yu mi xu

Name: yu mi xu
Creator: Bencao Index

玉米须·Stigma Maydis

Cornsilk

About yu mi xu

Yu Mi Xu (玉米须) is corn silk, the styles of the maize flower, recorded as Stigma Maydis. It is sweet and bland in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver, Gallbladder and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyin	yu mi xu
Chinese	玉米须
Latin Name	Stigma Maydis
English Name	Cornsilk
Japanese	gyokumaishu
Korean	okmisu

Classification

Category: Drain Dampness
Channels: Bladder, Gallbladder, Liver
Flavour: Sweet, Bland
Temperature: Neutral
Family: Gramineae
Species: Zea mays
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Promotes urination, reduces edema and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Lin syndrome from Damp-Heat, above all Stone Lin, with hot, burning or dribbling painful urination
Edema and swelling
Edema from nephritis, where it can be given on its own

Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder

Damp-Heat of the Liver and Gallbladder, as in hepatitis, cholecystitis and gallstones
High blood pressure showing Damp-Heat signs

Resolves jaundice

Jaundice of either the Yin or the Yang type

Treats Xiao Ke

Xiao Ke (wasting and thirsting disorder), also used for diabetes

Combinations

fu ling + ze xie + bai zhu
Edema.
che qian zi + hai jin sha
Stone Lin.
jin qian cao + yin chen + yu jin
Hepatic or biliary disease.
ze xie + bai zhu
Nephritis with edema.
tian ma + gou teng
Hypertension.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any	9-60 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

caution As a diuretic it can upset fluid and electrolyte balance, particularly with impaired kidney function
caution Yin deficiency or dehydration, where draining fluids is counterproductive
pregnancy No traditional prohibition in pregnancy, but professional guidance is advised
caution People treated for diabetes or high blood pressure should keep their prescriber informed, since it can lower both blood sugar and blood pressure
caution Allergy to corn

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prescription diuretics: adding a herbal diuretic without supervision risks fluid and potassium imbalance (precautionary; no adverse event documented)
Blood pressure medicines: corn silk lowered blood pressure in a human study, so an added effect is plausible
Glucose-lowering medicines: human studies report lower fasting and after-meal blood sugar, so combined use should be monitored

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