Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 5

[mollyeilis]

"discussed with your midwife or an herbalist who is knowledgeable about pregnancy."

If you can find one of those that I can trust, lemme know. (horribly, horribly let down in labor by midwife who pretended to know about herbs)

I actually trust women more than I trust professionals anyway; each professional is only as good and knowledgeable as their school at the time they went, the classes they didn't skip, the teachers who were there at the time...but when you hear 100 different women talking about what THEIR professionals said, then that's when you get the overview (and realize that no one knows much of anything and it's all up to you anyway!).

[NattylockedMama]

Just wanted to let some of you mamas know that I have read that you should not drink rrl in the early stages of pregnancy because it can cause premature contractions. I actualy read that you should not drink it before 38 weeks but I started way before that and had no problems. I know that rrl tea is supposed to strengthen your reproductive organs as well so this did not make alot of sense to me but ya know everyone is different. I agree with the mama that said the best way to go is to check with your midwife or hebalist knowlageabel about pregnancy wich ever route you have decided to go. Oh ya and for the mama that said 3 cups a day is to much for her. What I do when I can't drink that much tea is make a stronger brew like mabey to tea bags in one cup or doubbel the amount if your using loose tea. I think that traditional medicines is a good brand and don't belive that it is a marketing scam or anything like that I have always heard of the 3 cuos a day thing but ya never know.

[seahorsie]

Hi - we are ttc, so interested in this thread. I posted awhile back on rrl tea because I was conviced it had brought on an early period. Someone responded that that wasn't possible - but this thread makes me wonder. I thought I was pregnant last month due to cramping, I was drinking rrl every day - maybe that was why? I'm a little nervous to drink it when I get pregnant, but would love to try. Should I risk it?

[Peppamint]

Max- I think the TM Pregnancy Tea has nettle leaf in it. I really love the taste of the pregnancy tea over just the plain RRL and it has several other beneficial herbs in it. My mixture that I make from loose herbs closely mimics the ratio of herbs in the TM Pg Tea. It's messier making tea this way though, I end up wtih green piece of herbs everywhere! Times like that I miss the tea bags.

It seems like bulk herbs could be better, but then again the TM has a date on the box. KWIM? I'm probably going to go back to the TM teabags because it's just so much easier for me to make a quick cuppa tea that way.

[seahorsie]

I found this info on rrl. - seems to address a few posts here:

http://www.birth.com.au/class.asp?class=67&page=25

what do you think?

[~*max*~]

Thanks busybusymomma. I do have the pregnancy tea too, but noticed the % of RRL herbs is so much more in the RRL tea than in the pregnancy tea, so I thought that would be better to drink. (I drink water throughout the day, and my bladder can't handle more than one cup of tea a day.) I too like the taste better.

[Peppamint]

Yeah, I think the pg tea is 1/2 RRL and 1/2 strawberry leaf in addition to the other herbs. It's pretty easy for me to drink 2-3 cups a day of that stuff, since I don't drink anything else but water usually.

[mollyeilis]

seahorsie I really liked the info on that site. It basically sums it all up. X could happen, then again, the opposite of X could happen.

I think I'll remiain interested, but given my past history with herbs, maybe *not* do much RRL at least at the beginning of pregnancy...

(I was given crampbark and motherwort TWICE during labor to "get some rest" and "slow the contractions" "so you can sleep", and I ended up with HUGE MASSIVE MONSTER contractions along with anxiety attacks. Yes, you heard me, I let 'em dose me with it TWICE. Didn't learn much from the first time... )

[nubianamy]

I just use bulk herbs (half rrl and half nettle for now, will switch to all rrl later), but I tried the boxed Pregnancy Tea at my friend's house yesterday and it was very tasty! The herbs are more leaf-flavored. I don't mind, actually. I never sweeten it. Maybe I should!

[L'lee]

Hi! I'll jump in here! I'm 20 1/2 weeks along and interested in trying RRL tea. I figured I'd wait until the third trimester, but there's probably not much harm in having a cup or two a day until then (or it sounds like I'll know right away if that isn't a good idea!)

Anyhow, the thing I find the most confusing is the "dosage" issue. There is RRL Extract in my Rainbow Light prenatal vitamins, but that is just a part of the 90mg of "Prenatal Blend" which also includes Ginger extract and Spirulina - sounds like a very small amount to me. The only other place I've found info on the amount of actual RRL extract is the really cool article at http://www.birth.com.au/class.asp?class=67&page=25 (thanks seahorsie!) which listed as one of the possible recommendations "Tablets- taking 4 x 300 mg tablets (or 3 x 400 mg tablets), 2 to 3 times a day with meals from 32 weeks." Which would be 1200mg two to three times a day - a LOT more than "less than 90 mg"! Since RRL isn't regulated, the tea companies don't have to list how much is in their mixtures, so it makes it really hard to compare them - I bet it's better to get the RRL from a tea than a pill, though, like most things. I just did a conversion and 1 teaspoon is slightly less than 5 grams (5000mg) so I'm pretty sure that they mean they have removed the inactive part of the leaf for the pills?? And I'm guessing that 1 ounce is more than 4 teaspoons, is this right? I know I'm being really anal here, but "1 cup of tea" seems to mean many different things!

