What Is Corn Silk?
Corn silk is a plant species native to China and India. It grows naturally in dry areas with low rainfall. It produces white flowers that are used as a dyeing agent for clothing, fabrics, etc. Its leaves have been used medicinally for centuries for their medicinal properties such as treating diarrhea, stomach aches, kidney stones and other ailments.
The plant’s seeds contain a substance called kola nut extract which is believed to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It has been shown to increase blood flow and circulation, reduce pain, improve digestion, aid in weight loss and even prevent cancer cells from growing.
It was first discovered in 1891 when Chinese farmers were harvesting the plants for food. They noticed that they could not get enough of the colorless flower buds so they began cultivating them into a crop for export.
The name “corn silk” comes from its appearance because it resembles the silken threads produced by the cocoanut tree. However, there is no actual grain in the plant. Instead, it consists of a fine powder made up of several parts of dried plant material. The powder is then ground into a paste and mixed with water or oil to produce liquid that can be applied to fabric or clothes.
How Can You Use Corn Silk?
The dried plant can be used to make tea, to create tinctures, or taken by itself. It can also be mixed with other herbs or substances to enhance its effects. The dried flowers of the plant can be smoked or inhaled as vapor to help with breathing issues such as asthma.
The dried plant can be used for a number of conditions and ailments. It is often used to combat pain caused by injury, illness or disease. It can also help with breathing issues and improve the digestive system. It can even be used to treat fever and diarrhea.
Can Corn Silk Be Used for Weight Loss?
Some sources claim that this plant does not help with weight loss, while others suggest that it might. The Cornsilk plant is an ingredient in a number of different diet pills and products claiming to help with weight loss. However, there is no hard scientific evidence to support such claims.
It is possible that corn silk could help with weight loss if used in combination with a proper diet and exercise routine. However, it is important to keep in mind that everyone loses weight at a different rate. Some people might see results with this herb, while others might not. Everyone’s body is different, so you should monitor your own progress rather than going off another person’s experience.
Does Corn Silk Have Any Other Benefits?
The plant’s more well known use is in the production of fabric dyes. It is commonly used to make pale colors such as yellow, brown, orange, red and green. It is also used to give darker colours a brighter and more vibrant shade. For example, it can change navy blue to a brighter blue color. It can also be used to give darker colors a greyish or brownish tinge.
The plant can also be used to make paper. The dried corn silk is often mixed with wood pulp or cotton to create a stronger paper. It can also be used for book binding, wall padding and insulation.
How Do You Take Corn Silk?
This herb comes in a number of different forms including tablets, capsules and tea. It is typically sold at specialty health food stores and marketed towards people looking to lose weight. You can also find it at some garden supply stores as an ingredient in organic gardening.
Many people suggest brewing a cup of tea using 1 tsp. of the herb and letting it steep for 5-10 minutes before drinking. Most people also like to add honey or lemon for taste.
You should always read the instructions listed on the package of the corn silk product you are using. This information will tell you how much you should take and how often you should take it.
What Are the Side Effects of Corn Silk?
The corn silk plant is considered to be safe for most adults when taken orally in small regular doses. However, you should speak to your doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant or nursing since the effects in these cases are unknown.
It is also possible that allergic reactions and other negative effects can occur. If you experience an allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately.
In some rare cases, people have complained of stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and headaches. These effects should pass as your body gets used to the corn silk. If they persist or become severe, you should seek medical attention.
While not very common, allergic reactions to this product can occur. Symptoms can range from hives, itching and redness to difficulty breathing and swelling of the throat and tongue. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
If you are unsure of how this product will affect your specific condition, or if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, talk to your doctor before using it.
Any Serious Side Effects Should Be Reported
One of the more serious side effects of corn silk is that it can lower your blood pressure to a dangerous level. If you have low blood pressure, you should not use this product. If you suffer from any other medical conditions, talk to your doctor before using this product.
If you notice any serious side effects when taking this product, contact your doctor immediately. Be prepared to tell him what symptoms are causing you problems and when they started.
If you are interested in losing weight, there are a number of different herbal supplements you can use in addition to regular exercise and a healthy diet. Check out these top 10 diet pills that work fast.
Sources & references used in this article:
Corn silk (Stigma maydis) in healthcare: a phytochemical and pharmacological review by K Hasanudin, P Hashim, S Mustafa – Molecules, 2012 – mdpi.com
Toxicological evaluations of Stigma maydis (corn silk) aqueous extract on hematological and lipid parameters in Wistar rats by S Saheed, AE Oladipipo, AA Abdulazeez… – Toxicology Reports, 2015 – Elsevier
A green and cost-effective approach for the production of gold nanoparticles using corn silk extract: A recoverable catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reaction and adsorbent … by MM Khodaei, M Dehghan – Polyhedron, 2019 – Elsevier
Utilization of corn silk in low fat meatballs and its characteristics by N Aukkanit, T Kemngoen, N Ponharn – Procedia-Social and Behavioral …, 2015 – Elsevier
The ethyl acetate fraction of corn silk exhibits dual antioxidant and anti-glycation activities and protects insulin-secreting cells from glucotoxicity by CC Chang, W Yuan, HY Roan… – BMC …, 2016 – bmccomplementmedtherapies …
Corn silk extracts did not alter the adiposity and underlying substrate utilization in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice by EY Kang, HK Kim, KM Moyo, G Gang… – Korean Journal of …, 2020 – koreascience.or.kr
Increment of Lysosomal Biogenesis by Combined Extracts of Gum Arabic, Parsley, and Corn Silk: A Reparative Mechanism in Mice Renal Cells by A Helmy, M El-Shazly, N Omar, M Rabeh… – Evidence-Based …, 2020 – hindawi.com
Corn Silk Extracts as Scavenging Antioxidant in Oxidative Stress Induced Rabbits Using Corticosterone by MF Olaniyan, EM Babatunde – Am. J. Biomed. Sci, 2016 – pdfs.semanticscholar.org
Optimisation extraction procedure and identification of phenolic compounds from fractional extract of corn silk (Zea mays hair) using LC-TOF/MS system by H Nurraihana, WIW Rosli, S Sabreena… – Journal of Food …, 2018 – Springer
