Does anyone know anything about raspberry leaf tea and fibroids?

[VeronicaSpeedwell]

I've seen it said that you shouldn't drink raspberry leaf tea if you have fibroids, but does anyone know quite why? I have one fibroid of about 5cm on the outside of my uterus, and a couple of other tiddlers which haven't grown in pregnancy. The box doesn't mention any contra-indications.

Does it actually do anything anyway? I'm finding it hard to imagine anything in a teabag from my local lentil shop, with no warnings on it, could cause that much trouble (which also prompts the question of how much use it can be, I know).

[Boggler]

I don't know about fibroids and rlt but you should only drink it at the end of your pregnancy after 36 weeks I think.

[idlevice]

I've read rather vague claims about it, like it "tones" the uterus & sometimes it is referred to as a "uterine tonic". I guess it may have some active component as it's quite a well known herbal remedy & has been around a long time but I'm not sure exactly what the action is it's supposed to provoke. I wouldn't mess with anything that could possibly interfere with fibroids, esp when pregnant, as they are a risk for bleeding (I have them & had 2 bleeds >1000ml with DSs).

[VeronicaSpeedwell]

Thanks for the answers. Boggler, I'm past the safe point, just really wondered why some people say rlt is good for fibroids in general, but others say to avoid it. idlevice had convinced me though that it's probably not worth taking any chances without better knowledge. A litre of blood sounds very scary! I hope you recovered well. My fibroid is on the outside of the uterus, so no idea really how that might be expected to behave. All I know is that nobody is too worried about it because it's nicely out of the way.

[cathyearnshaw]

Won't affect fibroids. Other herbs which are oestrogenic are contraindicated as they could in theory increase the size. But they're not ones you'd take while pg anyway. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus, doesn't bring on labour, works to improve muscle tone therefore improving strength and regularity of contractions. It should be taken from the second tri on to have an effect. Waiting til 38 weeks is a bit late.

And you're quite right, anything you buy in a tea bag from your local health shop- ESP if holland and Barrett- is unlikely to be of any use. Or pills for that matter. Will be shite quality. You need to take whole herb and best to get from a qualified herbalist. ESP in pregnancy.