Chinese raspberry (rubus chingii) is a subspecies of goldenleaf raspberry (rubus ideaus) native to China. It is very similar in appearance to the traditional raspberry plant, often reaching a height of up to seven feet, with green, spade-shaped leaves and thin brown stems.
The raspberries themselves are small and range from reddish-yellow to pale brown in appearance, cone-shaped, and have a hard texture. The fruits are used in herbal preparations, and are cleaned and dried before being used.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese raspberries are considered to have sweet and warm properties, and are associated with the Liver and Kidney meridians. They function to tonify and stabilize the kidneys to preserve vital energy, and treat cases of liver and kidney deficiency.
Chinese raspberries contain a variety of organic acids, and are high in carbohydrates and vitamin C. They are often used in herbal remedies to promote visual acuity and clear blurred vision, and can treat a variety of urogenital conditions, ranging from enuresis and frequent urination to impotence.
Most practitioners recommend between 4.5-9 grams of Chinese raspberries, dried and administered orally as a decoction. It can also be made into pills, powders and extracts. For extracts, the recommended dosage is a 5:1 concentrate, at a rate of 1-2 grams per day.
Chinese raspberry is available in a variety of forms. In addition to dried raspberries, pills, powders, extracts and decoctions are available, usually at Asian markets and herbal shops.
While there are no known side-effects from high doses or chronic use, Chinese raspberry should not be taken by patients with fire hyperactivity due to yin deficiency, or those with scanty, dark urine. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions with Chinese raspberry. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking Chinese raspberry or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
References
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