Dried Herb & Tea

Raspberry Leaf

Rubus idaeus L.

B Limited clinical evidence

Raspberry leaf has traditional uses for mild diarrhoea, mouth and throat irritation, and period cramps. Medicinal use during pregnancy is not recommended.

DigestionRespiratory, Throat & MouthMetabolism, Weight & Blood SugarWomen’s Health
Raspberry leaf – Dried shredded green leaves and a glass cup of brewed herbal tea

Image: Herbadex Botanik Stüdyosu · Özel Üretim

Pregnancy⚠ Avoid
Breastfeeding⚠ Avoid
Children⚠ Avoid
Drug interactionsNo recorded interactions
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At a glance

Raspberry leaf comes from the dried leaves of Rubus idaeus, not from the fruit. The EMA recognizes traditional uses of different preparations for mild diarrhoea, mild mouth or throat inflammation, and period-related cramps. Claims that it facilitates labour are unproven, and medicinal use in pregnancy is not recommended.

Parts used: leaves
Key constituents: Hydrolysable tannins (ellagitannins), Flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives), Phenolic acids

Updated: October 24, 2026

Sources include an EMA HMPC monograph. Its scope is limited to the specified species, plant part and preparation; this is not professional approval.

What is it used for?

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    Tea prepared from dried raspberry leaves is traditionally used for mild diarrhoea. The EMA bases this indication on long-standing use, not on sufficient clinical trials demonstrating effectiveness. [1][2]

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    An infusion of the dried leaves is traditionally used as a gargle for mild mouth or throat inflammation and irritation. This is traditional-use evidence rather than proof from clinical trials. [1][2]

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    The EMA recognizes traditional use of certain dry aqueous raspberry-leaf extracts for mild spasms associated with menstruation. This does not support labour preparation or establish that tea has equivalent effects. [1][2]

  • B Limited clinical evidence

    Limited clinical evidence: Limited human data; small samples, methodological problems or inconsistent results reduce certainty. Findings do not apply to every product.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    In a small, unblinded 2025 crossover trial involving 22 healthy adults, tea made from 10 g of leaves reduced early glucose and insulin responses after sucrose but not glucose. No benefit for diabetes or long-term safety was demonstrated. [7]

How is it used?

Tea

For mild diarrhoea, prepare and strain an infusion by pouring boiling water over dried, cut leaves. The EMA traditional indication applies to adults only.

Amount: EMA monograph: 1.5–8 g of leaves in 150 mL of boiling water, three times daily.

[1]

Gargle

For mild irritation of the mouth or throat, prepare an infusion of dried leaves, allow it to cool, and use it as a gargle. This is not the same indication as drinking the tea.

Amount: EMA monograph: 1.5–8 g of leaves in 150 mL of boiling water, gargled three times daily.

[1]

Safety & interactions

Minimum age: 18 years

  • Medicinal use during pregnancy is not recommended. Claims that raspberry leaf safely prepares the uterus or facilitates childbirth are unproven; the limited human studies do not establish adequate safety.
  • Safety information for breastfeeding is insufficient, and the EMA does not recommend medicinal use during lactation.
  • Medicinal use is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18.
  • The EMA menstrual-cramp indication applies to a particular dry aqueous extract. Leaf tea, capsules, and extracts must not be treated as interchangeable preparations.
  • Seek medical advice if diarrhoea worsens or lasts more than three days, or if there is blood in stool, fever, marked abdominal pain, or dehydration.
  • Seek professional advice if period cramps or mouth and throat symptoms worsen or last longer than seven days.
  • The 10 g single-session tea exposure used in a 2025 carbohydrate challenge trial is not a recommended metabolic dose; the trial did not enroll people with diabetes.
  • Laboratory inhibition of CYP2D6 has been reported, but clinical relevance to drug interactions is unknown. People taking regular medicines should check with their clinician or pharmacist.
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Drug interactions

No recorded interactions

Side effects

  • The EMA assessment reported no known adverse reactions to the traditional preparations, but systematic safety information remains limited.
  • Stop use and seek professional advice if an allergic reaction or other unexpected symptoms occur.

⚕ When to see a doctor

  • If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops
  • If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen
  • If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs

Did you know?

The EMA recognizes three traditional uses for raspberry leaf—period cramps, mild mouth or throat inflammation, and diarrhoea—but does not include facilitating childbirth among them. [1][2]

Frequently asked questions

What is raspberry leaf used for?

The EMA recognizes traditional use of leaf tea for mild diarrhoea, gargles for mild mouth or throat inflammation, and specific dry extracts for minor period cramps. Robust clinical evidence is lacking for these indications.

How do you prepare raspberry leaf tea?

For mild diarrhoea, the EMA describes an infusion of 1.5–8 g of dried leaf in 150 mL of boiling water, taken three times daily. The preparation for mild mouth or throat irritation is used as a gargle.

Can raspberry leaf tea be used during pregnancy?

The EMA does not recommend medicinal use during pregnancy. A UK COT review considered the risk low but highly uncertain; this was not an endorsement of safety.

Does raspberry leaf induce labour or make childbirth easier?

A randomized trial with 192 pregnant women did not shorten the first stage of labour, and a systematic review found the evidence weak. It should not be self-administered to initiate or accelerate labour.

Does raspberry leaf help period cramps?

The EMA recognizes traditional use of a particular dry aqueous extract for mild menstrual cramps. This is not proof that homemade raspberry leaf tea has the same effect.

Is raspberry leaf suitable while breastfeeding?

There are insufficient data on safety during breastfeeding, so the EMA does not recommend medicinal use in this period.

Does raspberry leaf lower blood sugar?

A small 2025 study in 22 healthy adults found lower early glucose responses after sucrose, but not after glucose. It does not establish a reliable indication or dose for diabetes.

What side effects or drug interactions are known?

No adverse effects or confirmed clinical interactions were identified for traditional preparations in the EMA review. An in-vitro CYP2D6 signal has uncertain relevance to people.

Sources

Source type is not an efficacy rating. A monograph may document traditional use or safety. Claim numbers link to the relevant source; the access date does not indicate professional approval.

  1. Community herbal monograph on Rubus idaeus L., foliumEMA HMPC · 2014 · MonographSource accessed:
  2. Assessment report on Rubus idaeus L., foliumEMA HMPC · 2014 · Official agency informationSource accessed:
  3. Dietary Supplements and Life Stages: Pregnancy — Health Professional Fact SheetNIH Office of Dietary Supplements · 2025 · Official agency informationSource accessed:
  4. Statement on the potential health effects of raspberry leaf tea in the maternal dietUK Committee on Toxicity (COT) · 2024 · Official agency informationSource accessed:
  5. Biophysical effects, safety and efficacy of raspberry leaf use in pregnancy: a systematic integrative reviewBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2021 · Systematic reviewSource accessed:
  6. Raspberry leaf in pregnancy: its safety and efficacy in laborJournal of Midwifery & Women’s Health · 2001 · Randomized controlled trialSource accessed:
  7. Effects of Raspberry Leaf Tea Polyphenols on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses in Healthy AdultsNutrients · 2025 · Randomized controlled trialSource accessed:

Cite This Page

Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus L.). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/raspberry-leaf/

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Dried Herb & Tea