Why are raspberry leaves useful and how to use their properties correctly?
In almost any summer cottage there is little room for planting several raspberry bushes. Using juicy aromatic berries for making desserts and eating them fresh - do not forget about the leaves and stems of the plant. At the same time, it is important to know how raspberry leaves are useful for our health, how to properly prepare decoctions, tinctures and tea to achieve the maximum effect.
Features of the fruit bush
The structure of the raspberry bush:
- The plant has a powerful rhizome. A branched system of processes grows around the central trunk. New erect stems grow from these processes.
- Powerful stems grow up to 3 meters high.
- On the shoots on the stalks, there are alternate leaves, on one side dark green, and on the other almost white, covered with thin fibers.
- At the top of the shoots are racemose inflorescences of white flowers, which very quickly turn into juicy berries of black, red or yellow color.
Chemical composition of the leaves:
- B vitamins - thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic and folic acids, cobalamin;
- tocopherol - vitamin E;
- vitamin C;
- vitamin D - calciferol;
- astringent and tanning compounds;
- magnesium and potassium, phosphorus and salicylic acid;
- flavonoids;
- disaccharides.
All of these components make it possible to use the leaves of the raspberry bush to solve health problems.
Useful properties of raspberry leaves
The medicinal properties of raspberry leaves, shoots and berries are due to their unique chemical composition and are successfully used for the preparation of decoctions and tinctures that work as:
- hemostatic;
- antipyretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- diaphoretic;
- expectorant;
- immunostimulating;
- anti-aging;
- anticoagulants.
Raspberry leaves added to tea contribute to the successful prevention and treatment of bronchitis and colds. Products made on the basis of leaves are used to normalize digestive disorders, remove toxins and slag deposits from the body.
To cure stomatitis and remove inflammation of the gums, a decoction of fresh or dry leaves of a raspberry bush is used for rinsing the mouth.
In folk medicine, unique medicinal raw materials are used for:
- fast wound healing;
- treatment of uterine and gastrointestinal bleeding;
- strengthening immunity;
- treatment of hemorrhoids.
What are the benefits of raspberry leaves for the human body
The beneficial properties of raspberry leaves are used not only to eliminate various problems, but also to improve the condition of the skin. In cosmetology, in the manufacture of care products, an extract from raspberry leaf plates is added. The systematic use of a cream, decoction, tincture not only cleanses the skin, but also smoothes expression and age wrinkles, restores its elasticity.
Women's health and raspberry leaves
A woman's health requires constant attention, especially during the childbearing period. This is the reduction of uterine bleeding, and the fight against inflammatory processes, and the stimulation of labor.
When treating infertility, drugs based on raspberry leaves must be added to the course of therapy.
Rules for receiving infusion before childbirth
To prepare a medicinal infusion, use dried raspberry leaves. Pre-dry raw materials are crushed. An aqueous infusion is prepared every day using a thermos or teapot. For a glass of boiling water, it is enough to take a tablespoon of chopped leaves. Insist for no more than 30 minutes and strain.
Before using the infusion, it is necessary to consult a doctor supervising the pregnancy.
If there are no contraindications, take the infusion according to the scheme:
- 35-36 weeks. 200 ml of cooled infusion per day.
- At 37 weeks, drink a warm infusion of no more than 400 ml per day.
- 38 week. Consume up to 600 ml of warm raspberry infusion.
- At 39-40 weeks, drink a hot broth, bringing the volume to 800 ml.
Do not take infusion of raspberry leaves in early pregnancy and before 35 weeks.
Infertility treatment
A healthy endometrium is essential for conceiving a child. In case of problems with him, a woman may not get pregnant at all or lose a baby with an already onset pregnancy. In this case, traditional healers recommend replacing ordinary tea with tea made from raspberry leaves.
To do this, take 6 healthy clean leaves for 150 ml of boiling water. Cover a cup of tea with a napkin for 20 minutes. Filter the infusion and drink.
Take raspberry tea three times a day until pregnancy!
Problems with menopause
After 45 years, age-related changes associated with the extinction of reproductive function begin in the female body. During this period, a woman may experience sudden mood swings, an uncomfortable condition in the form of heat or cold throughout the body. Reception of the leaf infusion in the morning immediately after breakfast will help to ease such symptoms.
Cooking infusion:
- Pour a glass of settled water into a small enamel saucepan or stewpan.
- Pour in pre-chopped dry raspberry leaves (1 tsp).
- Warm up until boiling and remove from heat.
- Cover and leave for half an hour.
Raspberry leaves in cosmetology
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of raspberry leaves are used for hair care, acne-fighting and skin rejuvenation.
In adolescence, we often encounter acne. It is the ointment prepared from fresh raspberry leaves that will help to quickly and effectively solve this problem. To make a healing ointment, you need to take one part of grated leaves and two parts of good butter. Measure the proportions of ingredients in volumes. Mix thoroughly and rub problem areas in the morning for at least 14 days.
To keep your hair healthy and silky, you need to use raspberry tea to rinse it out.
Hair decoction recipe:
- Pour 800 ml of hot water into an enamel saucepan.
- Pour 40 g of chopped raspberry leaves into a container.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat and simmer for up to 10 minutes.
- Use warm after shampooing with your favorite shampoo.
Male health benefits of raspberry leaves
With age, in men, the functions of the genitals gradually weaken. Therefore, instead of the usual black tea, traditional healers recommend regularly drinking aromatic tea from the leaves of a fruit bush or a tincture based on them. Gradually, problems with the inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs will go away.
During the cold season, medicinal tea will help strengthen the immune system.
Why are raspberry leaves useful for children
If in the summer you prepare not only raspberry leaves, but also flowers pharmacy chamomile, leaves of coltsfoot, plantain, then in the autumn-winter period it will be possible to strengthen the children's immune system with the help of medicinal tea. Give medicinal tea up to 3 times a day. You can add honey or sugar to the drink.
Contraindications for use
There are few contraindications to the use of tinctures or tea made from raspberry leaves, but they definitely exist.
You can not drink medicinal tea when:
- individual intolerance;
- nasal polyps;
- bronchial asthma;
- gout;
- chronic constipation.
In order not to increase the uterine tone and not to provoke a miscarriage in early pregnancy, you can not use products prepared on the basis of raspberry leaves.
Rules for collecting and harvesting leaves
In order for all the medicinal qualities to be preserved in the collected raspberry leaves, you need to know how to properly prepare and preserve them.
Features of the workpiece:
- The best time to harvest the leaves is from May 15 to June 30.
- The raspberry tree in the summer cottage, from which the leaves will be harvested, cannot be treated with chemicals.
- Choose undamaged and clean raspberry leaves.
- Do not harvest in the morning until the dew has dried. Dry sunny weather is suitable for harvesting.
- It is necessary to dry the plucked specimens under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area so that direct sunlight does not fall on the workpiece.
- Lay out the leaves in a thin layer and turn over every day.
- If necessary, you can use an electric dryer.
- To store dried leaves, use closed glass jars, cotton bags or cardboard boxes with a lid. Store no more than 2 years.
When harvesting and using the leaves of a raspberry bush, it is important to remember that only the correct moderate consumption of decoctions and tinctures will help solve many health problems. However, this is not a panacea for all diseases and traditional medicine recipes must be used in parallel with traditional medicine preparations.