Zea, Corn Silk, Yu Mi Xu 玉米须

Yu Mi Xu (TCM)

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886

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Botanical name:
Zea mays

Parts used:
Corn Silk

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Sweet.

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine, Clears Stones (TCM, West, Ayurveda):
-obstructed urine with scanty or difficult urination
-acute and chronic nephritic edema, chronic cystitis, gravel, irritable bladder
-congested or chronically inflamed kidneys.
-phosphatic and uric acid calculi
-Prostatitis
-Gonorrhea.
   
2. Clears Liver Heat and Damp (West, TCM):
-pain and tenderness of the Liver region, nausea, irritability as seen in cholecystitis, Gall Bladder stones
-Jaundice
-Icteric hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis (TCM)

3. Benefits the Kidneys:
-Diabetes mellitus (TCM)
-bed-wetting in children.
    
4. Settles Wind:
-Hypertension
-Tics from deficiency of the Heart. (TCM)
    
5. Stops bleeding:
-bleeding of the nose or gums.

DOSE:
6–18 grams in decoction (up to 50 grams for severe Edema)

Main Combinations:
1. Severe Edema, decoct Corn Silk with Barley, Celery, with a little Cinnamon and drink the soup
2. Urinary disorders from Heat and Damp, Corn Silk with Plantain seed
3. Liver disease, Corn Silk with Agrimony and Dandelion

Cautions:
Generally Safe. Not used in marked Yin deficiency.

Main Preparations used: