Herb Journal: Raspberry Leaf

I'm just starting this journal entry, and I already have to pee. WARNING: This herb is a major diuretic, and will make you pee. A lot, like a racehorse. BUT, if you have a UTI, or a fever, or an infection.. well, that's not such a bad thing, now is it? I really love raspberry leaf tea. It feels rich, filling, it has depth, it is grounding, and it is reassuring. Yes, i am becoming like a wine or coffee connoisseur about it, listen to me, but when you try something enough, in different variations, and have to find ways to describe it, suddenly you begin to describe the way it makes you feel. cozy, homey, fresh, adoring.. as if the tea is its own animal, and has its own way of making you feel. it can be real, no? It tastes so good, and thats something that i cant say about zillions of herbs, so i'm gonna hang with that one on the raspberry leaf tea. It doesn't taste like the fruit, as one might hope, but it does taste a little bit sweet, perhaps a little bit like raspberry, just a slight trace of it. This tea feels extremely cleansing. It is nutritive, containing vitamin C, calcium, manganese, iron, niacin, vitamin A and selenium (another one for the iron + calcium formulas), plus vitamin C formulas which might contain rose hips, hibiscus, orange and lemon peel, and any kind of edible wild berries. This herb is best known as a female uterine tonic, strengthening the muscles of the uterus, and helping women through pregnancy, childbirth and recovery for centuries. It also can go very well with uva ursi to relieve bladder irritation, and is a fertility tonic. Considering I just finished drinking nettles tea, this was a good choice, as the nettles was making me feel nauseous, and Raspberry Leaf is indicated to ease nausea. Lucky me. This leaf helps strengthen bones, teeth, hair and nails, and would be great in combination with horsetail for these purposes. Hmmm. Think I'll make a horsetail and raspberry leaf tincture. Good combo, glad I thought of it. All in all, it makes you pee a lot. So don't drink it if you are going to see a movie, going on a date, or about to do a presentation for work. It is seriously (at least for me) THAT strong of a diuretic. But other than that, if a bathroom is nearby, drink up. It's yummy, and it fortifies your uterus. That can never be a bad thing.