Corn’s silky threads run through centuries of medicinal use
Corn was painstakingly cultivated from wild grasses several thousand years ago, eventually becoming a staple of many Native American diets. The ancient Mayans, believing humans were made from the plant, revered the corn god; for the Aztec, the goddess of fertility was also the goddess of corn. In both cultures, as well as many others, the plant was used medicinally to treat conditions as varied as warts and hepatitis. One part of the crop, the tassel of silk at the base of every ear of corn, was used specifically for urinary conditions.
*
For the record:
12:00 a.m. March 4, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday March 04, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 1 inches; 76 words Type of Material: Correction
Corn silk supplements -- An article on corn silk supplements in the Feb. 20 Health section said the tassel of silk on an ear of corn was used by some Native Americans to treat urinary conditions. In fact, the part of the plant that was used was the tuft of silk that emerges from the tip of an ear of corn. The corn plant’s tassel is the pollen-producing flower at the top of a corn plant.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday March 06, 2006 Home Edition Health Part F Page 9 Features Desk 1 inches; 75 words Type of Material: Correction
Corn silk supplements -- An article on corn silk supplements in the Feb. 20 Health section said the tassel of silk on an ear of corn was used by some Native Americans to treat urinary conditions. The part of the plant that was actually used was the tuft of silk that emerges from the tip of an ear of corn. The corn plant’s tassel is the pollen-producing flower at the top of a corn plant.
-- Elena Conis
*
Uses: Modern corn silk supplements are most often used in efforts to help prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Corn silk is also included in some herbal formulas sold as bed-wetting preventives.
Dose: Manufacturer recommendations vary, but some suggest up to 5 grams of corn silk a day, taken in three separate doses. Corn silk is sold in capsule and liquid forms.
Precautions: Corn silk supplements may lower levels of electrolytes in the body, but this effect hasn’t been well-studied in people.
Research: Many lab and animal studies suggest corn silk can act as a diuretic, meaning that it helps the body get rid of excess fluid by increasing the production and flow of urine. Other lab experiments suggest corn silk may block biochemical activity that can lead to inflammation and tumor development. Some animal research suggests the strands may help prevent diabetes-induced kidney damage. To date, however, no large-scale clinical trials have examined corn silk’s effects in humans, so evidence supporting its use for urinary health -- or any other conditions -- is slim.
