Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and Molasses

 This post is intended to be of benefit to all you women out there who are trying to nourish your bodies, especially in the child bearing years.  

Most people have heard that taking red raspberry leaf tea is beneficial for women and children, and indeed it is!  In fact, it is greatly beneficial to everyone for the reason that it is high in many of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies crave; especially Vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, magnesium, niacin, and selenium!  This is why raspberry leaf tea it's considered one of the super foods, or a super herb, more specifically.  

In addition to being a powerful nutrient booster, red raspberry leaf tea cleans the mucus membranes throughout the digestive system and the female organs.  This cleansing nourishing power makes a woman's reproductive organs well toned and more ready to carry and deliver a healthy strong baby.  This is good news for the mom and the baby!  In addition, this process helps prevent constipation and is a good anti-emetic; which means it helps prevent vomiting.  AND, for many, it greatly eases nausea.  Wonderful!

Another use for this calming, cleansing effect on the mucus membranes is the use of red raspberry leaf tea for  the stomach flu.  It does for the stomach what a good sinus rinse does for the sinuses.  It's a good preventative, if the flu is going around, and if you do get the flu, eat nothing and drink red raspberry leaf tea all day long, as much as you can (you can't get too much) until the flu is gone.  This will cleanse the stomach lining and flush out what is causing the problem.  Many people report getting well in 24 hours.  If you stop using the tea too soon you'll know.  The symptoms will return :)  

To make this wonderful red raspberry leaf tea; pour one cup boiling distilled water over 1 tsp dried leaves and let steep 5 -20 minutes.  (We make a quart at a time and put it in the fridge.)  Strain out the leaves and the tea is ready to drink.  We find it more enjoyable to drink with some peppermint added in :)  For pregnant women, or those planning/hoping to be, it's recommended you take the tea 3 times a day.  It's very beneficial for postpartum as well. Taking the tea a few days a month when not pregnant helps tone the body and minimize the unpleasant effects of your cycle.  

Many of us have access to red raspberry leaves in our yards or neighborhood.  The best time to harvest them is late spring/early summer when the strength of the plant has gone out into the new leaves but before the flowers of the berries have come out.  Also, the leaves can be harvested as well after the berry harvest while the leaves are still fresh and supple. Never take more than 1/3 of the leaves off any branch as to maintain the strength of the plant.  Dry the leaves out of direct sunlight, in a basket perhaps, and then crush them and store in glass, not plastic.  

Is this enough about red raspberry tea?  

Just a  note about molasses, it is another wonderful "super food" for pregnant women because it helps build the blood well, helping to prevent hemorrhaging.  Taking 1 T per day while pregnant, especially during the last trimester, would be wise.  Even more is indicated if there is a history of excessive bleeding, say 3 T a day or more.  It's important that good molasses from the health food store be used, and not the common varieties found in grocery stores.  Since taking a tablespoon of molasses might be strong, one might well mix it in with their red raspberry leaf tea :)  

Have a great day!