Raspberry leaf tea is one of the top 5 herbal teas highly recommended for women's health. The leaf tea is beneficial to pregnant women, relieves menstrual cramps, and has been said to improve the immune system. This is why the raspberry leaf is often referred to as a woman's herb.

Raspberry leaf tea is similar in taste to Earl Grey black tea or hibiscus tea. The raspberry herbal tea is made by drying and crushing red raspberry leaves obtained from the raspberry plant. You can also make the tea with fresh raspberry leaves or raspberry tea bags for faster brewing. 

Read this article for a detailed discussion on the possible benefits associated with raspberry fruit tea. 

Nutritional Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea

Raspberry leaf tea has many nutrients, and drinking this herbal tea nourishes you with several health benefits. As a woman's herb, red raspberry leaf tea is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B. The leaf tea also contains magnesium, zinc, and calcium. These minerals and vitamins aid digestion, strengthen bones and enhance overall wellbeing. 

Antioxidant properties are also present in raspberry leaves. These properties include tannins and polyphenols that protect cells against oxidative stress that can cause premature aging or diseases. 

Potential Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaves as a Pregnancy Tea

Herbs have served as complementary therapies in pregnancies for a long time. Thus, raspberry leaf tea happens to be one of the top five herbs used by pregnant women. 

According to scientific references, the following are the benefits pregnant women get from drinking raspberry fruit tea. 

May Shorten Labor

In earlier centuries, midwives used raspberry leaves as their herbal supplement to shorten labor. This is because red raspberry leaf contains fragarine that strengthens the pelvis and enforces smooth delivery. 

Scientific references show the effects drinking raspberry leaf tea has on labor. In this experiment, 108 women were divided into a control group and an experimental group. One group was tasked with drinking red raspberry leaf tea some months before labor, and the other group wasn't. The group that took red raspberry leaf tea had lesser risks of an artificial rupture, cesarean operations, and vacuum birth. 

Labor Induction  

A national survey on herbal remedies shows that red raspberry leaf tea is primarily used to induce labor and hasten delivery. However, it has other benefits, including increased blood flow, shorter labor, and reduced risk of childbirth complications.

May Serve as a Uterine Tonic

Red raspberry leaf tea is often believed to be a uterine tonic that tones the uterus for pregnancies. Raspberry leaf tea may enhance fertility in women, which is part of what makes it advantageous to women's health. Pregnant women have a reduced urge to urinate because of the fragarine in red raspberry leaf tea. Similarly, some people believe that raspberry herbal tea improves hormonal balance and increases the chances of pregnancy. 

What the American Pregnancy Association Says About Red Raspberry 

According to the American Pregnancy Association, drinking red raspberry leaf tea benefits pregnant women. Research suggests that in human and animal studies, red raspberry leaf tea may increase blood flow in the pelvic region. This strengthens the uterus, prevents excessive bleeding, and helps with contractions. 

Unlike any ordinary black tea, raspberry leaf tea is rich in iron and vitamins that improve milk production and reduce labor pains. Using the leaf tea during pregnancies also reduces the chances of birth complications. However, reports state that it is unsafe to use leaf tea during the first trimester. You can ask your health professional if you can use the red raspberry leaf tea in your second and third trimesters.

Other Health Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea

The following are some other health benefits of red raspberry leaf tea. 

Anti Inflammatory Properties 

This tea makes an excellent anti-inflammatory diet because of its anti-inflammatory properties. These properties, like tannin, help to treat diarrhea and inflammation. However, too much consumption of it can cause it to be a laxative, so mind your intake.

The polyphenolic properties can reduce arthritis, strengthen the bones and curb the damages done to the cartilage. 

Lastly, raspberries contain quercetin and anthocyanins, which help protect the body from bacterial and fungal infections. These protective properties reduce yeast infections and other bowel-related diseases. 

May Help Repair Skin Damage

The vitamins E and C and antioxidants in red raspberry leaf tea help repair chronic skin damage. The raspberry plant can be applied to affected parts of the body or taken orally to treat skin inflammation. 

Helps with Menstrual Cramps

Red raspberry leaf tea may reduce menstrual pain because of the following reasons. Firstly, leaf tea contains fragarine, which limits the activities of the uterus. This means that people with difficulty controlling their bowel movements will also find this helpful. In the same vein, the fragarine helps tighten the pelvic muscles, reducing the cramping sensation during menstruation. 

Secondly, women with heavy bleeding are prone to anemia - loss of iron- making them irritable and tired. But red raspberry leaf tea contains iron which repletes the ones lost during menstruation. 

Health Problems Associated With Raspberry Leaf Tea

Although red raspberry leaf tea has tremendous benefits on women's health, it still has the following adverse effects.

Gastrointestinal Upset

Red raspberry leaf contains natural laxatives that affect the digestive system. Taking too much of this herbal remedy can cause diarrhea and vomiting. The recommended safe intake is 1 to 3 cups of red raspberry leaf tea daily.

Increased Estrogen

Clinical practice shows that raspberry fruit tea can increase the level of estrogen in the body. Due to some women's sensitivity to this secretion, it is advised that you seek professional advice from your doctor. 

Braxton Hicks Contractions 

Red raspberry leaf tea can induce labor and may induce Braxton hicks contractions. These contractions happen in the uterus and can last for 2 minutes. They are not as regular as the real contractions and can cause you pain. Although it causes labor stimulation, integrative medicine advises you to take it two weeks before your due date. As a pregnant woman, ensure you speak with your healthcare provider about your consumption of the red raspberry leaf tea. 

Similarly, if you fall into any of the following groups, you might want to avoid drinking the red raspberry leaf tea or consult with your healthcare provider if it is safe for you. 

• If you're pregnant with twins
• You've experienced premature labor 
• If your previous labor lasted for 3 hours or less 
• You have experienced excess vaginal bleeding in the second half of your pregnancy 
• If you've had a cesarean section before 
• If you have a family or personal history of fibroids, gestational diabetes, and breast cancer 

Should I Drink Raspberry Tea every day?

For pregnant women, you can drink raspberry tea from week 32 of your pregnancy, if your healthcare professional has ascertained that it is safe for you. Start with one cup per day and gradually increase your dosage to 2 or 3 cups daily. However, you need to stop if you notice that you have false labor. It is not advised that you drink the tea early on in your pregnancy and if you notice any other side effects, talk to your doctor. 

How to Make Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

To make a cup of your raspberry leaf tea, steep one tablespoon of the dried tea leaves in boiling water. Please let the leaves steep for five minutes and ensure to strain the leaf tea before drinking. Raspberry leaf tea can be taken hot or cold, and with or without additives.

If you're wondering what type of red raspberry leaf tea to buy, here's an option. The Cycle Harmony Tea, made from raspberry leaves, licorice root, and others, balances and harmonizes your hormones and body system. With hormones' vital roles in our bodies, ensuring that the entire cycle is well-balanced is essential. 

Conclusion 

Whether consumed in raw form, as jams or used in cooking, the red raspberry fruit is famous for its taste. Apart from these, the fruit contains properties that make it an excellent health supplement. 

Raspberries also have many nutrients and vitamins that enhance women's health. The fruit protects women against several health diseases and helps to alleviate some of their conditions. However, you still need professional advice before consuming it, especially if you're pregnant or undergoing any medical treatment.