My Grandma's Natural Remedy for Constipation (Stewed Prunes)
"My sweet grandma used stewed prunes as a natural laxative, but my mom likes to eat them as a simple and healthy dessert because slow simmering softens and thickens dried plums into a sweet syrupy goodness. Healthier than taking Ex-lax."
photo by Garden Gate Kate
- Ready In:
- 31mins
- Ingredients:
- 4
- Yields:
-
15 stewed prunes
- Serves:
- 1
ingredients
directions
- In a small saucepan, place prunes, water, and orange juice. Bring to boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Prunes will absorb most of the water, and the remaining water will thicken into a consistency of syrup. If there is a lot of liquid remaining, simmer, uncovered, for a few minutes until sauce reduces.
- Transfer hot prunes and syrup to a bowl. Pour cold milk over the prunes to cover. Eat with a spoon.
- HINT: This remedy should work within 24 hours and can be safely eaten as often and as long as needed.
- NOTE: If you do not have constipation and just like the taste of stewed prunes, you may add 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the prunes mixture before cooking (Cinnamon, oranges, and prunes pair well together.) However, do not add the cinnamon if you are using this for constipation because cinnamon is used as a natural cure for diarrhea and will have the opposite effect of a laxative.
- One cup prunes contains 1274 mg of potassium, which prevents muscle cramps, and 12 grams of fiber to relieve constipation.
Questions & Replies
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Do you have to eat all 15 prunes at once in order for it to work
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How much milk do I add for this recipe (15 stewed prunes)? Instructions don't say and I don't want to ruin it.
Reviews
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15 prunes will get anyone going, stewed or not because of the fiber and sorbitol in them. I'm surprised the serving size is 1. Perhaps it should be noted that this makes a nice amount of stewed prunes to eat over 2-3 days to get things moving again. If you are really backed up, then it won't hurt you and you will clean out, but be aware that you may experience bloating and a lot of cramping from the gasses created by so much fructose in the gut (relieved by flatulence so you might want to be home when this kicks in).
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my father's great grandmother used to make something like this with prunes and orange juice and he said about twice a year when he would be at great grandma's house and his stomach was hurting really bad she would get some of her home-made dried plums (prunes) and stew ´em up and make ´em eat them, he also said he used to hate the way they tasted but after they fixed you up you wouldn't be complaining but he didnt like plums so the flavor thing makes since. it its some what old fashion but it DEFINITELY works well -
This recipe was good, however, I let them cook for 45-1 hr to thicken. It helped with my husband’s constipation and I enjoyed a few as well! Milk was not used. -
Actually my mom told to do this...it works awesome
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These are very good. I like to let them cook on low for about an hour until the syrup forms & let them cool a while so the milk won't curdle. I have also cooked them up & put the whole thing in a jar with oats to make "overnight oats", and over traditional hot cereal -- both very good. I have tried eating uncooked prunes and drinking water to help my system work more smoothly, to little avail. After just one serving of stewed prunes, I was able to stop taking fiber and stool softener! Thank you!
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Garden Gate Kate
United States
<p>My grandfather did not speak or read a word of English when he moved to America from China at eleven years old. With a lot of hard work, he proudly became an US citizen and began his own Cantonese restaurant in Kingston, NY, from the ground up. He is not a trained chef but has a natural gift for combining unexpected flavors and ingredients into the most delicious dishes. Although the food on the menu is the absolute best Chinese food in the country, the really out-of-this-world dishes are the ones that he serves his family in the back of the restaurant. He doesn't read cookbooks or write down any of his recipes; all his creations are original. Growing up, I spent every summer with him eating these foods. Every morning, we would pick fresh vegetables from his garden that he would use to make the noon and evening meals with. He stuffed garden zucchini the size of my arm (of course, my arm was smaller then) with fresh lobster and shrimp. This is just one example of a simple summertime lunch for him. Without a doubt, his cooking is the greatest influence on my tastes in foods and my own recipes.</p>
