Corn Silk (Stigma maydis) has been brewed into a healing tea for over six thousand years. The Aztecs and Mayans domesticated corn (Zea mays) nine thousand years ago and were the first to make Corn Silk into a medicinal tea. Female corn plants produce silk that catches pollen from male corn plants; each fertilized silk strand attaches to an ovary which bears a kernel. Herbalists infuse unpollinated, fresh or dried, Corn Silk, producing a medicinal tea. NutraRelease is a tea blend formulated with Corn Silk and other herbs to help manage the flow and balance of fluids in the body.
Diuretic Corn Silk releases excess fluids and harmful bacteria from the body. It soothes and relaxes the lining of the urinary system. Corn Silk supports digestion and contributes to normal stomach function by supporting a healthy microbiome. It lowers blood sugar and improves the health of the heart and kidneys. It contains highly antioxidant flavonoids.
Corn Silk contains:
- Vitamin C and K
- Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc
- Flavonoids
- Terpenoids
- Alkaloids
- Saponins
Corn Silk Releases Excess Fluids
A diuretic helps the body release extra water and salt by increasing urination. This flushes out infection-causing bacteria in the urinary tract, treating UTIs and cystitis. Corn Silk is a potent diuretic. It soothes and relaxes the lining of the urinary tract, reducing irritation.
Also, corn silk’s diuretic actions reduce edema, or swelling from excess fluid trapped in body tissue, usually in the legs, ankles, and feet. In a beneficial cascade effect, the blood vessels are less burdened with fluid. They widen and blood flows more easily. Blood pressure decreases, and the heart pumps more easily. Corn Silk also has constituents that impede the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is known to increase blood pressure.
Blood Sugar Management
Corn Silk is hypoglycemic and is useful for pre-diabetic and diabetic people. Pancreatic beta cells, which make insulin, are injured by prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and oxidative stress. Dysfunctional beta cells causes diabetes. Corn Silk heals beta cells, thereby increasing insulin levels and lowering blood sugar. Helpfully, high levels of antioxidants in Corn Silk also combat oxidative stress, further protecting beta cells.
Promotes Healthy Digestion
Corn Silk tea can help obese people achieve healthy weight loss of fatty tissue, particularly around the liver. Unfortunately, obesity increases local and systemic inflammation. By helping eliminate fatty tissue in obese people, Corn Silk lowers inflammation. Helpfully, its antioxidant constituents are also anti-inflammatory. Corn Silk positively affects the gut microbiome by reducing harmful strains of bacteria and supporting helpful strains. The gut microbiome’s health is far-reaching, affecting insulin-resistance, inflammation, weight, and mental health. It most directly affects digestion. By improving gut microbiota, Corn Silk supports optimal nutrient absorption and regular elimination of waste and toxins.
The Corn Mother
Zea mays is in the family Poaceae or Gramineae. There are over two hundred varieties of corn. Corn Silk is a tuft of elongated stigmas attached to individual ovaries. The shiny, delicate fibers protrude from the husks of an ear of corn. At first light green, they later turn red, yellow or light brown. Corn Silk tastes lightly sweet. Indigenous American mythology reveres the Corn Mother as both an ancestor and a plant. According to legend, corn was originally an old woman who fed her tribe by secretly producing grains of corn by rubbing her body. The tribe discovered her method and were disgusted. They killed her, in some versions with her consent. Before dying, the Corn Mother instructs them to bury her. From her burial site grows the first corn plant.
