The leaves of the red raspberry bush (Rubus idaeus) have been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. Having astringent and stimulant properties, raspberry leaf tea is a popular remedy for a number of ailments.
The most common use of raspberry leaves is as a uterine tonic. It appears to have the ability to relax tight uterine muscles and constrict relaxed uterine muscles. This activity has led to the use of raspberry leaf tea as a child-birth stimulant at the onset of labor. Its use for this purpose is not fully researched, but seems harmless. Raspberry leaf powder is also used for similar tonic conditions.
As a mouthwash, the astringent properties have been used to treat mouth sores.