The raspberry plant is a favourite household remedy. Raspberry vinegar is an acid syrup made with the fruit juice, sugar and white wine vinegar and was used for sore throats and coughs. The leaves in infusions were used for diarrhoea or as a poultice for hemorrhoids.

Raspberry is largely grown for its fruit and grows wild in some parts of Great Britain.

Raspberry leaf tea can be taken late in pregnancy before childbirth as it is a uterine stimulant. It has been included in the rheumatic remedies as it is a cleansing diuretic.

Leaves : fragarine (uterine tonic), tannins, polypeptides,

Fruit : vitamin A, B, C, E, sugars, minerals, volatile oil

Fruit : traditionally acts as a diuretic, cleansing, laxative

Tincture More astringent than the infusion, the tincture is traditionally used on wounds and inflammations

Infusion (1oz of the dried leaves in 1 pint of boiling water) This is traditionally used to ease childbirth. One cup taken daily in the last 6 – 8 weeks of pregnancy and drink plenty of the warm tea during labour. It can also be used for mild diarrhoea

Traditionally taken for indigestion and rheumatism, the berries are rich in vitamins and highly nutritious.

Vinegar Steep 500g fruit in 1 litre of wine vinegar for two weeks then strain. The red liquid can then be added to cough mixtures or used in gargles for sore throats.

Avoid high doses of the leaves in early pregnancy as they can stimulate the uterus