Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 95

[mambera]

Hi everyone, I have a question about RRL and would love your input.

I'm about 13 weeks along with my second.  My first L&D was very reasonable, 14 hours with about an hour pushing and no complications.  Really painful though, I'm hoping for easier this time around.

I did have BH all through my last month with my DD, they were pretty strong and frequent and also kind of painful even though 'everyone says' BH aren't supposed to be.  I was in denial about labor for a long time because I kept thinking it was just more BH, and barely made it to the hospital in time at the end.

I'd love to have a less painful labor this time around and if 'toning my uterus' will help with that I'm all for it.  I'm not really interested in having any more BH than I had last time though, does that mean I should avoid this tea?  TIA!

[DanelleB]

It depends.  RRLtea helps calm my BH contractions, but for some people can make them more frequent.  The only way to know how it'll effect you is to try it.

[lovelylisa]

OK I'm sold! Have  a cup steeping now :) I'm in my 3rd trinmester, better late than never!

[ArcticRose]

I haven't read through all 95 pages to see if this has been suggested before, so sorry if this is a repeat!

For those who aren't fond of the flavor of RRL tea, or are just bored with it after drinking it for months on end... I've been adding loose Red Rooibos tea to my loose RRL and Nettle for a great tasting cup of tea.

Now that the weather is warming, I've been using the above mixture to make iced tea, with a splash of lemon and a dab of agave. I like the taste and don't have to force myself to drink it.

[Beauchamp]

Can anyone comment on my "dosage", please? I'm not sure if I should be drinking more RRL at this point or not.

I'm 34 weeks, and every night I boil water and fill two Ball jars full to steep overnight (27 oz, I think? Maybe 24 each?) Each jar gets about 1/2 cup of semi-packed loose leaves. The next day I strain it into a pitcher and drink it iced. I try to finish it all but it doesn't always happen.

Do I need to drink more? Thanks!

[herbsgirl]

I think your dose sounds very good!  1/2 cup leaves is an excellent dosage for each jar.  One person on Mothering.com said that their Midwife said anything below 1/2 cup leaves per quart wasnt strong enough!

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by herbsgirl 

I think your dose sounds very good!  1/2 cup leaves is an excellent dosage for each jar.  One person on Mothering.com said that their Midwife said anything below 1/2 cup leaves per quart wasnt strong enough!

Thanks! Good to know. I'm already on my third bag (I've used two pounds already, and I started in my second trimester.) I'm so glad I went with loose leaves...using individual tea bags would cost a fortune at this point! I have another one pound bag left. So, I bought a total of 4 pounds for the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. (I drank bagged TM Pregnancy tea during my first tri) I'm thinking my labor infusion will be a cup of leaves in one jar...?

I'd like to squeeze in another jar per day over the next few weeks. It's so much tea! I need to start earlier in the day.

[Shannon79]

Ooooh yes please! I am 5 weeks right now and fist thing tomorrow I am going to go get some RRL to start drinking asap! And I will do the strong dose with labor! My first was an induction due to cholestasis and was a very rapid 8 hours! (And 4 to 10cm in an hour) and I was miserables, I felt like I was failing and I REFUSE to feel that way this time!

Thanks for the good ideas and all the great stories too!

Shannon
mama to DS 4/15/2008 and expecting 1/4/2012

[suazie1]

Originally Posted by DanelleB 

It depends.  RRLtea helps calm my BH contractions, but for some people can make them more frequent.  The only way to know how it'll effect you is to try it.

I agree, the tea does make my BH less painful even though I still get them.  I didn't drink the tea for a couple weeks and I noticed some more painful BH.  Once I started up again the pain went away...so I guess its may be different for others. 

[herbsgirl]

 found some information about Red Raspberry.  You hear about "thinking herbs" that can do opposite actions depending on what your body needs.  I think Red Raspberry could be a "thinking herb"

It can both relax and tone the uterus....But the interesting thing is, If It needs toning.  That is the possible Theory!

Quote from  http://www.appliedhealth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108441&Itemid=215Concentrates

Concentrates of an infusion of the dried raspberry leaf were tested on in situ uterus of cat and rabbit and on isolated uterus of the dog, cat, rabbit, and guinea pig. In situ and isolated intestine was also used. The leaf was shown to contain a principle readily extracted with water which relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus and intestine when it is in tone. However, the same principle causes contraction of the uterus of the rabbit in situ and of the isolated uteri of the cat, rabbit, and guinea pig when these organs are not in tone 

Basicly if your Uterus NEEDS toning, Red Raspberry will do that for you... IF it doesnt need toning, it will Relax it.  That is AMAZING!  Also, notice the above information said the Intestine also.  I have noticed that The Stomach, Intestines and  Uterus are all made of Smooth Muscle. Herbs which work on the the muscles of the Stomach and  Intestine often also help the Uterus... 

