Corn silk is called stigmata maydis in Latin, meaning "mother's hair" as the word "mays" is said to come from a native Mexican term for "mother. Corn silk is in fact made up of the silk strands, hairs, or stigmas, which you find on an ear of corn.
Though it’s often discarded when corn is prepared for eating, it has been used in several medicinal applications.
As an herbal remedy, corn silk has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Native American medicine. It’s still used today in many countries, including China, France, and Turkey.
Corn Silk Benefits
Below listed are the prominent health benefits offered by corn silk:
1. Treats Urinary Tract Infections
Corn silk works as an anti-inflammatory agent for urinary tract infections. It basically coats the urinary tract lining and thwarts further irritation. Corn silk tea consumption helps soothe the inflamed bladder and the urinary tract. It makes you urinate, and thus reduces the risk of bacteria build-up in the urinary tract. It is also used to soothe the irritated prostate gland.
2. Works As A Diuretic Agent
For ages, corn silk tea has been used as a natural potent diuretic agent. It helps flush out excess water and waste from the body, thereby reducing complications related to water retention. According to studies, the usage of diuretics helps get rid of several health hazards including congestive heart failure and kidney diseases in the long run.
3. Keeps Kidney Stones At Bay
Kidney stones are made of small crystallized deposits that can cause pain and annoyance. Corn silk has been used since the ancient days to prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Corn silk usage can increase urine flow and decrease the chances of sediment formation in kidneys, which otherwise can eventually lead to kidney stone formation. However, remember that its use will not treat kidney stones that are already present.
4. Facilitates Blood Clotting
It contains vitamin K that helps in the blood clotting process. This ensures you do not experience excessive blood loss in the event of an injury.
5. Lowers Blood Pressure
A lot of people suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure issues nowadays. They can consume corn silk tea to reduce high blood pressure. This will ensure they don’t have to cope with the adverse effects of OTC blood pressure medications.
6. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Taking corn silk tea helps those with blood sugar issues, as per the findings of studies conducted in recent times. A study that was published in 2012 in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules showed the impact corn silk extract had on diabetes. The study was carried out on laboratory rats afflicted with diabetes, and the study authors noted that the application of corn silk polysaccharides helped reduce blood sugar levels. High blood sugar leads to a lot of ailments like stroke, kidney problems, and diabetes. Another study that was published in 2009 in the Nutrition and Metabolism journal showed that corn silk tea aids insulin generation in the human body.
7. Helps Heal Inflammatory Ailments And Conditions
Corn silk is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Traditional medicine followers are of the view that it can be used to reduce the pain caused by inflammatory ailments like gout and arthritis. The diuretic action of cork silk may prevent the excess uric acid formation in the body joints, which leads to gout pain. However, it should not be taken as a cure for arthritis-related conditions.
8. Helps Fight Cholesterol
Cholesterol in the bloodstream leads to the onset of several critical ailments in the long run (including cardiac complications). Keeping cholesterol levels in the blood flow is the key to staying healthy and avoid heart hazards, say the doctors. A study carried out by Jilin University scientists in China showed that corn silk consumption brings down cholesterol in rodents.
9. Source Of Vitamin C
Corn silk contains vitamin C, which is ideal for boosting immunity. It also plays a pivotal role in regulating myriad functions in the human body.
10. Helps Fight Obesity
Obesity is a major health menace affecting a large part of the human population nowadays. While obesity is caused by more than one factor including genetics, some people put on excess weight owing to excess water retention and toxin accumulation in the body. Since corn silk helps eliminate excess water and waste from the body, such people will find it helpful to evade weight gain. They can have this tea twice or thrice a day for maximum benefits. However, it would be wrong to assume that it is a cure for obesity.
Topical Usage
You can also use corn silk topically. The tea made with it can be applied topically to deal with skin problems like boils and rashes. It also helps alleviate itching and pain caused by skin wounds.
Safety Issues You Need To Keep In Mind
In general, consuming corn silk tea is safe, and adults and children can take it without major concerns. However, you need to keep a few aspects in mind before starting its use.
Excessive consumption of corn silk can result in a reduction of potassium levels in the blood. This may lead to skin problems and allergies.
In most cases, women who have conceived or are breastfeeding can take corn silk tea in moderate amounts. However, it is not advisable to drink this tea in larger amounts as it can lead to uterus stimulation and even miscarriage. So, it makes sense to seek medical advice before starting the use of corn silk tea if you are pregnant.
While this is not very common, a section of people is allergic to corn. It is possible that they will develop an allergy after drinking corn silk tea too. The reactions are, however, not very serious, and are only limited to the skin.
You also need to be careful about the chances of corn silk interacting with specific medications. This is because the use of corn silk reduces blood sugar levels. The same happens when you use specific diabetes drugs. If you use both at the same time, your blood sugar levels may fall abysmally, which is not desirable. The same can be said about those coping with high blood pressure. People who have blood sugar in high amounts or are dealing with elevated blood pressure levels should take this tea after consulting a doctor.
If you are using blood-thinning medications.
To make detox water read.
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