Raspberry in herbal medicine

The raspberry is a deciduous shrub that grows as high as six feet or two meters. It has woody stems with thorns, pale green leaves, white flowers and edible red berries.

The leaves are the part of the plant used in herbal medicine. Traditional indications for raspberry leaf in Western herbal medicine include pregnancy (especially to facilitate parturition), diarrhea, stomatitis and tonsillitis.

Red raspberry leaf has a long history of use in women’s health, mostly particularly pregnancy. Raspberry leaf has astringent and stimulant properties and is a popular remedy for many ailments.

It has long been claimed that raspberry leaf tea can be used to “cleanse and purify the blood”. It is also recommended in cases of morning sickness and as a general tonic in women’s health.

Raspberry leaf contains tannins, which stop burns from oozing. The tannins cause proteins in healing skin to cross-link and form an impermeable barrier.
Raspberry in herbal medicine