[Herbalist] red raspberry leaf & cramp bark

[HL Fridhur Haralds]

More info on Red Raspberry:  There are two varieties.  Rubus strigosus which
is wild red raspberry and Rubu idaeus which is garden raspberry or European
red raspberry.

In John Lust's "The Herb Book" he lists Rubus idaeus as having properties
of:  astringent, cardiac, and refrigerant.  But the Rubus strigosus does not
have the same properties and its use "by pregnant women to prevent
miscarriage, increase milk, and reduce labor pains."

It seems to me that the variety of Red Raspberry that you ingest would make
a big difference.  I had such a wonderful experience with my last pregnancy.
My third child was born at home after a short but intense labor.  I drank a
pregnancy tea with Red Raspberry from the time I learned I was pregnant.  I
have always attributed this very good pregnancy experience with the tea.  It
had been 8 years since the birth of my second child (also at home) and I was
35 at the time.  I don't know which red raspberry herb I used in the tea but
I didn't have any problems.  Once again, though, all herbs are medicine and
should be treated with respect.  I'm so sorry that you had a bad experience.

Fridr
----- Original Message -----
From: <Loralei86 at aol.com>
To: <herbalist at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 10:15 AM
Subject: [Herbalist] red raspberry leaf & cramp bark


> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> In a message dated 4/17/02 4:03:48 AM Alaskan Daylight Time,
> herbalist-request at ansteorra.org writes:
>
>
> > Please note that reasberry leaves are not to be taken at any time if you
> > suspect your pregnant.  If you are not pregnant however, the tea is
> > wonderful and has a very pleasant aroma and taste.  (please take no
offense
> > Isrith - I just had a very bad experience when I drank the tea with my
last
> > pregnancy - my son is fine - but it was scarry there for a bit)
> >
>
> in Susun Weed's "Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year", you will
see
> red raspberry leaves mentioned as a uterine toner.  for most women it is
one
> of the best tonics to drink daily during pregnancy.  blended with nettle
leaf
> it has wonderful synergystic qualities. other sources that support the use
of
> red reapsberry leaf in pregnancy as a tonic include "Prescriptiopn for
> Nutritional Healing" by Balch MD and Balch CNC, and the "Naturally Healthy
> Pregnancy" by SHonda Parker.
>
> i am truly sorry you had a bad experience drinking it during your
pregnancy
> with your son. however, given the huge numbers of women who have better
> outcomes from drinking red raspberry leaf (it is also an ingredient in
> Traditional Medicinal's Pregnancy Tea) what happened with you may have
been
> an isolated incident.
>
> my personal anecdotal experiences include drinking it during 3
pregnancies,
> and having FABULOUS fun easy labors, with no pain and effective
contractions,
> and babies born with high Apgars.  the labors were 7 hours, 5hours 59 min,
> and 2 1/2 hours in length, from first contraction until they were out.
The
> only time i did not drink red raspberry leaf daily i ended up with a 19
hours
> labor and uterine contractions that were not as effective, and i learned
why
> some women want meds during their labor.  my son was also brow
presentation
> with a double nuchal cord.  but he came out too.  :)  this is all
anecdotal
> evidence.  widespread use of red raspberry leaf across hundreds of women
> supports its use in pregnancy.  i can't access my herbal PDR at the
moment,
> but after our move from alaska to new mexico, i will hapilly dig it out,
and
> can give a real in depth footnoted academic report.  might it have been
> possible you were allergic or did not react well to a component in the
herb?
> some people cannot drink chamommile because of a ragweed allergy,
chamomile
> an herb most people think as the most gentle.
>
> for cramps, cramp bark is very useful as well, as are black & blue
cohoshes.
> never ever ever take the cohoshes during pregnancy unless you are under
the
> care of a midwife and in active labor!  also avoid goldenseal during
> pregnancy as it acts as a vasoconstrictor.  i know that i am preaching to
the
> choir in saying this, but herbs are drugs, and need to be treated weith
> respect ~ and asking a professional, be it your local midwife or
naturopath
> (someone trained in herbs) is always best.  there is a wonderful line of
> tinctures on the market by Herbs Etc. and they have a huge array of herbal
> compaunds for women & their cycles.  the companion book is usually
attached
> next to the display and it gives a very thorough warning of side effects.
>
> as an aside, has anyone here taken Rosemary Gladstar's correspondence
course
> in the art & science of herbs?
>
> and my apologies in advance if i have stepped on anyone's toes.
>
> Shabannah
> mka Victoria
> student, Ancient Art Midwifery Institute
> mom to four born-at-home kids
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