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Fig

Ficus carica

Fibre-rich Mediterranean fruit valued for gentle, everyday digestive relief

About Fig

Figs are among the oldest cultivated fruits, grown across the Mediterranean and Middle East for more than 11,000 years. Dried figs are unusually high in fibre for their size and also contain natural sugar alcohols that draw water into the bowel, which is why they have been used for generations as a gentle, food-based way to keep digestion regular. They are also one of the richest non-dairy sources of calcium, alongside useful amounts of potassium and magnesium. This entry covers the fruit only — fig leaf is a different preparation with different effects, and is not used in any of these remedies.

Key benefits

  • Rich in dietary fibre, which supports regular, comfortable digestion
  • One of the highest non-dairy food sources of calcium
  • Supplies potassium and magnesium for muscle and bone health
  • Traditionally simmered in milk to soothe a dry, tickly cough

How to use

Eat 2 to 4 dried figs a day, either on their own or soaked in water overnight to soften them. Fresh figs can be eaten whole when in season. Build up gradually and drink plenty of water alongside them.

Did you know?

A fig is not really a fruit but an inverted flower — hundreds of tiny blossoms bloom inwards, sealed inside the soft green pod, which is why you will never see a fig tree in bloom.

Remedies that use Fig

Overnight Soaked Figs

A gentle, food-based way to stay regular

Moderate evidence
Fig & Milk Cough Soother

Warm milk and figs for a dry night-time cough

Preliminary evidence
Fig Bone-Support Snack

A calcium-rich daily habit for bone strength

Moderate evidence

Frequently asked questions

What is Fig good for?

Rich in dietary fibre, which supports regular, comfortable digestion; One of the highest non-dairy food sources of calcium; Supplies potassium and magnesium for muscle and bone health; Traditionally simmered in milk to soothe a dry, tickly cough.

What is Fig?

Figs are among the oldest cultivated fruits, grown across the Mediterranean and Middle East for more than 11,000 years.

How do you use Fig?

Eat 2 to 4 dried figs a day, either on their own or soaked in water overnight to soften them. Fresh figs can be eaten whole when in season. Build up gradually and drink plenty of water alongside them.