Raspberry Leaf Tea for Easier Periods
Raspberry leaf tea is a favorite remedy of many herbalists and has been widely used by midwives for centuries. Containing minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, B, C, and E, these leaves provide nutritional support vital to a healthy reproductive system. It can help regulate menstruation, improve energy levels, minimize bloating, reduce cramps, and even help with pregnancy.
Regulate Menstruation with Raspberry Leaf
When the body produces sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, one of the minerals it uses is zinc. These hormones are necessary to stimulate the ovaries and induce menstruation. So when the body doesn’t have an adequate supply of zinc to produce these hormones, it can throw off your cycle. Raspberry leaf contains high enough levels of this mineral to help bring your system back into balance.
Improve Energy Levels
During menstruation, the body’s supply of iron and phosphorus often drop. Low levels of these minerals can lead to fatigue and muscle weakness. This herb contains both, which can help keep your energy levels stable.
B vitamins are another group of compounds that are often depleted during your period. These vitamins are crucial for maintaining energy levels and a positive mood. They are also found in raspberry leaf.
Raspberry Leaf for Bloat Prevention
Another perk of raspberry leaf is that is a diuretic, meaning it helps your body regulate the amount of fluid that it is holding on to and flushes out the excess. This is due to the herb’s levels of potassium. Reducing excess fluid helps reduce bloating so that you can still fit into your favorite jeans during that time of the month.
Strengthening the Pelvic Floor
Raspberry leaves have long been regarded as a powerful uterine toner. This is due to an alkaloid in the plant called fragrine. Fragrine primarily affects smooth muscle, or the type of muscle found in our internal organs. It increases blood flow to these muscles and helps the muscle fibers contract in a more organized fashion.
Reducing Menstrual Cramps
This plant is also rich in calcium and magnesium, both of which help maintain muscle tone. Another useful mineral found in this plant is zinc, which, along with potassium, helps prevent both cramping and swelling. These minerals together work to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.
Strengthening the pelvic floor has many benefits for those who menstruate. It can lessen cramping and help you have stronger and more frequent orgasms. For those who have or want to have children, it can also prevent incontinence after birth.
Raspberry Leaf and Pregnancy
This herb is also helpful for those trying to conceive. Not only does it make the conception process more fun, it also reduces the chance of early miscarriage when consumed prior to conception. However, there is some controversy as to whether or not you should avoid consuming this herb during the first trimester. Drinking raspberry leaf tea has been found to help with morning sickness. But due to the herbs ability to help regulate your cycle, some believe that continued consumption may actually increase the odds of miscarriage.
Once you’ve reached the second trimester, herbalists agree that the tea is safe to consume again. By toning the uterus and pelvic floor, it can help you have a faster and easier birth, as well as reduce the healing pain after giving birth.
Where to Find
This herb is one that’s pretty easy to get your hands on. If you have your own raspberry plant, you can simple pluck some leaves from the plant. You might also be able to find a generous neighbor with a raspberry plant. When harvesting your own, be sure to pinch off the leaves, rather than tearing them. This does less harm to the plant and allows it to grow new leaves. Also try to spread out the area you take the leaves from. Stripping one branch completely bare could stress the plant. Thank the plant for sharing with you, and you’re done.
If you can’t harvest your own, ordering raspberry leaf is also an option. Mountain Rose Herbs offers a wide variety of organic and sustainably harvested herbs.
If you’re not a fan of loose leaf tea or just want someone to do the work for you, you can also buy raspberry leaf tea bags. Yogi Tea is easy to find and may be carried at your local grocery store. Traditional Medicinals and Earth Mama are other brands that are highly recommended.
D. Jill Mallory MD, in Integrative Medicine (Fourth Edition), 2018.
Aviva Romm, in Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, 2010.
Henry M. Hess, in Clinical Pharmacology During Pregnancy, 2013.
Tieraona Low Dog MD, in Women’s Health in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 2005.
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