[Peppamint]

LOL! I have no scientific reasoning for it L'lee, but I'm taking the Rainbow Light Complete Prenatals too (ooh la la, I have gorgeous long nails now ) AND I'm starting to get back into my tea habit. I don't imagine that the pills contain more than what is equal to a cup of brewed tea- but I don't know that for sure. I'm that a tea or infusion is much more powerful than the tablets would be, or what the RL vitamins contain.

I'm curious to know if anyone has done any further research- just to know!

[L'lee]

Originally Posted by busybusymomma

(ooh la la, I have gorgeous long nails now )

Me too! I figured it was just those pg hormones, but maybe it's Rainbow Light!

Just answered my own question! I went to my coop and looked for RRL tea, they had both Yogi and Traditional Medicinals, BOTH of which listed the amount per serving. I ended up getting TM RRL and TM Pregnancy tea (in case I'm one of the people who doesn't like RRL plain. : I figure they'll let me exchange the PT if I decide the RRL is fine!). Anyhow, here's what I found:

Yogi RRL tea: 1812mg RRL
TM RRL tea: 1500mg
TM Preg Tea: 350mg

SO, based on the estimated 1200mg per serving, Yogi is about 1 1/2 servings, TM RRL is 1 1/3, and TM Preg is slightly more than 1/3 of a serving. Rainbow Light prenatals are less than 1/3 of a serving (possibly significantly less). Whatever, really - I figure either of the straight RRL teas is probably close enough to 1 serving. You could drink lots of the preg tea every day, though!

So, if anyone else is anal like me and likes to see the numbers, hope this helps you! : (OK, I admit it, I was a math major! *chuckle*)

[sunshinestarr]

ive been slacking.. :(

I haven't had my RLL tea in 3 or so days!! Eeek!

[Kellie_MO4]

Hi! I'm about 16 weeks preggo (due July 1st) and have just began drinking it.. I have the TM from Whole Foods.. went in looking for bulk, but all they had were the boxes... Mainly I'm drinking it to get used to it, and am planning on doing the stong and hot concoction when the time comes along... Anyhow, just wanted to jump in here!
Kellie

[JenniferC]

Started drinking my tea a week ago. I harvested some wild this Spring in case I got preggers this summer, and I did! But I don't have a whole lot of it, only a gallon jar loosely packed, so I'm only drinking it for my last trimester. Something funny I noticed is when I drink a mug full down all at once I feel sort of light headed afterwards. Anyone else? It's like...wheeee red raspberry leaf tea....whoooooo .

[~*max*~]

I have been noticing much stronger BH cx lately, and wonder if it could be the tea? (I am only 22 weeks along.) Strong to the point that I have to stop whatever I am doing, breathe and focus on them. It could also be due to pg #4. I think they have gotten stonger w/each one. I may switch to Pregnancy Tea for a while (less strong concentration of RRL and lots of other beneficial herbs) and see if that makes a difference. Anyone else experiencing this?

[Kellie_MO4]

I'm only 16 weeks along, but I have heard/read that with each child BH can come earlier and be a bit more intense (this is my 4th, but for the life of my I can hardly remember any thing that was specific with my other pregnancies unless I stop and think real hard... but by then I've forgotten what I was trying to remember... Gotta love the preggo brain...lol)

[mommabear]

I am so glad I found this thread! I am about to start my RRL tea -- I really held off a while this time as I have had three m/cs since my son was born in '01. Anyway, I am 27 weeks along, and am looking forward to a cup a day! Also, thanks so much for the info re: the labour brew. I'll post more later, but really wanted to jump in! Cheers!

[ent_mom]

Just a few newbie questions...

1. It's nettle leaf not root that people add to RRL, right?

2. How do you keep the tea hot while steeping for 15-20 min (everyday) or 30 min (labor)?

3. Just to double check:
1 teaspoon RRL for 1 cup water
1 ounce RRL for 1 quart water (how do you measure an oz at home?)

I was going to make it by the cup with a cotton tea net, but maybe using a tea pot would keep it hot?? I actually don't own either, but am planning on placing an order with Mountain Rose Herbs, and they carry both items (and more).

Thanks!

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by ent_mom

Just a few newbie questions...

1. It's nettle leaf not root that people add to RRL, right?

Yes.

2. How do you keep the tea hot while steeping for 15-20 min (everyday) or 30 min (labor)?

My mugs are all stoneware, thick and heavy so I don't have any problems... in fact I still have to sip slowly or else I burn my tongue.

3. Just to double check:
1 teaspoon RRL for 1 cup water
1 ounce RRL for 1 quart water (how do you measure an oz at home?)

I was going to make it by the cup with a cotton tea net, but maybe using a tea pot would keep it hot?? I actually don't own either, but am planning on placing an order with Mountain Rose Herbs, and they carry both items (and more).

Thanks!

I was doing about a teaspon to a tablespoon for a cup when I did the bulk. Lately I've been lazy and done the TM Pg Tea. A good stoneware teapot should stay warm and if you knit or crochet you could make a cozy for it too.