Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

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Other names for raspberry

Red Raspberry
Raspberry Fruit
Raspberry Leaf
Black Raspberry
Palm-Leaf Raspberry
Raspberry (unspecified)
Raspberry (various)
Raspberry ketone
Raspberry Ketones
raspberry seed
Red Raspberry

Synopsis of raspberry

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is a perennial shrub in the Rosaceae (rose) family, valued both for its sweet red fruits and its medicinal leaves. Native to Europe and northern Asia, and now cultivated worldwide, raspberry has long been utilized in herbal medicine. While the berries are nutrient-rich—containing antioxidants like anthocyanins, vitamin C, quercetin, and ellagic acid—the leaves are often more emphasized in traditional healing practices due to their astringent, anti-inflammatory, and uterotonic properties.

Raspberry leaves contain tannins, flavonoids, fragarine (a plant alkaloid), and volatile oils, making them particularly effective in toning tissues and reducing inflammation. In Western herbalism, raspberry leaf tea is most commonly associated with women’s reproductive health. It is used to tone the uterus, regulate menstrual flow, and support pregnancy and labor. Fragarine is believed to help strengthen pelvic muscles and prepare the uterus for childbirth, while the astringent tannins assist in controlling bleeding and soothing mucosal inflammation.

Modern herbal applications also include raspberry leaf as a remedy for diarrhea, sore throats, mouth ulcers, and minor wounds, owing to its tissue-tightening effects. The fruit itself, aside from its antioxidant properties, supports cardiovascular and metabolic health and may play a role in protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation-related chronic diseases.

Historical Usage:
Raspberry has been used medicinally for over a thousand years, particularly in European and indigenous herbal traditions. The earliest documented use comes from Ancient Greece, where raspberry was associated with the god Ida—hence the species name idaeus. Greek herbalists prized the fruit for its cooling and anti-inflammatory effects and the leaves for soothing digestive and reproductive issues.

In medieval European herbal medicine, raspberry leaves were commonly used to stop excessive bleeding, both internally (e.g., heavy menstruation, postpartum hemorrhage) and externally (minor cuts). The famed herbalist Nicholas Culpeper recommended raspberry leaves for strengthening the womb, helping during labor, and treating ulcers and wounds.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, North American midwives and herbalists had fully embraced raspberry leaf as a foundational tonic for women's health. Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and Iroquois also used raspberry preparations—both berries and leaves—to treat coughs, digestive upset, and gynecological concerns.

In Victorian-era England, raspberry leaf infusions were prescribed by physicians and herbalists alike for menstrual pain, childbirth support, and convalescence after delivery. The herb became a staple in early American pharmacopeias and remained widely used in midwifery into the 20th century.

Today, raspberry leaf tea continues to be popular among herbalists, midwives, and naturopaths for its safe, gentle tonifying action on the uterus and its broader astringent qualities.

Raspberry is used for these health conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Acid Indigestion (Traditional)
Arthritis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Bleeding (external) (Traditional)
Bleeding (internal) (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Cardiovascular Disease (Scientific)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Constipation (children) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cuts (Traditional)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Free Radical Damage (Scientific)
Gas and Bloating (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Gingivitis (Traditional)
Labor and Delivery (Traditional)
Miscarriage (prevention) (Traditional)

raspberry is used to support these body systems

Blood (Scientific)
Circulatory System (Scientific)
Digestive System (Scientific)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Gums (Traditional)
Immune System (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Scientific)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Ovaries (Traditional)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Skin (Scientific)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)
Uterus (Traditional)
Veins (Traditional)