Corn, Or Mais

Cereals - Poaceae (Gramineae). Pharmacy name: corn silk - Maydis stigmatum (formerly: Stigmata Maydis), corn starch - Maydis amylum (formerly: Amylum Maydis).

Botanical description.

An annual herbaceous plant with a tall, up to 2 m, strong stem and broadly lanceolate leaves. Male flowers are collected in a terminal panicle, female flowers are in the axils of the leaves, from which the well-known ears of corn develop.

Corn silks are collected as soon as they come out at the beginning of flowering, but before pollination, and quickly dried in the shade. This is medicinal raw material.

Homeland - tropical America; cultivated in all countries with warm (and temperate) climates.

Active ingredients: fatty oil, saponins, flavones, tannins, large amounts of potassium, bitterness, resins and essential oil.

Application. Corn silk is used as a diuretic and for sand in the bladder. In folk medicine they are used as a remedy for diabetes and in course treatments for obesity; however, the antidiabetic properties are medically disputed.

In homeopathy it is used for heart diseases with edema. Corn starch is an integral part of the bulk of powders and tablets.