[emroki]

I'm 25 weeks, planning on starting RRL tea, drinking one ounce of leaves brewed in one quart of water daily.

If I want to add nettle and oatstraw, does that mean that I brew three ounces of leaves (one ounce of each herb) in one quart of water? Or do I brew 1/3 ounce of each so that together it equals one ounce?

Three ounces of leaves is a lot! But if I only brew 1/3 ounce, then clearly I'm not getting as much RRL every day.

[smithk75]

I'd say to leave the amount of RRL the same, and add in the nettles and oatstraw.  I also do these three along with peppermint leaves and alfalfa.  Yum. :)  I just dump a bunch in, but I've never weighed to see how much one ounce of leaves really is.

I try to loosely follow the ratios from bulkherbstore.com's site:

• 8 parts Red Raspberry leaf - cut
• 3 parts Alfalfa herb - cut
• 3 parts Peppermint leaf - cut
• 2 parts Nettle leaf - cut

Probably about 2 parts of the oatstraw too.

Originally Posted by emroki 

I'm 25 weeks, planning on starting RRL tea, drinking one ounce of leaves brewed in one quart of water daily.

If I want to add nettle and oatstraw, does that mean that I brew three ounces of leaves (one ounce of each herb) in one quart of water? Or do I brew 1/3 ounce of each so that together it equals one ounce?

Three ounces of leaves is a lot! But if I only brew 1/3 ounce, then clearly I'm not getting as much RRL every day.

[Goddess3_2005]

I can say that RRL helped me take my normal 30 hour labors to an nice peaceful 8 hour labor last time from start to finish. i am expecting #7 in January and will drink this every day!

[penguintattoo]

Does anyone use the traditional medicinals red raspberry leaf tea bags? If so is it as effective? How much do you use? Thanks!

[azzeps]

I am using Traditional Medicinals Pregnancy Tea bags.  I hope they are effective!  I haven't seen any TM that are just RRL.  Maybe I missed that.  How would I know if what I am using is effective?  I brew according to the directions - one bag per cup of water.  I have a big jug that holds about 8 cups, so I use 8 tea bags, and then I let it steep overnight, so I guess that is longer than the directions say.  I am drinking it iced, so it is better when it is not piping hot in the morning after I've brewed it.  I put in some honey then, and put it in the fridge.  I have been trying to drink half that jug (4 cups) every day.

[yippiehippie]

I used TM last pregnancy and had a 6 hr first time labor, so, yeah, I'd say it's effective (though more costly than buying bulk herbs). Azzeps-they do carry just RRL tea, but maybe not where you shop? They also have the preganancy tea, but doesn't have the amt of RRL in it the other does.

This time I ordered a pound and have been craving it! Should be here tomorrow, yum!

[azzeps]

yippiehippie, yes, I see it now on Amazon.com.  That's where I got my TM Pregnancy Tea... I had been buying it in the local health food store, but calculated that I would be spending $2/box more than if I ordered 6 boxes at once from Amazon.  Hmm, so maybe I should switch to the straight Red Raspberry Leaf, or combine the two, since the Pregnancy Tea doesn't have as much RRL.  I do like the taste of it, though, and I thought it was better since it has other stuff, nettles, alfalfa, rose hips in it too, in addition to the RRL.  Hmmm....

[azzeps]

I looked it up... the TM RRL has 1500 mg whereas the pregnancy tea only has 350.  So maybe what I'll do is brew the RRL tea and then add a few bags of the pregnancy tea for flavor and the other herbs... thanks for the info!

[penguintattoo]

azzeps, I'm thinking about ordering both from amazon and combing them so that I get some of the stuff from the pregnancy tea, but still get a good dosage of RRL

[yippiehippie]

FYI, Rose mountain herbs sells their loose leaf for less than 8/lb if you are willing to do loose leaf (you could always buys the tea bags and stuff!). I got that and nettle leaves and am going to combine them.

Got mine yesterday, I'd been CRAVING it! Funny how your body craves what it needs! Brewed a batch last night and it's in a pitcher in the fridge, so convenient too. YUMMY