Raspberry Leaf
BotanicalRubus idaeusAlso calledRed raspberry leaf
A mild, astringent leaf with a taste close to black tea, long brewed in Western folk tradition as a women's herb.
Raspberry leaf tastes nothing like the berry. Steeped, it is pale amber and pleasantly dry on the tongue, much like a light black tea without the caffeine. That puckery feeling is astringency, and it is the key to how both Western herbalists and Ayurveda think about this leaf.
It is not a classical Ayurvedic herb. Modern Ayurvedic teachers describe it as astringent and cooling, a toning herb that suits pitta and kapha. In Western folk practice it has been a women's herb for generations, sipped through the monthly cycle.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as astringent in taste and cooling, with a pungent post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Pungent
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Little direct effect on digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Astringent and cooling, raspberry leaf tones and dries, which suits pitta and kapha. Vata types may find it drying on its own, so blend it with something sweet and moist like oat straw or a little licorice.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a comfortable monthly cycle.
- Traditionally used to support healthy tone in the reproductive tissues.
- Traditionally used to support firm, settled digestion as a gentle astringent.
- Traditionally used to support a comfortable mouth and throat as a rinse or gargle.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaf in a cup of just-boiled water for 10 minutes. It is mild and tea-like, and blends well with mint or rose.
- WaterA cooled cup of the tea can be used as a simple mouth rinse.
Raspberry Leaf and Rose Cycle Tea
A gentle, floral cup for the days before your period.
- 1 teaspoon dried raspberry leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried oat straw
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rose petals
- 1 1/2 cups just-boiled water
- Honey to taste
- Place the raspberry leaf, oat straw and rose petals in a teapot.
- Pour the water over, cover and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain, let it cool slightly and stir in a little honey.
- Sip in a quiet moment, perhaps with a few slow breaths or a restorative pose.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Raspberry leaf has a folk tradition around pregnancy, but it can affect the uterus. Use it in pregnancy only under the guidance of your midwife or doctor, and never as a substitute for prenatal care.
- Safety research on raspberry leaf while breastfeeding is limited, so check with your doctor first.
- Safety research on raspberry leaf in general is limited. If you have a hormone-sensitive condition or take any regular medication, talk with your doctor before using it.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using raspberry leaf regularly.
In Our Shop
Organic Raspberry Leaf, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
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This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.