Are raspberry leaves useful or harmful?

Raspberries - undoubtedly a unique plant. Its positive aspects can be listed for a very long time. It is easy enough to grow shrubs and even amateur grower. In addition to the wonderful taste of fresh berries, raspberry fruits are frozen and ground with sugar, jam and compotes are made. All these berry delicacies are not only very tasty, but also exceptionally healthy. But few people know that raspberry leaves have no less useful properties than its fruits.

  • Biochemical composition
  • What is the use?
  • Raspberry leaf application
    • In folk medicine
    • In cosmetology
  • Contraindications
  • Where, when and how to collect leaves

Biochemical composition

The leaves of this shrub are a real well of vitamins and trace elements. They include ascorbic and folic acids, astringents, vitamins A, C, PP, E and K, flavonoids, salicylates, antioxidants. In addition, they contain fiber, lactic and malic acid, sugar, tar, and antioxidants. There is also a high content of mineral salts.

Did you know? Due to the high content of acids, crimson infusions and teas help to alleviate the hangover.
There is a high content of trace elements such as iodine, copper, magnesium, iron, potassium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus and calcium. Such a rich composition of crimson leaves causes their beneficial properties and at the same time practically no contraindications.

What is the use?

In addition to the well-known anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic action, this plant is endowed with many more useful properties. Fresh crimson foliage speeds up the healing process and is used in cosmetology. A decoction of raspberry leaves is able to resist indigestion, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, is effective for diarrhea, colds and bronchitis.

Rinse decoction of this medicinal plant is used for sore throat and conjunctivitis. Compresses and lotions make for bruises and hemorrhoids. Also, various drinks based on this plant are shown in a number of gynecological diseases, as well as in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Important! Pregnant women should use the raspberry decoction up to 35 weeks with caution, since the substances that make up the ingredients can cause uterine tone.
Also, the decoction of this dried plant is an excellent immunostimulant and is widely used for the prevention of colds. During the period of the spread of ARVI, tea from raspberry leaves, which is shown even to children, should be introduced into the diet, the drink will bring maximum benefit and no harm.
The natural immunostimulant is sea buckthorn and chestnut honey.

Raspberry leaf application

Classical medicine recognizes the benefits and popularity of this plant, it is a component of many drugs. But still it is worth noting that raspberry has earned widespread use and great popularity thanks to affordable, popular methods of treatment with its help. Raspberry leaves are widely used in the fight against many diseases, due to their high medicinal properties and almost minimal contraindications.

In folk medicine

The range of use of "raspberry medicine" is incredibly wide. With the help of a natural product, many diseases can be prevented and cured.

  • Decoction of raspberry leaves
Drink to normalize body temperature, with colitis and gastritis. For its preparation, it will take 20 g of dry leaves and 2 cups of water, put the saucepan on the fire, boil for 5-7 minutes. After cooling the broth must be filtered. Drink a drink 3 times a day.

  • Raspberry leaf tea
Assign to improve the cardiovascular system, as a styptic, as an immunostimulant, as well as diarrhea and disorders of the stomach and intestines. This tea is effective for relieving joint pain and inflammation.

There is a good result in the fight against diseases of the reproductive system. In order to brew such a tea, you must take 1 tablespoon of dried leaves and pour 300 g of boiling water. Then the drink should be given to insist 10-15 minutes.

  • Infusion of raspberry leaves
Infusion is used for gargling with sore throat and for compresses with conjunctivitis. For baths and douches for various female diseases. Inside the drink is used for rashes and many skin diseases, even such as psoriasis.
For rinsing the throat with sore throat also use infusions of laurel, mountain ash, propolis, goldenrod, calendula.
To prepare the infusion, chop 10 g of dry raspberry leaves and pour 200 ml of water. The mixture should infuse for 30-40 minutes. Then it is filtered and taken depending on the diagnosis.

Did you know? On the basis of raspberry foliage, you can make a terrific liqueur, which, if used wisely, is incredibly useful. To do this, take 200 fresh leaves and 50 berries of raspberry, 1.5 kg of sugar, 1 hour.a spoonful of citric acid and 1 liter of vodka.

In cosmetology

Raspberry is considered a berry of beauty and women's health. Therefore, it is widely used in cosmetology. With abundant rashes and acne, a raspberry decoction is used, it helps to cleanse the skin and return it smooth and even in color. Also, cosmetologists note the high efficiency of the mask from fresh raspberry leaves. For its preparation, the leaves are crushed into a mush and applied evenly on the face. In order to strengthen hair, accelerate their growth, simply rinse them regularly after washing with a decoction of raspberries.

Contraindications

Raspberry leaves besides useful properties have a number of contraindications. Before you start taking them, be sure to consult with your doctor. It is undesirable to use drinks based on raspberry leaves for people suffering from gout. Despite its astringent properties, caution should be taken when using such drugs for chronic diarrhea.

In no case can you combine drugs based on raspberry foliage with aspirin, due to the similarity of the composition of these medicines can cause an overdose or heavy bleeding.And of course, you should not resort to "crimson treatment" with individual intolerance.

Where, when and how to collect leaves

In order to procure the healing material, you need to know some of the nuances of collection, harvesting and storage. You should collect young leaves before the end of flowering shrubs, that is, in the May-June month. They should be healthy, the color should be green, uniform, without points and burn marks. The time of day for collecting also plays a role, it is necessary to catch the moment when the dew has already descended, and the heat has not yet arrived, the optimal period from 10 to 11 in the morning.

Important! The leaves must be dry, you can not collect them with abundant dew or precipitation.
After the youngest leaves are collected, only half of the way is done. Then there is an equally important process - drying. Dry the foliage in a clean and warm place, preventing exposure to open sunlight. Store foliage in paper bags or boxes. In order to preserve all the useful properties, it is necessary to carry out these three simple procedures correctly: collection, drying and storage.
Check out some of the raspberry varieties: "Polka", "Canadian", "Caramel", "Yellow Giant", "Cumberland", "Atlant", "Hercules".
We examined the properties of raspberry leaves, the benefits and harm they can bring to health. It is necessary to pay attention to this plant, rich in vitamins and trace elements, to add drinks based on it to your diet.

But still it must be remembered that such drugs are not a panacea, but only the result of prolonged observations of traditional healers and ordinary people, therefore, consultation of a qualified specialist is necessary before use.