Each year, approximately 8.3 million people seek medical treatment for urinary tract infections, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Corn silk, the silky fibers wrapped around ears of corn, has an extensive history of use in traditional folk medicine as a remedy for urinary disorders. While practitioners of alternative medicine claim that the soothing fibers help to alleviate urinary tract infections, few scientific studies confirm its efficacy, so consult a physician before using corn silk.
About Corn Silk
Corn silk, otherwise known as maize silk or zea, is harvested from the ripe corn plant in summer. According to Phyllis A. Balch, certified nutritional consultant and author of the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," the majority of corn silk used in herbal medicine originates from Albania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia. It contains potassium, vitamins C and K, menthol, thymol and phytochemicals found in barley greens. As a remedy for urinary disorders, it's available in fresh, dried, capsule, tea and tincture forms.
Urinary Tract Infections
Your urethra, bladder and kidneys all have a role in filtering and expelling waste material through your urine. While normal urine is sterile and there are no micro-organisms in a healthy urinary tract, infectious agents, particularly bacteria, can develop there. These agents gain access to your urinary tract from outside your body by traveling up your urethra and into your bladder. They can also travel through your bloodstream to your kidneys. Symptoms often include cloudy, strong-smelling urine, a persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation while urinating, pelvic pain in women and rectal pain in men.
Diuretic Action
Naturopath Andrew Chevallier, author of the book "Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine," claims that partly due to its potassium content, corn silk works as a soothing, relaxing diuretic. A Brazilian animal study published in the May 2005 issue of "Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology" agrees that corn silk possesses significant diuretic qualities. This suggests that corn silk improves urine flow and excretion and may help inhibit the growth of bacteria-causing urinary infections. More human studies are needed, however, to confirm these claims.
Irritant Eradicator
Corn silk may help to reduce irritants that can lead to urinary tract infections. It not only soothes and relaxes the urinary tubes but also offers benefits for frequent urination caused by bladder and urethra irritation, according to Chevallier. As it works to treat inflammation and irritation of the genito-urinary system, it appears to eliminate toxins, crystal deposits and irritants out of the kidneys, bladder and small intestine. Chevallier adds that corn silk has antiseptic and healing properties that reduce bedwetting, a potential cause of bacteria growth leading to urinary tract infections. Further scientific research is needed, however that specifically focuses on corn silk's effect on urinary tract infections.
Cautions and Considerations
When taken with certain blood pressure medications, corn silk can excessively raise potassium levels, causing heart flutter, muscle twitches and atrial fibrillation, or abnormal heart rhythm. However, when administered with certain appetite suppressant drugs, corn silk helps to conserve potassium. Seek immediate medical attention if your urinary tract infection produces blood in the urine or pain at the small of your back or around your kidneys.
References
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC): Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
- MayoClinic.com: Urinary Tract Infections: Symptoms
- "Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine"; Andrew Chevallier; 2000
- "Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology": Zea mays L. Extracts Modify Glomerular Function and Potassium Urinary Excretion in Conscious Rats; D.V. Velazquez, et al.; May 2005
