Cornsilk / Corn Silk

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Overview

Part used: the stigma and styles of the flower. The styles of the female flowers, as they begin to grow out of the pillow-lace are gathered for medicinal purposes. They are removed by hand and dried in the shade.

A mild and soothing diuretic agent, it’s useful for kidney inflammation and relieving discomfort associated with urinary tract conditions such as inflamed bladder and painful urination.

Qualities: a bit sweet & astringent, cool, both dry & moist; nourishing, restoring, simulating, dissolving, softening

Tropism; urogenital organs, gallbladder, arteries, fluids

Ground: Choleric & Sanguine krases; Tough/Shao Yang & Charming/Yang Ming Earth biotypes; Hematic/Sulphuric/Brown Iris constitution

Constituents:

Saponins, allantoin, tannins, volatile alkaloid, sterols, fixed oils, thymol, resins, maysin, maizenic/silicc/palmitic/malic/tartaric/oxalic acid, glycosides, clotting factors, vitamin C , Rich in vitamin K (helpful for urinary tract), albuminoids, phlobaphene, potassium, magnesium, fluorine, silicic.

Levels of maysin and maysin analogs in silks of maize germplasm

Effects

The active ingredients are saponin, volatile oil and tannins. It stimulates the cardiac muscles, increases blood pressure (although some studies suggest it helps reduce hypertension), acts as a diuretic and sedates the digestive tract.

TCM & Western Herbal Uses

(See studies for effects on depression and fatigue)

Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is an important herb used traditionally by the Chinese, and Native Americans to treat many diseases. It is also used as traditional medicine in many parts of the world such as Turkey, United States and France. Its potential antioxidant and healthcare applications as diuretic agent, in hyperglycemia reduction, as anti-depressant and anti-fatigue use have been claimed in several reports. Other uses of corn silk include teas and supplements to treat urinary related problems. The potential use is very much related to its properties and mechanism of action of its plant's bioactive constituents such as flavonoids and terpenoids.

1. CLEARS HEAT, REDUCES INFLAMMATION AND RESTRAINS INFECTION; DRIES DAMP AND ARRESTS DISCHARGE; DREDGES THE GALLBLADDER AND RELIEVES PAIN

bladder & kidney damp heat; urgent painful urination

GENITOURINARY INFECTIONS with DISCHARGE both acute and chronic, prostatitis, mucous cystitis

gallbladder damp heat; vomiting, flank & side pain

CHOLECYSTITIS

It helps in the release of bile to improve digestion. As an anti-inflammatory it is suggested for inflammatory disorders with high oxidative stress such as pleurisy. High vitamin C content improves innate immunity. Helps prevent bacterial sepsis.

2. CLEARS STASIS, SEEPS WATER, PROMOTES URINATION AND CLEANSING; SOFTENS DEPOSIS AND EXPELS STONES

kidney fluid congestion; bloating due to water retention

kidney Qi stagnation with general toxemia; skin eruptions, rheumatism, gout

URIC ACID DIATHESIS

HARD DEPOSITS; arteriosclerosis, urinary and gallstones

Used to prevent stones, some say it doesn’t help when stones are already formed. Reduces uric acid levels.

3. RESTORES THE UROGENITAL ORGANS AND LENIFIES IRRITATION; RESTORES ESSENCE

genitourinary Qi deficiency (Kidney Qi infirmity); frequent urination, scanty pale urine, bedwetting

BLADDER IRRITATION or pain in any condition

kidney Essence deficiency; poor eyesight, fatigue, brittle bones

Treats bedwetting. Drink 1 cup before bed.

4. TOPICAL USE

Use topically to treat skin problems such as rashes, boils and helps relieve itching and pain caused by insect bites, scrapes and minor cuts. It has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help prevent infections.

5. CARDIOVASCULAR

Corn silk contains stigmasterol and sitosterol, which are highly effective in preventing heart disease and high cholesterol. Natural treatment congestive heart failure. High vitamin K content helps with bleeding and blood clotting. Helpful during childbirth to prevent excess bleeding. It simulates blood circulation.

6. INSULIN RESISTANCE / PREDIABETES / METABOLIC SYNDROME

Corn silk has been used as an oral antidiabetic agent in China for decades. Reduces blood sugar by increasing insulin levels. Studies suggest that corn silk could be used to treat or prevent metabolic syndrome.

Dogs:

Helps with canine incontinence or other urinary tract issues.

Physio-Medical Therapeutics, Materia Medica and Pharmacy BY T. J. LYLE, A.M.M. 1897

This should be gathered immediately after its pollen has been shed. It is a demulcent, tonic diuretic. It increases the flow of urine, soothes the kidneys and bladder, and relieves the urine of that strong odour of ammonia which is sometimes present. It cleanses the cysic membrane in the relief of cystic catarrh, and of other morbid deposits showing its influence as an antiseptic. It assists in freeing the circulation of urea and is valuable in the treatment of renal and cystic inflammation.

NOTES -- HOLMES

 Every part of the Corn has long been used by native North and Central American peoples, serving both as food and medicine in a variety of ways. When some of these peoples' medical practices passed over by osmosis to European colonists, the reliable properties of Cornsilk crossed over with them. Its reputation among the early pioneers as the remedy for acute cystitis was unrivaled and has survived untainted up to the present day.

 Cornsilk is very much the archetypal demulcent urinary medicinal where a lenitive, cooling and disinfecting effect is wanted. Urinary damp heat is the main syndrome addressed, but in second place are gallbladder damp heat and gallbladder fire. In this perspective, like Gentian root itself, Cornsilk is used when damp heat pours downwards, as the Chinese phrase goes. It is one of the rare bland,vaguely sweet tasting heat clearing herbs, similar to Couch grass and Red clover, that rely on an assortment of trace minerals, organic acids and tannins for the cooling effect. This property accurately reflects their medical knowledge (which apparently was extensive), to clear "heat in the heart" -- just like Qu mai, herba Dianthi.

 The similarity of Cornsilk to Red clover is a very close one, in fact. It could be said that their functions are identical, since both have moistening, resolvent cleansing and somewhat astringing effects (although Cornsilk is a much better disinfectant).Their difference lies in the fact that Red clover in addition is a nerve and muscle relaxant, while Cornsilk is also a urinary restorer. Certainly, Cornsilk's systemic cleansing effects are such that, were it not the dependable urinary remedy that it is, it would hold Red clover company among the antidyscratic diuretics (listed under the therapeutic category, "Promote Cleansing, clear toxins, resolve toxemia".)

 Cornsilk is often needed in practice, since the particular conditions it treats --layers of various types of deficiency and excess--are not uncommon ones.