Herbs 201 ~ Mod 4, Option 4 ~ Herb Uses (Part II)

Choose two of the emmenagogue herbs we studied and make use of them for medicinal or culinary purposes. Discuss your experience. Be sure to check any contraindications before use.




Herb:Red Raspberry
Latin Name: Rubus idaeus
Parts Used: Leaves, fruits, roots and stems
Properties: Is a emmenagogue, alterative, stimulant, styptic, tonic and a astringent herb that tones the uterine muscles during pregnancy.

Medicinal: The main two uses they have is 1. It can be used to relieve menstrual cramps with a feeling of heaviness. 2. It's used to tone and strengthen the tissue and muscle of the uterus. Drinking it during the last few months of pregnancy to tone the muscles to assist contractions and check bleeding in labor.
It also can be used externally to treat tonsillitis, mouth inflammation, sores, conjunctivitis, minor wounds, burns and varicose ulcers.

Preparation: OK! I just like to eat them. But my mom was tested and told her body was low on Iron. She loves teas, so I told her to start drinking red raspberry tea. My mom went and bought some and tried it and she seems to like it.

Here is how she prepared it as per my instructions.

Take about 1oz of red raspberry leaf and steep in 2 cups of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes and strain through a cheese cloth into a mug. Add honey to sweeten since raspberry leaves are kinda blah. lol

Contraindications: Although this herb is commonly used in pregnancy, Dr. Francis Brinker says in his book Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions that it is contraindicated where there is a history of precipitate labors. He also claims it has antigonadotropic activity.

History and Folklore: The use of red raspberry Leaves dates back to ancient Greeks and Romans. I haven't found anymore than that. Haven't been able to find any history on it's use as a wine though there were wineries producing it as a wine since at least the 1800's

Source Cited
Books:

1. Brown, Deni. The Herb Society Of America, ENCYCLOPIDIA of HERBS & THEIR USES, 1st Edition. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc, 1995, pp. 373,
2. Ibid, pp. 223
3. Ibid, pp. 194
4. Ibid, pp. 344
5. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West, 1st Edition. Santa Fe, NM: Red Crane Books, 2001, pp. 305
6. Bremness, Lesley. The Complete Book OF HERBS, A practical guide to growing & using herbs, 1st Edition. New York, NY: Penguin Books USA Inc, 1994, pp. 247-248,