Red raspberry is a shrub found wild in the United Kingdon and is cultivated across Europe and North America for its fruit. In Traditional Herbalism, it is recognized for it’s astringent properties and can be used as a gargle and a mouth-wash, or as an external wash for sores, wounds, skin rashes etc. The leaves make a good poultice for cleaning wounds and promoting healing, and the fruit is delicious and nutritious. Botanical constituents in red raspberries have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Infusions/drinks made with the leaves may calm intestinal inflammation and help stop diarrhea by reducing inflammation in the intestines. The leaves have significant levels of tannins- constituents that act to reduce inflammation in the intestines.

Red raspberries contain ellagitannins which convert into ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic constituent in certain fruits and nuts with it’s highest concentrations in red raspberries. Ellagic acid has demonstrated a variety of anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic activity in a wide range of assays in vitro and in vivo. It has been clinically shown to provide protection against chromosome damage produced by radiation cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. Ellagic acid acts as a scavenger to ‘bind’ cancer-causing chemicals, making them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. In addition, ellagic acid from red raspberries prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.

Cautions/Contraindications
• Do not take medicinally if pregnant or breast feeding

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