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.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- 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.
Is it Safe?
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 & Warnings:
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.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Plum might slow blood clotting. Taking plus along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Plum might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
There are no known interactions with foods.
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.
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