians in England and Europe prescribe a number of raspberry preparations for morning sickness, uterine irritability, and threatened miscarriage."
Herbal researcher Kerry Bone gives further astonishing particulars about the therapeutic benefits of red raspberry leaf: "A retrospective, observational, controlled study involving 108 women found that women can consume raspberry leaf during their pregnancy to shorten labor, with no side effects identified for the women or their babies. Ingesting raspberry leaf may also decrease the likelihood of preterm and postterm labor, evidenced by a smaller spread of the gestation period among the raspberry leaf group. An unexpected finding of the study was that women who ingest raspberry leaf might be less likely to require artificial rupture of their membranes, cesarean section, forceps, or vacuum birth."
As widely published herbal botanist James Duke affirms, "I’m sold on raspberry for complaints of pregnancy. One study identified a chemical in raspberry that relaxes the uterus. For centuries, women prone to miscarriage have been urged to drink raspberry leaf tea throughout their pregnancy to help them carry the baby to term. The herb is also reportedly useful in preventing many of the discomforts of pregnancy, including morning sickness."
In his monographic entry on red raspberry, leading herbalist David Hoffmann explains that, "Raspberry leaf has a long tradition of use in pregnancy to strengthen and tone the tissue of the uterus. Used for this purpose, it purportedly strengthens contractions and checks hemorrhage during labor. As an astringent, it has therapeutic applications for a wide range of conditions, including diarrhea and leucorrhea."
Researchers F.C. Czygan and K. Hiller, authors of a scientific monograph on red raspberry leaf, offer the following conclusions in support of the timeless indications of this herb: "On the basis of its tannin content, raspberry leaf is popularly used as an antidiarrheic... In folk medicine, it remains in use as a gynecological aid. In a survey of nurse-midwifes, 63% of those who prescribe herbs prescribe raspberry leaf tea as a uterine tonic. In a controlled clinical trial, raspberry leaf tablets significantly shortened the second stage of labor and lowered forceps deliveries."
Administration:
45-90 drops (1.5-3 ml), three times daily, in a mouthful of water, on an empty stomach
Contraindications and Cautions:
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ingredients:
Certified Organic
Red Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) |
