Pregnant women are often told to take red raspberry leaf tea to naturally induce labor, trigger contractions, and make birth as painless and quick as possible. But, in addition to benefits for labor and delivery, raspberry tea leaf also has a horde of other benefits.
There’s no difference between raspberry leaf tea and red raspberry leaf tea—both refer to the same herbal tea made using the leaves of raspberry bushes. However, despite its name, it’s not fruity. Instead, it’s like black tea, with an earthy taste but without caffeine.
But what is red raspberry leaf tea, and is it the same as raspberry leaf tea? What are all the health benefits you can get from it? Is it true that it can help with labor and delivery? And, most importantly, does it have any harmful side effects? So let’s take a look.
What is Red Raspberry Leaf Tea?

Red raspberry leaf tea is a single herb tea made with the leaves of raspberry bushes. While it’s famous for its benefits for women’s reproductive health, others can also enjoy the benefits of the tea.
Given its name, you might think that red raspberry tea tastes fruity, but that’s not true. Instead, it tastes like fine black tea, but the only difference is that it doesn’t have any caffeine.
It’s delicious with an earthy taste, but if you don’t like it, you can sweeten it with honey or sugar or even serve it cold over ice. Just make sure you confirm with your healthcare provider about adding a sweetener if you have gestational diabetes.
Is Red Rasberry Leaf Tea Different from Raspberry Leaf Tea?
Red raspberry leaf tea is the same as raspberry leaf tea, but it might be different from raspberry tea—you’ll need to look at its ingredients to be sure. Teas labeled as raspberry are typically a mixture of raspberry flavor, raspberry leaves, hibiscus, and rose hips, which aren’t as effective.
Note that red raspberry or raspberry leaf teas aren’t the same as raspberry-flavored herbal teas since they might have ingredients like artificial and natural raspberry flavors, elderberries, apples, rose hips, and hibiscus.
However, such herbal teas don’t contain raspberry leaf, so you won’t be able to enjoy all the potential benefits of red raspberry leaf tea.
The Health Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Red raspberry leaf tea has traditionally been used as a remedy for postpartum and pregnant women and can provide many benefits. But the benefits go beyond women’s reproductive health—the tea can even be beneficial for men. So let’s take a look.
Helps with Menstruation
The tea helps balance progesterone and estrogen hormones, ensuring a steady and regular menstrual cycle and allowing you to stay in tune with what’s happening in your body.
It also contains an alkaloid known as fragarine, which relaxes and tones your uterus. This, in turn, reduces cramps. Plus, it helps slow down the flow of blood during mensuration. As a result, a lot of women report lighter periods when they drink raspberry tea before and during their period.
Eases Endometriosis Pain
Studies suggest that the herb is so powerful that it can reduce pain in women with endometriosis.
Contains Many Nutrients
Raspberry leaf tea is rich in iron, potassium, and magnesium, which helps relieve cramps and nausea. It also contains vitamins B, C, and E, which increase energy, and are beneficial for immunity. It also helps remove harmful toxins from the body.
In addition, the tea contains polyphenols such as flavonoids and tannins. These act as antioxidants and protect the cells from damage. The leaves also contain trace amounts of ellagic acids that neutralize carcinogens and might even help with the self-destruction of cancer cells, though more research is needed to confirm that.
Can Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Help with Labor and Delivery?
Red raspberry leaf tea is great for uterine health and relieves numerous pregnancy problems. Benefits that the tea provides for labor and delivery include the following:
Shortens Labor
According to many people, raspberry leaf tea shortens labor. Fragarine in red raspberry leaves tightens the pelvic muscles, including the uterus walls, making delivery easier.
A study involving 108 women proved that those who had raspberry leaf tea in their pregnancy’s last stage had a shorter first stage in their labor. The study was later repeated in 192 women, showing that those who drank the tea experienced a shorter second stage in their labor.
Reduces Complications with Childbirth
Some studies also show that raspberry leaf tea might reduce the number of complications during labor.
For example, according to a study, those who drank raspberry leaf tea in the last few months of their pregnancy required less use of interventions like forceps, reducing the likelihood of post and pre-term labor. This suggests that it can promote optimal birthing time.
Another study showed that the use of forceps during birth decreased by 11% in those who drank raspberry leaf tea in the last two months of pregnancy. Fewer interventions can also reduce the amount of bleeding postpartum.
And since it strengthens the uterine wall, it reduces the chances of early miscarriage and makes contractions less painful (and more productive and takes you closer to your baby with each wave). It might even just help you avoid epidurals.
Improves Fertility
Raspberry leaf tea purges toxins from your body that might prevent pregnancy. And since it strengthens the uterine wall, it increases the chances of the embryo planting successfully.
Eases Morning Sickness
Vitamins and minerals in the tea, such as vitamins B, magnesium, and potassium, can help ease vomiting and nausea. It’s also rich in iron and can boost your levels if you’re experiencing pregnancy anemia, and prenatal vitamins with iron or iron supplements make you sick.
Improves Chances of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
The tea has also proved helpful for females who want a vaginal birth after a cesarean since it strengthens the ligaments around the uterus. It also lowers the risk of the uterine wall rupturing, which is the greatest risk of vaginal birth after a cesarean.
Minimizes Bleeding
Raspberry leaf tea reduces postpartum bleeding, which helps prevent hemorrhaging and speeds up postpartum recovery.
Increases Milk Production
Studies also show that raspberry leaf tea boosts milk supply. Women who drink this tea are more likely to have a good supply of colostrum at the time of the baby’s birth.
When Should You Start Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea When Pregnant?

