Health Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea
Of course, you can also get the benefits of raspberry leaves without necessarily having in a tea form. Capsules and tinctures are another herbal medicine option too. Just remember we are talking about raspberry leaves, not the sweet fruit.
Tea made with raspberry leaves has a flavor much more like typical black tea. Pleasant enough to drink alone, or with a little sweetener if you like.
Anyway, let’s look at raspberry leaf from an herbal health perspective. For the most part, raspberry leaf tea is best known as a wonderful tonic during pregnancy. So let’s start there.
The compounds in raspberry leaves specifically target and tighten pelvic muscles, which can be a great to help with labour as well as recovery after childbirth. This aspect of raspberry leaf is also handy for women who aren’t pregnant as it can tame those terrible PMS cramps too. If you are trying to get pregnant, raspberry tea is also a good choice. It can boost fertility and improve uterine strength.
During pregnancy, the key is to drink your tea during the second and third trimesters, not the first. It can be too stimulating on the uterus and may cause problems.
And let’s not forget the older woman. Raspberry leaf tea has a place for treating menopause symptoms too! Its hormone-balancing properties can help with many symptoms, such as the terrible night sweats and leg cramps. A popular menopause blend combines raspberry with nettle.
There are a few important nutrients you can find in raspberry tea too. Most notably, there is a significant amount of iron (3.3 mg in an ounce of leaves) as well as several B vitamins, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium. So even if the traditional “women’s issues” aren’t a concern for you, raspberry leaf tea is still a nutritional powerhouse and should be part of your daily tea regimen simply as a dietary enhancement. Who couldn’t use a few more vitamins?
Other Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea
Aside from its famous pregnancy benefits, there are a few other areas that raspberry leaf can be very helpful with when it comes to traditional herbal medicine:
- lowers blood pressure
- balances blood sugar levels
- boosts immune system
- eases diarrhea
- supports prostate health in men
Side Effects
Raspberry leaf tea is considered safe but if you are pregnant you should let your doctor know you are drinking it, and stick to just one cup a day. You can also find it has a bit of a laxative effect if you drink more than that, which may or may not be a negative side effect for you.
Sources and further references:
Healthline – Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Earth’s Friends – Raspberry Leaf Tea Benefits
Mama Natural – Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
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