The long shiny fibers at the top of an ear of corn are called corn silk. Corn silk is used as a medicine.
Corn silk is used for chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, preventing a group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss (glaucoma), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any uses.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- Chest pain (angina). Early research shows that taking products containing corn silk helps to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood in people with angina who are also using medications to help lower these fats.
- A group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss (glaucoma). Increased pressure in the eye increases the risk of glaucoma. Early research shows that taking a single dose of corn silk extract reduces pressure in the eye. But it's not clear if this lowers the risk for glaucoma.
- High blood pressure. Early research shows that taking corn silk with medications to lower blood pressure helps to reduce blood pressure more than taking the medications without corn silk. Also, taking a single dose of corn silk extract seems to reduce blood pressure for a few hours.
- Bedwetting.
- Bladder infections and swelling.
- Depression.
- Inflammation of the prostate.
- Inflammation of the urinary system.
- Kidney stones.
- Congestive heart failure.
- Diabetes.
- Fatigue.
- Heart disease.
- High cholesterol levels.
- Jaundice.
- Liver health.
- Obesity.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of corn silk for these uses.
Is it Safe?
Corn silk contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also contains chemicals which might work like water pills (diuretics), and it might alter blood sugar levels, and help reduce inflammation.
When taken by mouth: Corn silk is LIKELY SAFE for most people in amounts commonly found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used as a medicine. Corn silk can decrease potassium levels in the blood and can cause skin rashes, itching, and allergies.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Corn silk is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in the amounts normally found in food when pregnant or breast-feeding. But larger amounts are LIKELY UNSAFE when pregnant, because corn silk might stimulate the uterus and cause a miscarriage. There isn't enough reliable information to know if corn silk is safe to use in larger amounts when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Diabetes: There is some concern that large amounts of corn silk might lower blood sugar. This could interfere with blood sugar control in people who have diabetes.
Low blood pressure: Large amounts of corn silk might lower blood pressure even further.
Blood levels of potassium that are too low: Large amounts of corn silk might make these conditions worse.
Corn allergy: Applying lotions that contain corn silk might cause a rash, red skin, and itchiness if you are allergic to corn silk, corn pollen, or cornstarch.
Surgery: Corn silk could make blood sugar or blood pressure control more difficult during and after surgery. Stop using corn silk at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Corn silk might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking corn silk along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Large amounts of corn silk seem to decrease blood pressure. Taking corn silk along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Medications for inflammation (Corticosteroids)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications for inflammation can decrease potassium in the body. Corn silk might also decrease potassium in the body. Taking corn silk along with some medications for inflammation might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some medications for inflammation include dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and others.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Corn silk contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to help blood clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, corn silk might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Corn silk seems to work like "water pills." Corn silk and "water pills" might cause the body to get rid of potassium along with water. Taking corn silk along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some "water pills" that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Corn silk might lower blood pressure. Using it along with other herbs and supplements that have this same effect might increase the risk of blood pressure dropping too low in some people. Some of these herbs include andrographis, casein peptides, cat's claw, coenzyme Q-10, fish oil, L-arginine, lycium, stinging nettle, theanine, and others.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Corn silk might lower blood sugar. Using it along with other herbs and supplements that have the same effect might cause blood sugar to drop too low in some people. Some of these products include alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Herbs that might increase urine flow (act as a diuretic): Corn silk might act like water pills (diuretics) to remove water and potassium from the body. Using corn silk along with other natural products that can do this could increase the risk of side effects. Some of these herbs are agrimony, artichoke, buchu, burdock, celery, guaiac wood, horsetail, licorice, squill, uva ursi, yarrow, and many others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of corn silk depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for corn silk. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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