Parts Most Frequently Used: Corn Silk (Stamen)

Flavors/Temps: Slightly Bitter, Sweet, Astringent, Cooling, both Drying and Moistening.

Caution: Corn silk is a very mild herb considered very safe. Do not use it if you are taking Lasix (furosemide). It is not recommended in large doses for pregnant women.

Key Constituents: High concentration of Potassium, Vitamin K (depending on how it is stored), 8-Cineole, Alpha-terpineol, Beta-carotene, Beta-sitosterol, Saponins, Glycosides, Geraniol, Hordenine, Limonene, Menthol, Niacin, Riboflavin, Selenium, Thymol, Vitamin C, Calcium, Sterols, Vitexin, calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, protein

History/Folklore: Native to the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico, it was domesticated about 9000 years ago. Centuries of indigenous selection resulted in the development of maize plants capable of growing several cobs per plant. The Olmec and Mayans cultivated it in numerous varieties for cooking, grinding, and processing. It spread to the US around 2500 B.C. and then to Europe in the late 15th and 16th Centuries. It is the most widely grown crop in the US, mainly used to make ethanol. Transgenic (genetically modified corn) makes up 85% of the maize planted in the US as of 2009.

The botanical name “Zea” is derived from the Greek word meaning “to live.” The word “maize” evolved from Mexican native languages, meaning “mother” or “mother of life.”

The Chickasaw tribe squeezed oil from the plant and rubbed it into the scalp to prevent dandruff. Other Eastern tribes used it in poultices for boils, burns, and to treat inflammation.

Typically, corn silk is harvested when corn kernels are in the milk stage. You can steep a handful of corn silk in water and drink it to help prevent anemia.

Not everyone benefits from the plant’s excretion of potassium; people with chronic fatigue, adrenal burnout, and general “cold” symptoms may experience an increase in symptoms as low potassium levels can increase weakness and fatigue. Corn silk continues to be studied for its possible cancer-reducing effects as it reduces certain cancer-forming compounds. It also has an estrogenic and ovulation-inducing effect observed in animal studies.

Corn silk contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Corn silk contains as many antioxidant properties as Vitamin C, helping to fight inflammation. Some of the plant’s compounds are believed to work like diuretics, help blood sugar levels, and help reduce inflammation. It contains many of the phytochemicals found in barley greens (LINK to barley), the thymol found in thyme (LINK), and also the menthol found in mint (LINK). A complex polysaccharide, which activates macrophages and white blood cells to engulf and dissolve infectious microorganisms, is also present. Corn silk also has volatile oils that can neutralize fungi and yeast.

Corn silk can be mixed with corn oil for application to the skin. Corn silk tea is a great remedy for incontinence, urinary tract inflammation, cystitis, and prostatitis. Even if you feel fine, corn silk makes a nice cup of tea that you can simply enjoy at any time. (2 cups of water to 2 tablespoons of fresh or dried corn silk)You can use fresh corn silk or mince it into small pieces as a topping for salads. You can dry corn silk by laying it on a flat basket or mesh and setting it out on the counter to dry, not in direct sunlight. When it is dry and crispy, it can be stored in a jar or paper bag where it will keep for about a year. The dried strands can then be ground and sprinkled on salads, eggs, vegetables, and other dishes.

When treating urinary tract infections or kidney stones, you can confidently recommend 10-15 grams or 4-5 cups throughout the day until the condition resolves. A large handful of the herb, steeped for 20 minutes in a liter of boiling water, is a common recipe. It can also be combined with goldenseal or marshmallow, enhancing each herb’s therapeutic abilities.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), corn silk is used to treat diabetes, a condition described in TCM as a Wasting and Thirsting Disorder. It is known to help counter complications from diabetic related neuropathies, and one study suggests that corn silk extract may help slow the absorption of starchy foods, preventing spikes in blood sugar.

Cornmeal can be used as a binder for poultices, and cornstarch is a remedy for iodine poisoning. Starch from maize is made into plastics, fabrics, adhesives, and many other chemical products. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable or starch. Corn husks were used to make masks, baskets, dolls, and sleeping mats. After eating, the leftover corn cobs were used to make darts and ceremonial rattles, or burned as fuel.