TikTok Swears By Raspberry Leaf Tea For Period Cramps – Does It Work?!
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Brianna Allison. Find her on Instagram at @ballison7. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
It’s that dreaded time of the month again – all you want is chocolate, a heating pad and some Midol in hopes something will do the trick. When your efforts are proven unsuccessful against your raging uterus, you don’t know whether to scream or cry. But, what if I told you that there is a natural alternative that could change the game when it comes to your period? All I have to say is… you need to try raspberry leaf tea for period cramps and pain ASAP!
Have you heard of it? It’s been a trending topic on TikTok with users from all over the world praising raspberry leaf tea. They’re not only sharing their experiences with it for their period pain and symptoms, but also how it helped them during pregnancy and labor. So raspberry leaf tea could be the answer to all of your uterus-related problems.
What is raspberry leaf tea?
Well to me, it sounds like a miracle drug… and it kind of is. Raspberry leaf is known as the “women’s herb” because of all of the benefits that it has for the uterus. It has been used for both its culinary and medicinal benefits for years. Although modern science has not confirmed all of the claims, many women swear by raspberry leaf tea.
Now despite the name, raspberry leaf tea really doesn’t taste like raspberries. It actually tastes like a common black tea with a hint of berry, minus the caffeine. It’s bold and delicious flavor makes it the perfect afternoon cup of tea.
Health benefits for women
So, let’s get into the best part of this tea: all of the benefits that it has, especially for women.
Plenty of nutrients and antioxidants
First off, this tea is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In your cup of raspberry leaf tea, you’ll get a little bit of:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
But wait there’s more! Red raspberry leaves also contain antioxidants called polyphenols, more specifically tannins and flavonoids. So what do these do? They help your body to fight against free radicals and protect your cells from damage. And the leaves even contain small amounts of ellagic acids which have “shown to neutralize carcinogens and even contribute to the self-destruction of cancer cells.” So raspberry tea is packed with antioxidants that will boost your immune system and help fight off disease!
Helps menstrual symptoms
no bc WHO tweeted me about raspberry leaf tea for cramps??? i love you
— Ivy 🫧 (@IvyKungu) June 7, 2021
Part of the reason this tea is so popular is because of its prevention of menstrual cramping. The tea leaves contain fragarine, which is a compound that can help to strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus. The tightening of the pelvic region can lead to decreased sensation and reduce the spasms that cause cramps. It also helps lessen the urge to pee.
As mentioned earlier, the raspberry leaves contain iron – one ounce contains 18% of the recommended daily iron intake for women aged 19-50. So if you experience heavy bleeding, drinking the tea can help you to combat the symptoms of anemia you may endure during your period.
Lastly, if that wasn’t enough information to get you to try the tea, some women even share that drinking the raspberry leaf tea helped other PMS symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating and diarrhea.
Induce and shorten labor
Nobody wants to be in painful labor for hours on end, and women all over the world have been told to try different remedies to induce delivery. Although there is no scientific evidence to support the benefits of raspberry leaf tea, TikTok is full of people who have given birth that say it’s one of the best remedies out there. Since the raspberry leaf tea helps to strengthen the uterus, this can be extremely beneficial as the body prepares for the birthing process. The tightening of the uterus as well as an increase in blood flow can help to improve the effectiveness of contractions and reduce interventions during birth.
Because drinking the tea can induce labor quickly, it is recommended to wait to drink raspberry leaf tea until you are at 32 weeks. Even after this point, it is important to talk to your doctor or midwife to make sure that it is the right decision for you.
Boosts lactation
Not only can raspberry leaf tea help you to have a shorter and less painful labor experience, but it even has benefits after you give birth. If you’re thinking about breast feeding your child, keep drinking the tea. The raspberry leaf has been a traditional remedy for boosting milk production in lactating women. Again, it’s always important to consult with your doctor before doing so just to make sure the tea is safe for you and your baby.
Can be beneficial for all genders
Even though raspberry leaf tea was coined the “women’s herb,” it has benefits for all genders. Drinking the tea regularly can help to improve your energy levels, increase metabolism, help with skin inflammation and boost your immune system.
So regardless of your gender, your body can reap the rewards of drinking raspberry tea! Plus, it tastes great!
Potential side effects
Most people who drink raspberry tea have no side effects at all, and it is generally considered safe. However, it is still important to let your doctor know if you are deciding to start using it because it is an herbal supplement.
Some potential side effects include:
- Medication interference
- Pregnancy concerns
- This can occur if you have or have had pregnancy complications.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions
- GI Upset
- It can act as a natural laxative which can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
- Estrogenic Effects
- Take caution if you are sensitive to estrogen as the raspberry tea leaves can mimic the effects of estrogen.
Although more research needs to be done to fully understand the benefits of red raspberry leaf tea, it still deserves to be going viral on TikTok. As someone who struggles with painful periods and cramps that make me want to do nothing but curl up in a ball, I’m willing to try anything that may calm my monthly PMS symptoms. And I know that I’m not alone.
Now, I can’t speak on raspberry leaf tea for pregnancy, but many others on social media have and they’re all for it. So, to me it seems like the perfect tea for everyone with a uterus to try!
If you’re interested in seeing how raspberry leaf tea can benefit you, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider to ensure that it is a safe herbal remedy for you to try. If they give you the okay, then feel free to drink 1-3 cups of hot or iced tea a day or 1 cup during pregnancy.
So, get out the kettle, turn on the stove and let’s make some raspberry leaf tea!
Have you tried drinking raspberry leaf tea for period cramps or pregnancy? Comment below if you think it’s been beneficial for your PMS symptoms or if you noticed a difference during labor! If you haven’t tried the raspberry tea yet, will you?