Raspberry

In mid-summer, the edges of mountain forests, such as beech forests, are filled with tiny fruits, some of them very tasty, such as raspberries. In Spain, raspberries are restricted to the northern mountainous areas, from the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees to the Cantabrian Sea, plus some mountains of the Iberian and Central System.

raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are highly branched brambles, with thorny and arched stems. The leaves are compound, the flowers are white, and the fruits are red and fleshy. Both are used in phytotherapy for their medicinal properties. Here we will see the properties of both, but we will focus on the medicinal use of the leaves.

In herbalists, raspberry is found in the form of a dry plant for infusion, tincture, fluid extract and syrup.

raspberry medicinal properties

The fruits of the raspberry, raspberries, contain tannins, organic acids and pectin. They are rich in vitamin C, B and E, in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus, organic acids such as oxalic, anthocyanidins and flavonoids.

The leaves stand out for their height worth astringent, healing, diuretic and anti-inflammatory.

What is raspberry used for?

Their fruits they are juicy and useful to eliminate fatigue and asthenia, in cleansing and slimming curesto mitigate the inflammation of the urinary bladder and to relieve rheumatism and gout.

These berries have a sslightly acid taste but very pleasantand are taken fresh as a dessert or to integrate into salads and fruit salads, as well as for the preparation of juices, sorbets, ice creams, syrups, jams, cakes, liqueurs, wines and vinegar.

How to use raspberry leaves in phytotherapy

To combat inflammation of the bladder

A simple remedy for this problem or if you have difficulty urinating, is the infusion of raspberry leaves. To prepare it.

It is made with a level tablespoon of dried plant per cup of water. Boil for 2 minutes, remain at rest for 10 and filter.

Take up to three glasses a day, preferably on an empty stomach.

To dissolve kidney stones

Another diuretic remedy, which also helps to dissolve kidney stones, is an infusion in which raspberry leaves are associated with saxifraga flowers (Silene Saxifraga) –a plant that grows in the fissures of the rocks–, red arenaria and horsetail, in equal parts. To prepare this infusion:

The plants are mixed in equal parts. Three tablespoons of the mixture are poured per liter of water. Boil for 1 minute, and leave to infuse.

It can be drunk during the day.

For the hypertensive people that are medicated, it is preferable to replace or suppress some of its more diuretic components, such as arenaria, to avoid potassium decompensation.

As an aphrodisiac infusion

Raspberry leaves are credited with a slight aphrodisiac effect. They should be combined with guarana powder, nettle leaves, rosemary inflorescences and a pinch of mint, infused.

Three glasses are taken a day, after meals.

for diarrhea

Water changes or mild poisoning can cause this disorder. To combat these problems there is a very useful infusion:

Raspberry leaves are mixed with loosestrife flowers, plantain inflorescence and oak bark, in equal parts. Use a tablespoon of the mixture for half a liter of water. Boil for a couple of minutes and let stand for 10 more.

The ideal is to drink a cup every 2 or 3 hours, about 6 doses a day, until the diarrhea disappears.

Jordi Cebrian. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”