Loading...Recipe 1 cup applesauce 1 cup coarse, unprocessed bran 3/4 cup prune juice Mix all the ingredients together. They will turn into a pasty, stiff glop about the consistency of peanut butter. After mixing, it should be kept refrigerated. Take one or two tablespoons daily and wash it down with a full eight ounces of water.
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Sue
Love your prune juice, applesauce, and bran recipe. Works well on my IBS.
Dee
My PT therapist for pelvic prolapse, which causes constipation, gave me this recipe, but I mix 1 TBLS of each, to be mixed daily and not in a batch. Has anyone else been given this method instead of the batch method?
Mary
Do you cook the oat bran first, or just add the dry ingredient to the purne juice and applesauce?
Joe Graedon
No cooking needed
Jack
Michigan
I’m going to try this!!
lois
Virginia
Can I take this if I have diverticulosis?
Mark
My dietician gave me this recipe but the portion was different: 1 cup bran cereal, 1/2 cup applesauce, and 1/2 cup prune juice. Mix up and let set in refrigerator over night. I eat about half of it each day meaning I make a new batch every other day. Bear in mind that by eating that much at a time might give you a bit of a stomach ache at first but with continued use that will go away and you will have excellent bowel movements!
Carrie
Illinois
Could you use ground flax instead of oat bran?
Roger
I’ve taken this for years. I have heard from a knee surgeon. I was wondering, however, what time of day is it best to take it. I tried all different time. I didn’t know if one might be better than others. Anybody have a thought on that?
Hannah M
Missouri
We use as caregivers to a client in hospice care, we need a calorie count for 2/tbspn? Does anyone know what that might be?
Lauren
Vermont
You definitely should! My doctor gave me this recipe about 20 years ago and, seriously, it’s SO effective.
Louise
Michigan
This recipe is very effective for me and is also gentle. However, I had to take 2 TBS daily for two weeks before I saw any real results. Once my body responded, it was consistent. I have also replaced oat bran with a name bran of bran buds or even mixed the two half and half. It keeps well in the refrigerator and tastes good.
Pau
Do you cook the oat bran first or just mix uncooked
Lauren
Uncooked bran.
Linda
KS
this concoction was recommended to me by a nurse in a hospital where i was a recent guest. miraculously, it works perfectly for me!! i have had chronic constipation for 71 years. this is the first time in my life that i don’t feel full and uncomfortable! (Miralax didn’t work. neither did Benefiber. gave me lots of painful gas, besides.)
Elena
Southern California.
I am going to try this.
Reva
North Carolina
I am going to try this
Margaret
Mi.
I am a hospice nurse, and have used this successfully on elderly constipated patients. I highly recommend this!
Diane
wisconsin
Are you supposed to use oat or wheat bran?
Gwen
Connecticut
Grape Nuts cereal in place of Bran flakes is a real winner in my household but it must sit in refrigerator overnight before consuming to obtain the right texture.
Angela
Illinois
Excellent trick:
I bought these ice trays to make the long tube shaped cubes for water bottles,
I put the mixture in them, freeze, transfer to Baggie and they’re like little Popsicle treats! Beware, they’re addicting and you don’t want to eat too many in a day!
Ann
can you use this daily? Due to a medical condition I need to ‘go’ without pushing.
La Donna
Sterling, Nebr.
I am a little concerned about using prune juice as I am a diabetic.
The People's Pharmacy
Prune juice does have natural sugars and would need to be calculated into your fruit allowance.
Dianne
St Paul NE
I was a nurse for years until rheumatoid arthritis and lupus forced me to retire. This was a remedy we gave to all the residents in the nursing homes where I worked, so I fought like heck to not have to use it myself. But after failures with Amitiza, fiber capsules twice daily, huge amounts of water, and occasional doses of stimulant laxatives, this tried but true remedy has given me relief in 2 days!
JWS
I need help … I am in constant pain from scar tissue as a result of multiple abdominal surgeries. First a liver transplant in 2000 and (2013) small intestine adhesions. (Opened up a second time) I take a 4 mg Dilaudid tablet and a 10 mg Oxycodone slow release tablet. I have chronic gas and slow small stools. I have tried many home remedies for constipation. Is there a magic bullet for narcotics?! I have tried to reduce pain meds but cannot tolerate the abdominal pain. Help!
mabel
can they be use for toddlers..for age of 3 years old?
Angela
My daughter and husband were on a capful of Miralax for years.
1 in am, 1 in pm.
After regulated, they went to 1 per day. I have used it too. Be sure to dissolve until water is clear.
AC
I was looking for something to help my eight year old go easier. If I gave her a tablespoon, would it be too much?