Natural herbs such as raspberry leaves are potent and should be consumed cautiously during pregnancy. You shouldn’t take them without consulting your healthcare provider first. But with that said, there’s no right time to start drinking the tea. Instead, it depends on how your body responds to it.
Since the tea stimulates the pelvic muscles, it can cause uterine contracts, which, in turn, can cause pre-term labor. Considering this possibility, most healthcare providers recommend patients take the tea after their first trimester, while some suggest taking it after 32-34 weeks gestation.
Make sure you closely monitor how the body reacts. Avoid taking the tea, and contact your doctor if you experience things like spotting, contractions, or cramping.
What are the Common Side Effects?

It’s easy to assume that if raspberry leaf tea is available online or in stores, it can’t be that harmful. But the truth is that herbal supplements are often loosely regulated, and manufacturers repeatedly don’t need to test them for efficacy or safety before selling them.
There’s also no guarantee the label and the contents of the package match, so it’s better to tread safely, especially if you’re pregnant.
Plus, there’s a lack of quality research about the tea, so not everything is known about its side effects and whether using it to induce labor is risky.
And when it comes to drinking the tea early in your pregnancy, midwives and herbalists recommend not doing that. Since red raspberry leaf tea contains several potent ingredients, it’s better to consult your doctor before you take it and only drink it in moderation.
Some common concerns and side effects of red raspberry leaf tea that you should keep in mind are:
Pregnancy Concerns
How red raspberry tea leaf affects breastfeeding or pregnant women is inconclusive. Most of the studies have been on animals, so additional research is needed to understand how it affects humans. So if you’re breastfeeding or pregnant, discussing potential risks with your doctor first is better.
Might Interfere with Medicines
Since red raspberry leaf tea can interact with some medicines, consult your healthcare provider before you start taking supplements with the tea. Similarly, the tea might mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, so if you’re sensitive to its effects, consult your doctor first.
Might Increase Your trips to the Washroom
Some say that raspberry leaf tea has a diuretic effect that might make you pee more than usual. This can be a nuisance, especially when you’re pregnant and already have frequent bathroom trips. Users also state raspberry tea tends to have a laxative effect, even though research suggests it can help to treat diarrhea.
Increases the Chance of Miscarriage
Since red raspberry leaf tea can cause contractions if you drink too much of it, it might increase the chance of miscarriage in the first three months of your pregnancy. This is why avoiding drinking it during the early months is better.