Rubus idaeus L. · herb
Evidence tier: traditional
A women's herb used through reproductive life, particularly the second half of pregnancy and during heavy menstrual cycles.
Not established. Raspberry leaf is widely described as a uterine tonic acting through an alkaloid called fragarine that is said to tone uterine smooth muscle without forcing contraction. That compound is poorly characterised and the EMA assessment did not require or establish a pharmacodynamic mode of action, invoking Article 16c(1)(a)(iii) instead, which is the legal way of saying no mechanism needed to be proved. What is documented in the plant is tannins, flavonoids and organic acids. Isolated tissue studies have shown both stimulant and relaxant effects on uterine muscle, which is not a reassuring combination in an agent taken in pregnancy.
Traditional use only, and the tradition and the evidence point at different things. Europe's regulator has actually monographed this herb, and what it registered is not what raspberry leaf is sold for. The EMA HMPC monograph (EMA/HMPC/44211/2012, adopted 28 January 2014) grants three traditional use indications, all resting exclusively upon long standing use and none of them obstetric: symptomatic relief of minor spasm associated with menstrual periods, symptomatic treatment of mild inflammation of the mouth or throat, and symptomatic treatment of mild diarrhoea. On the use that actually sells the product, preparing for labour, the position is that the evidence is very thin. The 2021 systematic integrative review of raspberry leaf in pregnancy (Bowman et al., PMC7871383) concluded the evidence base is weak and insufficient to make a clinical recommendation. There is exactly one double blind placebo controlled RCT in pregnancy, and it dosed women at 2.4 g per day from 32 weeks, which is below the 4 g daily commonly recommended, so the single controlled trial is an underdosed trial and a null result from it would not settle the question either way. The supporting literature beyond it is a small 1999 retrospective study and a small 2001 RCT, neither replicated at scale. Nothing here establishes that raspberry leaf shortens labour, eases labour or prevents intervention.
EMA traditional use, non pregnant adults: for menstrual spasm, dry extract 113 to 226 mg up to 3 to 4 times daily after meals; for mouth or throat inflammation or mild diarrhoea, 1.5 to 8 g of comminuted leaf in 150 ml boiling water, 3 times daily. Not recommended under 18 years. There is no EMA sanctioned pregnancy dose. The doses used in midwifery practice, 2.4 to 4 g daily from around 32 weeks, come from tradition and from the one underdosed trial, not from an established dose finding study.
Tea: 1 to 2 tsp dried leaf per cup, 2 to 3 cups daily. Begin third trimester for pregnancy preparation.
Generally safe. Discuss with midwife/OB before pregnancy use. Avoid first trimester.
Pregnancy: caution
Breastfeeding: caution
Active compounds: hydrolysable tannins (ellagitannins), flavonoid glycosides (kaempferol and quercetin derivatives), organic acids
Remedies using Red Raspberry Leaf · Browse by body system · Check it against what you take
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