Common raspberry is distributed in the middle and northern strip of the European part of the USSR, in Siberia, is found in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Wild common raspberry grows in forests, between bushes, in clearings, along ravines, river and stream banks. It is widely cultivated as a food and ornamental plant (Fig. 46).
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Mature fruits - berries - of wild raspberries without cone-shaped peduncle are used for medicinal purpose. The smell of dried fruits is aromatic, the taste is pleasant sweet and sour.
Chemical composition and properties of raspberries
The properties of raspberries have long been used by healers and modern phytotherapists. Folic, citric, salicylic, malic, formic, ascorbic acids - up to 36.8 mg%, in leaves - 257.8 mg%; besides, carotene, anthocyanins, glucose, fructose, sucrose, tannins, flavone, pectin, mucilage and protein substances, mineral salts, pigments, traces of B vitamins, sitosterol, antisclerotic substances are found.
Effects and uses of raspberries
Dried fruits have good diaphoretic property. The use of raspberries in the form of infusion is recommended for colds, flu, sore throat, etc.; in the form of syrup to improve the flavor of medicines, are included in various diaphoretic collections.
Bulgarian medicine uses the leaves, which store the beneficial properties of raspberries, as an anti-inflammatory agent for gastrointestinal diseases, stomach bleeding, diarrhea, menorrhagia, and respiratory diseases. Externally - in skin diseases in the form of decoction (6 g per 250 ml of boiling water). In sore throat and conjunctivitis in the form of gargles (D. Yordanov, 1963).
In Tibetan medicine, leaves, berries and stems are used for neurasthenia and as an antipyretic.
In Austria, the leaves and fruits are used as a vitamin drink and for coughs.
In the GDR, the use of raspberry (its leaves) was recommended as an astringent for diarrhea, as a gargle for sore throats, as a syrup which is also a good medicinal remedy and as "raspberry tea" (Dorfler, Roselt, 1964).
Raspberry fruits were included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR in 1961.
In domestic folk medicine, along with the use of raspberries as diaphoretic and antipyretic agent used and leaves, which have a good astringent, with diarrhea and bleeding. Decoction and infusion of leaves are used for coughs, sore throat in the form of gargles, infusion of leaves and flowers - with hemorrhoids and female diseases. The properties of raspberries are beneficial to the skin. Fresh raspberry leaves are used to prepare ointment for acne and skin rashes. Decoction of raspberry blossoms used for washing with acne, rusty inflammation and conjunctivitis.
Formerly, raspberry water, pleasant to the taste, was prepared in pharmacies, and was widely used as an antifever and refreshing agent, especially in children's practice.
The use of raspberries in raw and dried form was used for filling pies, jams, in confectionery, raw fruits for making berry juices, kvass, syrup, nalewka, tinctures, vinegar, young leaves are used as tea.
Common raspberry (flowers, leaves, fruits) is used by us as an antisclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and high-vitamin remedy for hypertension, atherosclerosis and colds..
