For centuries, midwives have touted the benefits herbal remedies when used during pregnancy. One of the most widely used is raspberry leaf tea and is used both during gestation and delivery. Raspberry leaf tea has been widely used throughout North and South America, China, and Europe by pregnant women. It is believed to be a cure-all, helping women combat many symptoms from leg cramps to morning sickness. It is also widely accepted as one of the safest herbal remedies used by pregnant women. Many believe it to be useful in helping to achieve pregnancy, so many women buy tea in the hopes of getting pregnant. There is some debate as to its usefulness after childbirth. Some believe that it should not be used during breastfeeding while some believe that it helps with milk production.
The easiest way to take the leaf is by making it into herbal tea. Raspberry leaf can be taken in a tablet, teabags, loose-leaf tea, or as a tincture. Raspberry tea can be purchased from many health food stores or many midwives or practitioners. Raspberry Leaf can be purchased loosely, or women can also buy tea bags, which is much more convenient. Raspberry tea can be made iced in the summer and also help women to cool down. Women drink the herbal tea throughout their pregnancy and up to childbirth, and there is good reason for it.
Raspberry tea is high in many nutrients including B vitamins, iron, and calcium. The herbal tea also contains a rich concentration of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium. Raspberry Leaf also contains the alkaloid fragrin, which has a direct effect on the uterus. It helps to strengthen the uterine wall, relax smooth muscle, and helps to make childbirth easier by helping the uterus to contract.
Many physicians recommended starting to take raspberry leaf at 32 weeks and then through to the birth. There have been no officially reported side effects but many women report that they suffer from nausea, increased Braxton-Hicks contractions, and diarrhoea after drinking raspberry tea. Drinking the tea earlier in the first trimester may also help prevent miscarriage. One common misconception is that using raspberry leaf tea can help induce labor.
As with any medication used when pregnant, careful consideration should be used. Some tinctures can be very high in alcohol and caution should be used, as no level of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe. There are alcohol-free versions of the tincture available. It is also important to buy tea and raspberry leaf through a reputable source, as there is very little regulation on the manufacture of some herbal remedies. Herbal remedies have sometimes been found to contain other contaminants.
Although drinking raspberry leaf tea during the latter stages of pregnancy may seem unusual to most women, largely due to the taste as it is an acquired taste, the longer term benefits largely outweigh the short term taste discomfort. There are many reputable sources in order to obtain the leaf tea, your local chemist will stock it in some forms but more variety can be found at the following website: http://www.raspberryleaftea.org.uk
The easiest way to take the leaf is by making it into herbal tea. Raspberry leaf can be taken in a tablet, teabags, loose-leaf tea, or as a tincture. Raspberry tea can be purchased from many health food stores or many midwives or practitioners. Raspberry Leaf can be purchased loosely, or women can also buy tea bags, which is much more convenient. Raspberry tea can be made iced in the summer and also help women to cool down. Women drink the herbal tea throughout their pregnancy and up to childbirth, and there is good reason for it.
Raspberry tea is high in many nutrients including B vitamins, iron, and calcium. The herbal tea also contains a rich concentration of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium. Raspberry Leaf also contains the alkaloid fragrin, which has a direct effect on the uterus. It helps to strengthen the uterine wall, relax smooth muscle, and helps to make childbirth easier by helping the uterus to contract.
Many physicians recommended starting to take raspberry leaf at 32 weeks and then through to the birth. There have been no officially reported side effects but many women report that they suffer from nausea, increased Braxton-Hicks contractions, and diarrhoea after drinking raspberry tea. Drinking the tea earlier in the first trimester may also help prevent miscarriage. One common misconception is that using raspberry leaf tea can help induce labor.
As with any medication used when pregnant, careful consideration should be used. Some tinctures can be very high in alcohol and caution should be used, as no level of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe. There are alcohol-free versions of the tincture available. It is also important to buy tea and raspberry leaf through a reputable source, as there is very little regulation on the manufacture of some herbal remedies. Herbal remedies have sometimes been found to contain other contaminants.
Although drinking raspberry leaf tea during the latter stages of pregnancy may seem unusual to most women, largely due to the taste as it is an acquired taste, the longer term benefits largely outweigh the short term taste discomfort. There are many reputable sources in order to obtain the leaf tea, your local chemist will stock it in some forms but more variety can be found at the following website: http://www.raspberryleaftea.org.uk
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