Anyone start on Red Raspberry leaf yet? - Page 2

[jennyfah]

I can't remember what the bagged tea tastes like, but I hear that the loose leaf tastes better. 

Yes, loose-leaf tea nearly always tastes better than bagged!  Tea leaves expand in volume greatly when they come in contact with hot water, and the bag prevents the leaves from reaching their full potential (so to speak).   This is the same reason that those tiny metal tea balls make lousy tea. 
 

[cat13]

I keep forgetting to post this! Here's the recipe I use, and I really love it:

2 parts red raspberry leaf (good vits, tones uterine muscles, high iron)

2 parts nettle leaf (good for kidneys, blood vessels, iron)

1 part oatstraw (calcium, mag, increases calcium intake, relaxed muscles)

1/2 part alfalfa (protein, vit A, D, E B6, K, calcium, iron, mag)

1/2 part rose hips, crushed (Vit C, healthy circulatory & immune system)

1/4 part red clover

1/4 part spearmint leaf or more if you like minty flavor (yummy taste!)

Mix all dried herbs together and store in airtight container away from heat and light. To prepare the infusion, place a heaping 1/4 cup of mixture in quart-sized jar. Add boiling water, cover and let steep for 20 min-1hr. Strain. Sweeten with honey if desired. This can sit in the fridge for several days and is good cold. 

[MovingMomma]

Tina, that's the recipe I use, too.  Except I usually omit the spearmint--just personal preference.

I didn't drink RRL w/DD1, but I did w/DD2.  My first labor was 17 hrs and my second was 2.5!  There are some other variables as well, but I'm convinced the RRL contributed.  Also, I know some shorter labors can be too intense, but mine was completely manageable.  

I don't start RRL until the 2nd trimester, and I've bought RRL from Mountain Rose Herbs and Frontier.

[DanelleB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovingMomma 

I didn't drink RRL w/DD1, but I did w/DD2.  My first labor was 17 hrs and my second was 2.5!  There are some other variables as well, but I'm convinced the RRL contributed.  Also, I know some shorter labors can be too intense, but mine was completely manageable.  

My 2 hour labor was intense, but also completely managable.  I think since I had PTL, I went straight into transition, but it wasn't terrible like transition in my first two births.  My first two labors were both around 12 hours long. 

[Baby_Cakes]

I have some tea bags as well and just started drinking last week!  I definitely want to start brewing larger amounts for iced tea - much easier to drink throughout the day that way.  I didn't really do it with my first and would love to see the difference it makes in labor this time around!!  I might buy some bulk b/c the tea bags are mad expensive.

[mommymcnair6]

I have drunk this with all of my pregnancies and it seems to help with labor - or not.  It's hard to say.  I really enjoy the taste and drink a quart a day.  I buy in bulk from Mountain Rose herbs on-line and often mix it with nettle or dandelion.  Very good!  I put a handful in a quart jar and pour boiling water over and let it steep overnight and then it's ready to go for the next day!  Good stuff!!

[mamafever]

thanks everyone for your responses! Lot's of great ideas! I started drinking this week. I bought a small amount in bulk at the health food store and was super surprised by how cheap it was and I actually liked it straight up plain red raspberry leaf. yum!! I just hope I dont get tired of it anytime soon. :) I guess adding other herbs and changing up between cold and hot might be the key. thanks for all your great ideas!! :)

[Danielle283]

Went ahead and started drinking it today! I got 6 boxes of the Traditional Medicine's from Amazon for $16.

[Lynann]

Originally Posted by Danielle283 

Went ahead and started drinking it today! I got 6 boxes of the Traditional Medicine's from Amazon for $16.

I bought it in bulk online for only $8 a lb. I had no idea how much a lb of tea was, but as we buy imported coffee beans online too and usually buy several lbs at a time I decided to buy 2lb of the tea. I was so shocked by how much tea I ended up with. I could drink it by the gallon everyday and not run out of tea by the end of this pregnancy. It also tastes much nicer than the teabag stuff (which is way overpriced.) I have a wonderful mesh basket that came with my teapot for using loose leaf teas and it brews up so much better than I ever got using the tea bags.

[egmaranian]

Hi Lyn,

Would you mind sharing where you ordered from?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Lynann 

I bought it in bulk online for only $8 a lb. I had no idea how much a lb of tea was, but as we buy imported coffee beans online too and usually buy several lbs at a time I decided to buy 2lb of the tea. I was so shocked by how much tea I ended up with. I could drink it by the gallon everyday and not run out of tea by the end of this pregnancy. It also tastes much nicer than the teabag stuff (which is way overpriced.) I have a wonderful mesh basket that came with my teapot for using loose leaf teas and it brews up so much better than I ever got using the tea bags.

[BK Mommy]

I was just 2 days past my due date and was so ready to get the show on the road.  I was walking like crazy and then I googled how to get labor going.  There is was "try drinking red raspberry leaf tea."  I was working from home at that point and had to interview someone over the phone.  We talked for hours and the entire time I was brewing and drinking raspberry tea.  I drank a lot of it.  The next morning, I woke up around 6a...hungry, so I had some toast and juice.  I felt different but didn't say anything to my husband.  Then I went back to bed and work up at 9:40a.  I stood up out of bed and splash...my water broke...soaked my PJs.  I didn't start contracting till around 3:30p.  I had acupuncture at 4:30p.  Active labor came on strong by 5:30p. Our dd was born at home at 10:11p.  Who knows, but I believe in raspberry tea now!  :)

[Valkyrie89]

http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Red-Raspberry-Leaf-Organic-Cut

That's where I was planning on buying mine! 

http://birthingbody.org/2008/10/15/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-story/

And I loved this post about RRL tea- and how to make brew it so it's most effective :) I need to get on buying mine!