MLJ
My Step Mother was a registered nurse. When my Father had Parkinson’s Disease she gave him prune juice daily. I now also have Parkinson’s and find prune juice very helpful. Evidently constipation is a symptom of Parkinson’s.
ms
I got this recipe from my uroligist and just started using it. has anyone else had issues with too loose with this? I am doing the minimum of 2tbsp per day, but seem to be having very loose stool. just curious if anyone else had this issue.
HW
This was recommended by a doctor it works really well!!!
Leah
Ohio
I thought it was 1 Tablespoon daily
SRB
Does this concoction work on people whose constipation is caused by narcotic pain medications?
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: We suspect it would, but we do not have proof.
DM
What is the consensus on mineral oil. One of my dogs has a chronic problem with constipation. He was diagnosed with ‘garbage gut’ a term our vet used to describe intestinal injury due to living his early life scavenging in the bush. The poor bugger had a tough time until Doc recommended a small amount of mineral oil with each meal. Now he is having trouble free movements and when I have the occasional slow time of it will ingest a tsp or so and also experience smooth results w/o any painful churnings or gaseousness. He has been on this treatment daily for over 3yrs w/o any noticeable contraindications. Would love any other feedback. Thank you – D
People’s Pharmacy response: For humans, mineral oil should be reserved for very occasional treatments. It can prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (such as A, D, E and K) if used on a regular basis.
Lynn
Too much SUGAR & too many ingredients. Depending upon body weight, 1-3 prunes every other day will help regulate your bms…& I first boil the prunes & toss the sugary liquid 2x before eating the prunes.
Have used this approach for 25 years & at age 65 take no Rxs!
JCL
Two thumbs up! Heard on UNC-TV and used myself with success… also on my son recovering from side-effect of pain medication taken for ankle surgery. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to appreciate!
JJ
I have used this for patients that I see and it tends to work quite well! However, if you still have problems with constipation, you may have a pelvic floor dysfunction. You should see a WOMEN’S (and men’s) HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPIST to help you with this problem!
DW from MN
I have used this recipe for years – as I have bowel ups and downs due to MS. I lost my recipe, and thus found this one today – I have to say that the percentage of how useful this substance is should rate at least above 50% in the community of people whom I know who have used it. In my family alone, it has helped many from mom-in-law to my own grandkids as toddlers –
This recipe is a win/win deal. No doubt about it – regularity is its claim!
We renamed it to “POWER PUDDING”!
Sally
When I worked in a adult foster care home we did a recipe of
Applesause, cut up prunes, and ( ??? ). Does anyone know the missing item? It did work great. I am also going to keep this remedy.
Thank you
F. Mills
Have a problem. Used different products like Benefiber, etc. but didn’t do much good. Rely on suppositories but would like to try just prune juice. How much to drink per day? Thank you.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: YOU WILL NEED TO EXPERIMENT TO FIND WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. START WITH 6 OZ AND ADJUST FROM THERE.
Sharon
I tried the constipation trio: bran flakes, prune juice, & applesauce for about a month. It did not work for me. My sister, who is an RN recommended it to me. Now I am back to taking abdominal injections of Relistor (RX only). I hate taking shots, but it is the only thing that I’ve found that works.
amy w
This is what we call power pudding!! We use this in the nursing home all the time. It does the trick!!!
Holly
I tried this with ground flax seed instead of the wheat bran & have terrific results. Apple juice in lieu of prune is tastier. I eat approx 2 tbs morning and night & am proud to say I’m regular again! I shared this remedy with all my family at the holidays & they are grateful.
ajs
Where do I find coarse, unprocessed bran? What do I ask for at a health food store?
I read someplace to not use oat bran in this recipe. Is this true?
TW
This was in my recipe box, and I used it when I was a caregiver for my husband. It is an amazing formula, but don’t forget the water!
BK
When are the best times to use this stuff?
Joyce
Plum juice has the same affect as prune juice, and also has a better flavor–not as thick.
LH
I have used a variation of this for elderly patients with good success. Instead of prune juice, I used cooked prunes and added one cup of Cool Whip (or any brand). Mix in blender & eat 1/4 cup a day. Increase gradually if necessary. One woman did not like puddings, so I spread it on graham crackers–even more fiber!
Eleonore Minton
My best friends–
I had saved this recipe-but I can not find it anymore !!
I am 81 and I realy have to use it–but I thought, that it was mixed with grinded flaxseed ???? I am wrong ??
I will buy your book, which has all the “Home remedies”!!
I never missing your articles
in our “Palm Beach Post”
sincerely Eleonore