Note: I have gathered this info from various sources for my own archiving. I plan to collect and dry corn silk from this fall’s corn harvest to have on hand for nutritional support of diabetic family members in emergency situations.

For centuries, Native Americans have used corn silk (Maydis Stigma) as a natural remedy for various ailments. It is still being used today for different uses. Today, scientists have also taken an interest in the potential medicinal benefits of corn silk. In a study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, corn silk was found to be a potential natural remedy for inflammation.

For the study, a team of researchers at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in Daegu, Republic of Korea looked at the anti-inflammatory properties of corn silk and its molecular mechanism both in cells and in mice.

The results of the trials showed that the treatment with corn silk on cells inhibited inflammation without harming healthy cells. In addition, it suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

In the animal trial, the research team treated mice with acetic acid to cause abdominal writhing. They also induced ear edema in mice by giving the animals xylene. They found that treatment with corn silk relieved abnormal writhing and reduced inflammation in mice. The research team also identified the compounds found in corn silk extract and found that it contains maysin as a marker component.

From these findings, the research team concluded that corn silk can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. These findings suggest that corn silk extract may be used to treat inflammation-related health problems.

Other health benefits of corn silk

In addition to reducing inflammation, corn silk can also be used for the following:

For treating urinary tract problems: Corn silk is also used as a soothing diuretic that can be beneficial for the urinary tract. In children, it can be used to treat enuresis, or more commonly known as bed wetting. It is also widely used as an alternative to antibiotics when treating a urinary infection caused by bacteria. Corn silk can also help fight inflammation in the bladder or urethra. In addition, corn silk may be used for the treatment and prevention of the development of kidney stones in adults. Taking corn silk each day can also be used to treat infections of the kidney.

For keeping the heart healthy: Research has shown that the herb can also help reduce high blood pressure and the risks of blood clots forming in the blood vessels. Consuming corn silk may also prevent the hardening of the arteries and reducing the risk of anemia. The heart-healthy benefit of corn silk may be attributed to its diuretic action.

For improving digestion: Consuming corn silk may also treat indigestion and improve poor digestion. These may be due to its cleansing ability that helps support the production of bile and other digestive juices. A healthy digestive system may also help prevent obesity by getting rid of excess fats and wastes from the body.

For detoxifying: Corn silk may detoxify the kidneys and bladder, as well as the liver and gallbladder. Detoxifying organs will help them function better.

You can consume corn silk as tea. To make one, steep 2 tablespoons of corn silk in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink this tea one to three times each day. Corn silk is also available in tinctures. For this, taking three to six millimeters (ml) each day is usually recommended.

Diabetes
can be painful and expensive to manage, with glucose meters and supplies to buy and having to prick your finger having a needle every day, often many times a day. There are many ways to treat diabetes, with insulin to be the most well-known treatment. There are also a number of oral medications on the market. However, treating the condition naturally is often cheaper and includes fewer side effects.

Corn Silk Uses:
When summer comes around and fresh corn is within season, most people are accustomed to throwing out the silk–the long, stringy inside of a corn husk–and contemplate it waste. There is more to corn silk, however, than you would think.

Corn silk has been used like a folk remedy for diabetes in China for hundreds of years. Corn silk extract has become used as a treatment for diabetes worldwide and it is no longer just a folk remedy. It’s also known to treat kidney, bladder and prostate problems, in addition to high blood pressure, heart disease, cystitis and edema.

The Science of Corn Silk:
Corn silk extract is composed of proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium salts, oils and steroids. How it helps with blood sugar is not entirely understood, however it has been shown to cause marked improvement.

Inside a 2003 study done by Acta Pharm Sinica of hyperglycemic (diabetic) mice, corn silk was orally administered as well as their glucose and hemoglobin A1C (which shows how good diabetes has been controlled on the long period of time) decreased significantly as well as their insulin production improved greatly. A few of the damaged cells in their pancreases were repaired. The outcomes suggest that corn silk may end up being a beneficial food or medicine for individuals suffering from diabetes.

Side Effects:
Corn silk is regarded as a very safe dietary supplement. There aren’t any known, documented side effects when the patient takes the supplement as directed. The right dose varies from person to person according to age, weight, height, health conditions and other medications they take.

Drug Interactions:
Corn silk is really a mild diuretic and because it may cause blood sugar levels to drop, individuals who are taking diabetes medications ought to be especially careful not to let their sugar go lacking.

People who take medication for top blood pressure should also exercise caution, as considerable amounts of corn silk may cause blood pressure to drop too low.

Individuals who take corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory drugs) must be aware that taking corn silk can reduce the body’s potassium too much.

Patients taking blood thinners, for example Coumadin, should note that the combination from the medication and corn silk may lessen the body’s Vitamin K, thus making the blood thinner less efficient.

