Kidney stones are small crystalized deposits that contain acid salts and minerals. As the stone passes through your urinary tract, it can cause severe pain. Corn silk has a long history of treating urinary tract disorders and may be beneficial in preventing the recurrence of kidney stones, but herbal remedies cannot take the place of professional medical advice. See your doctor if you experience symptoms of kidney stones.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones often contain high concentrations of calcium, although they may also contain uric acid and other components. Dehydration increases urine concentration and may increase the risk of stone development. Corn silk, a diuretic, can increase the flow of urine from the body and may reduce the risk of new stones developing, but it won't treat existing kidney stones. Clinical tests confirming the benefit of corn silk for preventing kidney stones is lacking.
Corn Silk: The Herb
The potentially beneficial part of the corn plant, or Zea mays, is found on the developing ear of corn. Long, soft stigmas form before pollination, which causes the stigmas to turn brown and wither. Herbalists harvest the corn silk while it is still soft and translucent, letting it dry in a shaded area.
Corn silk contains volatile oils, flavonoids, fatty oils and alkaloids. It also contains tannins and saponins, which are responsible for its diuretic activity, according to the book "PDR for Herbal Medicines."
Methods
You may prepare corn silk tea by pouring a cup of boiling water over 2 tsp. of dried herb and steeping for 10 minutes before straining. "PDR for Herbal Medicines" recommends drinking one cup of the tea every other day to treat general urinary complaints, but there is no specific recommendation for the prevention of kidney stones. See your doctor for additional dosage advice.
Considerations
In addition to increasing urine flow, diuretics can be dehydrating, so increase the amount of water you drink while using corn silk or any other diuretic. "PDR for Herbal Medicines" reports that corn silk has no known side effects, but that may be, in part, because there is a lack of research on the herb.
Kidney stones may require medical attention, so see your doctor if you experience symptoms of kidney stones and use corn silk as a preventive measure only under the supervision of a medical professional.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Kidney Stone Definition
- Mayo Clinic: Kidney Stone Causes
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2nd Edition"; Joerg Gruenwald, PhD, 2000
