Constipation Remedy

blue280 · Sep 12, 2003

Carleah, that's what we use. We call it Power Pudding

mistyday56 · Sep 24, 2005

WE USUALLY RECOMMEND A MIXTURE OF EQUAL PARTS OF PRUNE JUICE AND ORANGE JUICE WITH 2 TABLESPOONS MOM THEN WARM IT IT'S LIKE DYNAMITE!!! :rotfl:

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 24, 2005

True story: We had a child come into the ER because the maternal grandmother had tied a woman's panties around his legs so tightly that it constricted circulation.

We were evaluating the situation in order to determine if we should call Child Protective Services. The parents, (not the grandmother) was with the child. They explained that a woman's panties from her time of the month was an old wive's cure for constipation.

Interestingly, the paternal grandmother had recommended a sliver of soap as a suppository. Both the mother and the maternal grandmother were repulsed at such a backwards cure (the panties apparently being a more forward thinking solution).

Ultimately, we deferred calling CPS to some ummmm education.

~faith,

Timothy.

allnurses Guide · Sep 24, 2005

ZASHAGALKA said:
True story: We had a child come into the ER because the maternal grandmother had tied a woman's panties around his legs so tightly that it constricted circulation.
We were evaluating the situation in order to determine if we should call Child Protective Services. The parents, (not the grandmother) was with the child. They explained that a woman's panties from her time of the month was an old wive's cure for constipation.
Interestingly, the paternal grandmother had recommended a sliver of soap as a suppository. Both the mother and the maternal grandmother were repulsed at such a backwards cure (the panties apparently being a more forward thinking solution).
Ultimately, we deferred calling CPS to some ummmm education.
~faith,
Timothy.

A sliver of Ivory Soap works wonders with young children. Panties . . not so much. :rolleyes:

Wow, that is interesting .. .never heard of it.

Warm prune juice and 7-Up.

Prune juice, applesauce and bran is something my in-laws do every day.

Swallow frozen vaseline? :uhoh3: How about putting the vaseline in PR instead?

steph

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Sep 24, 2005

Mazzi said:
... Vaseline Balls. Yes!!! Just roll vaseline into balls, roll into powdered sugar and freeze them. Have pt swallow them frozen...

Wow, Mazzi! Without further researching the above, I'd be concerned to go this route on three counts:

1. Ingestion / assimilation of petroleum-based product;

2. Potential risk of choking on hardened balls and / or sugar dust; and

3. Impact of extreme temperature on GI and other systems.

All the above are magnified in my mind if we're treating geriatric clients.

aimeee, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2005

Havin said:
Wow Mazzi! Without further researching the above, [i']I'd [/i] be concerned to go this route on three counts:
1. Ingestion / assimilation of petroleum-based product;
2. Potential risk of choking on hardened balls and / or sugar dust; and
3. Impact of extreme temperature on GI and other systems.
All the above are magnified in my mind if we're treating geriatric clients.

This probably isn't going to be the first remedy you reach for but if the normal ones aren't working, its a whole lot better to try this than to have this progress to a bowel obstruction. I'm told by the old pros that these work wonders for high impactions. Since you are making pea sized balls the risk of choking is no greater than asking someone to swallow a normal pill. A small object like this is rapidly warmed by its passage. The freezing is necessary though to give it some form to get it down to where it needs to lube up the passages.

I don't think you will find much research on this remedy because there isn't any money to be made on it!

aimeee, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Nice article, Karen! Never heard of liquid paraffin before, have you?

Bird2 · Sep 25, 2005

carleah said:
I was told the recipe of equal parts cooked prune or prune juice, apple sauce and unprocessed bran. Give a couple of tablespoons and voila!

It has been years since I have given this. Yes it worked but we didn't call it power pudding we called it bowel paste. Doesn't that name sound repulsive! I do remember the pt liking it.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Bird2 said:
... Yes it worked... bowel paste...

Is this delicacy served cold or warmed?

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2005

We at Weight Watchers call thes Colon Blow Muffins

1 box spice cake mix

15 oz can of pumpkin

3 cups Fiber One

2 cups water

1/4 cups rasins

Mix and pour into muffin pan Bake like a cup cake

Of course these are more for prevention, but boy are they high in fiber!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2005

My oral remedy is

30cc MOM

30cc Lactulose

mixed with 4 oz of warm prune juice

Now if that dont work get

1/2 c dark molassis

1/2 c milk

mix together and give as enema.... Constipation does not stand a chance..

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 28, 2005

aimeee said:
Nice article, Karen! Never heard of liquid paraffin before, have you?

Nope, nor the vaseline balls but suspect work the same way. Things they don't teach you in nursing school: another addition to our bag of tricks!