Forms of Corn Silk:
Corn silk can be bought in pill, liquid supplement and tea form, plus some people simply chew the corn silk itself, that is known to be sweet and flavorful.

Drinking corn silk tea is an ancient tradition that has a number of health benefits that can be enjoyed to this day.

What is Corn Silk Tea?

Corn silk tea is a specialty tea made by steeping corn silk – the delicate strands that are found on ears of corn. These wispy golden strands are usually ignored or discarded with the corn husk, but they can also be used to brew a powerful tea. Believed to have been first used by the Mayan and Aztec cultures, evidence points to this tea being in use for more than 6,000 years. Modern research has discovered that this corn silk does, in fact, contain a number of beneficial nutrients and the tea has very few negative side effects. Due to the simplicity of the ingredients, this tea is easy to make and can have a measurable impact on your health, thanks to its rich supply of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and other active ingredients. ^[1]

Corn Silk Tea Benefits

The most important corn silk tea benefits include its effects on diabetes, inflammation caused by gout or arthritis, toxicity in the body, kidney disorders, heart health and blood pressure, and digestive issues, among others.

Diabetes

Studies have found that this infused tea is able to elevate insulin levels, which can help to keep blood sugar levels under control. This is beneficial for people with diabetes who need to avoid major fluctuations in their blood sugar throughout the day. ^[2]

Inflammation

Due to the active ingredients found in this tea, it can reduce inflammation in certain parts of the body, such as the joints and extremities, making it an excellent tonic for both gout and arthritis, both of which have been treated by this tea throughout history. ^[3]

Toxicity

This tea has a major diuretic effect on the body, which means that it stimulates urination. This can help to flush out excess toxins from the body and cleanse the kidneys, making this a great kidney health booster. ^[4]

Digestion

Some of the compounds found in corn silk tea can stimulate the release of digestive enzymes and bile, making the digestion process more efficient and improving our nutrient uptake. ^[5]

Heart Health

The diuretic nature of this tea makes it dangerous for people with low blood pressure, as too much potassium may be lost, but other ingredients can improve the integrity of your cardiovascular system and lower your risk of disease. ^[6]

How to Make Corn Silk Tea?

As mentioned, preparing your own corn silk tea at home is quite simple, and only requires a handful of dried corn silk. Let’s take a look at the recipe below.

Corn Silk Tea Recipe

Instructions

• To make corn silk tea, add 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of dried corn silk in a saucepan.
• Bring the mixture up to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer.
• Allow the mixture to simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Once done, turn the heat down and let the tea steep for another 30 minutes. You can add a teaspoon of honey if you wish to add a sweetener. Now, strain the tea using a strainer and serve the infusion warm! Enjoy!

Corn Silk Tea Side Effects

There are some side effects to this tea that should be considered, although negative reactions are rare, particularly if you consume this tea in moderation. If you have low or high blood pressure or problems with your potassium levels, this tea could exacerbate these issues, due to its diuretic nature. Furthermore, it can negatively interact with other prescription medications you may be taking, as it can induce urination and eliminate the medication too rapidly.

PubMed Data:

doi: 10.2174/1871530320666200606224708.

Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic Potential of Corn Silk in High-Fat Diet/ Streptozotocin-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mice Model

Li Sheng ¹, Qian Chen ¹, Lei Di ¹, Ning Li ¹Affiliations expand

• PMID: 32504506
• DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200606224708

Abstract

Background: Corn silk is the elongated stigma of the female flower of Zea mays and traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus (DM).

Objective: To investigate the beneficial effects of corn silk extract (CSE) on HFD/STZ-induced diabetic C56BL/6J mice.

Methods: Establishment of a T2DM model through feeding HFD combined with STZ. T2DM was randomly divided into 5 groups: diabetic control mice treated with vehicle (model group, n=10), metformin- treated group (metformin: 150 mg/kg.d, n=10), three CS-treated groups (CS: 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg.d, n=10). After four weeks of CS treatment, the body weight, FBG, IR, TC, TG, LDL-C, MDA and SOD levels of mice were measured. In addition, the liver tissue was histomorphologically analyzed by HE stain followed a light microscopy observation.

Results: 4-week CSE treatment significantly reduced FBG and enhanced the glucose tolerance; improved IR indicated by decreased HOMA-IR and elevated ISI; alleviated hyperlipidemia indicated by decreased TC, TG, LDL-C, and increased HDL-C; reduced oxidative stress by decreased MDA and elevated SOD activity; decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and prevented liver tissue morphological change in T2DM. In addition, CSE treatments effectively prevent the weight gain loss of diabetic mice.

Conclusion: These results confirmed the traditionally claimed benefits of corn silk on DM, which suggested that the corn silk possessed the anti-diabetic potential and could be further developed as a cheap and plant-derived agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Corn silk; diabetes; high blood glucose; hyperlipidemia; insulin resistance; oxidative stress.