Overview

The plum is a fruit. There are over 40 species of plum. The most common are Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina. Dried plums are called prunes.

Fresh and dried plums contain fiber and other chemicals that might help with constipation. Dried plum also contains chemicals that seem to reduce bone loss and improve joint health.

People use dried plums for constipation, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Don't confuse plum with Japanese Apricot. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

  • Constipation. Consuming dried plums, plum juice, or plum puree seems to improve constipation. It seems to work as well as psyllium.
There is interest in using plum for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Plums are commonly consumed in food. Plum is possibly safe when used as medicine for up to 12 months. Plum might cause stomach issues like gas and diarrhea. If dried plums or pits are swallowed whole, they might block the intestines.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Plums are commonly consumed in food. Plum is possibly safe when used as medicine for up to 12 months. Plum might cause stomach issues like gas and diarrhea. If dried plums or pits are swallowed whole, they might block the intestines. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Plums are commonly consumed in food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if plum is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Allergy to plants in the Rosaceae family: People who are allergic to other plants in the Rosaceae family, including apricots, peaches, and cherries, might also be allergic to plum.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with PLUM

    Plum might slow blood clotting. Taking plus along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Dosing

Whole plums, dried plums, and plum juice are commonly consumed in foods.

As medicine, dried plums have most often been used by adults in doses of 50-100 grams by mouth daily for up to 12 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Next
View References

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.