Medicinal Monday...Red Raspberry - Small but Powerful

Red raspberries are a delight of summer and have been enjoyed for centuries. Raspberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This berry may be small, but it has many healing properties that are still used today and have always been popular with Native American communities. It is easy to see why they are delicious!

About Red Raspberries

Red raspberries are part of the genius Rubus idaeus or the American red raspberry. The plant grows from biennial stems called canes from a perennial root system. In the first year, the stem bears five to seven leaves but no flowers or fruit. In the second year, the stem does not grow taller but does grow several side shoots that have smaller leaves and flowers that have five petals.  The fruit is red, edible, and sweet and is produced in the summer or early autumn. As a wild plant, raspberries grow in forests forming open stands under the canopy of trees, they can also be found in dense stands or clearings and in meadows, fields, and along lakes or in wetland areas.

Medicinal Uses 

The leaves and fruits have a long tradition of use in pregnancy and are used by the Cherokee, Algonquin, and Cree Woodland who make a strong infusion of the leaves to relieve childbirth pain and to help a woman recover after childbirth. The Algonquin use the root as an aid for diarrhea and make a decoction of the roots for bloody urine. The root is chewed to treat coughs and an infusion is taken to treat boils. The Iroquois make a decoction of the roots as a blood purifier. They also make a compound of the leaves to treat skin irritations and boils. The stems and upper roots are used as a toothache remedy and the fruit is eaten for heart health. Fresh or dried leaves are made into a tea for digestive complaints and mild stomach aches.

Did You Know...

Animals including black bears and coyotes eat the fruit of this plant.

Red raspberries depend on bees and other pollinators to produce the fruit.

Anti-cancer benefits of red raspberries have been attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.

You'll get significantly more antioxidant support by purchasing raspberries that are fully ripe.

A new area of research on raspberries involves the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

Chambord Liqueur is an infusion of red and black raspberries, Madagascar vanilla, and XO cognac that was created in France.