The Cookie Cure: How Coconut Macaroons Became a Diarrhea Remedy

Some home remedies refuse to fade away — not because anyone is promoting them, but because people keep writing to say, “This actually helped.” One of the most enduring examples we’ve encountered involves an unlikely comfort food: coconut macaroon cookies. Over the years, readers have described using coconut-based treats to steady digestion when standard solutions fell short, from post-procedure digestive upset to long-standing bowel problems. The idea sounds odd at first, but the sheer number of firsthand reports has made The Cookie Cure one of the most talked-about remedies in The People’s Pharmacy history.

Home remedies don’t usually arrive with footnotes or formal studies. Most begin quietly, passed along because someone noticed something unexpected. That’s how The Cookie Cure first came to our attention — not from a laboratory, but from a letter mailed to us more than 25 years ago by a man who was simply trying to manage daily life with Crohn’s disease.

The Cookie Cure Begins with a Letter

In November 1998, we received a note from Donald Agar of Pittsfield, MA. Donald had lived with Crohn’s disease for decades. Along the way, he had endured surgeries and powerful medications, some with serious side effects. Despite all that, one problem stubbornly remained: daily diarrhea that was difficult to control.

After his wife died, Donald had to fend for himself. He liked a small dessert after meals but didn’t want to spend time baking. Instead, he bought coconut macaroon cookies. To his amazement, eating just two cookies a day seemed to bring his bowel problems under control.

Donald wrote to us so that we could share his experience. At the time, we had no idea that his simple observation would spark The Cookie Cure and resonate with hundreds of readers in the years to come.

Crohn’s Disease and The Cookie Cure

Since sharing Donald’s story, we’ve heard from many readers with inflammatory bowel disease who decided to give coconut macaroons a try.

Steve was one of them:

“It’s been over a week since I started on coconut macaroons and I feel great. Although diarrhea is not exactly water cooler conversation, I have learned that Crohn’s affects a lot more people than you would imagine. I’ve been suffering for 22 years.

“After my first bowel resection, I’ve had to take prescription medication to help reduce the number of trips I make to the bathroom every day. Since I have been eating these cookies, I’m a once-in-the-morning man and that’s it for the day. I’m thrilled.

“That’s a big part of the problem with Crohn’s disease. You actually have to limit your activities or at least consider what you do or where you’re going to be to make sure there is a facility nearby. With Crohn’s disease, nature doesn’t just call, it SHOUTS!”

Steve’s experience mirrors what many people with bowel disorders describe. It isn’t just discomfort; it’s a constant calculation about where you can go and what you can safely do. For some, The Cookie Cure offered unexpected freedom.

The Cookie Cure for Sudden, Stubborn Diarrhea

Not everyone who benefits from coconut macaroons has Crohn’s disease.

John wrote to tell us how the remedy helped him just when he needed it most:

“I saw a doctor for the first time in years because I had terrible diarrhea. He said nothing could be done; I’d just have to wait it out. I would have to miss flying home to see my family for Christmas.

“I read The People’s Pharmacy about coconut macaroons and ate three the first day. It worked well. By the second day, the symptoms were gone.”

Stories like John’s help explain why The Cookie Cure keeps resurfacing. When conventional advice is limited to “ride it out,” people are understandably grateful for something simple that seems to help.

Employing The Cookie Cure After Medical Procedures

More recently, some readers have discovered that coconut cookies may help calm digestive upset after medical procedures as well.

One reader wrote about lingering problems after colonoscopy preparation:

“Jennie’s organic coconut bites with cacao nibs and dark chocolate worked beautifully for post-colonoscopy problems. I own no stock in this company. I am a nonrandom sample of one, and the colonoscopy was normal. However, results of the prep last longer than the procedure, at least for some of us. Four coconut bites seem to have solved the problem completely.”

This was the first report we received suggesting The Cookie Cure might be helpful after a colonoscopy. It’s another reminder that bowel reactions can linger, and that readers often discover practical solutions on their own.

Does the Cookie Cure Work for Pets, Too?

Some readers have even tried coconut cookies for their dogs — though we urge caution here.

One reader shared:

“My favorite People’s Pharmacy cure? Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies for diarrhea. Normally one small cookie does the trick for me, small children and, oh yes, even my dogs.

“I gave one to my daughter’s beagle when she had a bout of the runs, and it did the trick. Her vet didn’t approve and said I had given Josie (the beagle) more sugar than she needs in her whole life, but it stopped the problem immediately. It was super easy to administer and had no discernible side effects.”

Another dog owner wrote:

“My wonderful dog hadn’t soiled in the house for over twelve years. I was alarmed when she developed diarrhea and ruined our brand-new carpet. I remembered the coconut macaroons, bought some, and gave her a bit. She didn’t have another accident.”

While we understand the temptation, we always recommend following a veterinarian’s advice when treating pets. Some coconut products — especially those containing chocolate or cacao — can be dangerous for animals. Moreover, low-calorie cookies might be sweetened with xylitol, which can be toxic for dogs (Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice, Nov. 2018).

Is It Really the Cookies or Something in Coconut Macaroons?

Over the years, readers have wondered what makes The Cookie Cure work. Some speculate that lauric acid, a fatty acid found in coconut, might play a role.

CDM suggests coconut oil:

“If it’s the lauric acid in the coconut that helps stop the diarrhea, then why not just eat a spoonful of pure organic coconut oil that is tasty and healthy in so many ways and can be used for baking, frying or even as a moisturizer?”

Others report success using plain, unsweetened coconut flakes instead of cookies, sometimes sprinkled on morning cereal.

Tara shared this alternative approach:

“I’ve had chronic diarrhea for 60 years, since my early 20s. I am lactose intolerant and take a ‘dairy relief’ pill each day. Still, I had diarrhea, often several times a day. I’ve treated it mostly with diet and anti-diarrhea pills.

“I read about coconut macaroons in your column but didn’t want to consume so much sugar. Then I read a comment about adding coconut flakes to yogurt.

“I had both on hand, so I stirred several tablespoons of unsweetened coconut flakes into plain yogurt. Eating several large spoonfuls a day really works! I can’t believe something so simple is so effective.”

We don’t know for certain which component of coconut is responsible — or whether it’s a combination of fats, fiber, and other factors. What we do know is that many readers report benefit from coconut in one form or another.

What Happened to Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies?

When Donald Agar wrote to us back in 1998, he ascribed the benefits of The Cookie Cure to the brand he had purchased: Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies. The Cookie Cure has persisted because it speaks to people paying attention to their bodies and sharing what helps.

Many of the hundreds of letters we have received over the intervening decades have referred to the Archway brand. Sadly, though, Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies do not appear to be readily available. In 2021 we wrote an article titled:

What Happened to Archway Coconut Cookies?
Archway has changed hands several times, and the current owner does not seem to be making Archway coconut cookies. You can make your own!

If you’re curious, we feature a reader-shared coconut macaroon recipe in our book Recipes & Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy, available in the bookstore at this link. You can reduce the amount of sugar you use according to your preferences and health situation.

If you find the process of discovering home remedies as fascinating as we do, there are hundreds of other remedies (and the stories behind them) in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.

As always, we encourage readers to use common sense, consult healthcare professionals when symptoms persist, and remember that not every remedy works for every person. Still, when a simple cookie keeps showing up in people’s success stories, it deserves a closer look.

Final Words

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