Red Raspberry
Parts Usually Used
Bark, leaves, fruit and roots
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
: Wild red raspberry is a native shrubby plant; a durable root produces the prickly, biennial stem with alternate, pinnate leaves consisting of 3-5 narrow, oblong-ovate, acuminate leaflets. The white, cup-shaped flowers appear in spring and summer of the second year. The red edible fruit, made up of cohering drupelets, ripens during the summer. : Garden raspberry is a shrubby plant; growing as high as 6 1/2 feet, the biennial stems have few or no prickles and bear alternate, pinnate leaves with 3-7 serrate, broad-ovate to oblong-ovate cordate leaflets which are usually downy white underneath.
Clusters of 1-6 white flowers appear in the upper axils during spring and summer of the second year, producing the familiar red fruit which ripens later during the summer.
Where Found
: Widespread in thickets and untended fields over North America. : Widely cultivated for its fruit but which also grows wild in and around forests in Europe.
Medicinal Properties
: Astringent, cardiac, refrigerant
Biochemical Information
Both species: 1 to 2% organic acids of which 90% is citric acid, pectin, sugar, silicon, and vitamins C and D
Legends, Myths and Stories
In days of old, when midwives were the primary health care providers to women, “natural” childbirth was the only way to have a baby. Then, the leaf of the raspberry bush (Rubus idaeus) was the herb of choice. Routinely, women brewed the tea to drink it during the last 2 months of pregnancy. This was to tone the uterine muscles for labor and delivery. After the birth, the tea was continued for several weeks to help the uterus return to normal.
The Chinese name for the red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is Fu-p’en-tzu, which means “a turned-over bowl” in reference to the shape of the fruit. This common raspberry grows in many parts of the world; including the uplands of the central and western provinces of China.
Uses
Herbalists historically employed Rubus strigosus L. for diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hemorrhoids, sores, and wounds. Folk traditions also utilized the plant for complaints such as hot flashes and menstrual cramps, attributing to it the ability to relax intestinal spasms and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. It was additionally reputed to support the health of the nails, bones, teeth, and skin, while the fresh fruit was considered mildly laxative.
, as a tea for diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and bladder discomfort, or consumed it simply as a beverage. It was also applied topically as a wash for sores, wounds, and rashes, or used as a gargle and mouthwash for sore throats and oral irritations. Historical accounts noted the use of the fresh juice, sometimes combined with honey, for fevers, while syrups or vinegars made from the fruit were believed to offer benefits for the heart.
How Sold
Fresh fruit, dried fruit, powdered leaves
Warning
May interfere with iron absorption when taken internally. Care should be taken in cases of chronic constipation. American raspberry has a good reputation for reducing miscarriage but other varieties are known to promote abortion. Do not take during pregnancy until the last 2 months, and then only under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner.
Bibliography
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The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living , by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988). , West Nyack, NY, 1987. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. The Healing Plants , by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. , Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992