Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
玉米须 / 玉蜀黍须 / 龙须 / 苞米须 / 龙须草 / 玉米蕊 — Zea mays L. (Stigma Maydis / Maydis Stigma)
Pinyin: Yùmǐxū / Yùshǔshǔxū / Lóngxū · Malay: Bulu Jagung / Rambut Jagung / Janggut Jagung / Sutera Jagung · Family: Poaceae (禾本科 / 玉蜀黍族)
Energetics
Neutral (平 / 甘平)
Flavor
Sweet, bland, light (甘、淡、平)
Meridians
Urinary Bladder (膀胱), Liver (肝), Gallbladder (胆), Kidney (肾), Stomach (胃)
Traditional Edict
Corn Silk (Bulu Jagung / Yu Mi Xu / Long Xu / Dragon's Whiskers). Golden-amber silky tassels. Supreme Non-Depleting Diuretic and Lithagogue: drains acute nephritis edema, gestational dropsy in pregnancy, flushes urinary calculi, lowers blood pressure and glucose.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Harvest silk from pesticide-free organic maize. EXCEPTIONALLY SAFE IN PREGNANCY (premier traditional remedy for gestational edema). Safe during lactation. Non-depleting.
Clinical Applications
- Chronic nephritis edema and oliguria, third-trimester gestational edema (pregnancy-safe fluid drainage), nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis, Stage 1 essential hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. High natural potassium salts and maysin alter renal electrolyte gradients, promoting sodium/water excretion without hypokalemia. 2. Inhibits calcium oxalate crystal growth. 3. ACE inhibition lowers blood pressure.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN CORN SILK NEPHRITIC TEA: 25 to 40 g dried (or 50 g fresh) Corn Silk boiled with Misai Kucing (15 g) and Che Qian Cao in 700 mL water for 15 min; drunk warm throughout day. Pregnancy gestational edema tea: 20 g with Chi Xiao Dou (15 g).
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Triple-Monarch Lithagogue Flush with Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing) and Desmodium. 2. Gestational Edema Broth with Phaseolus calcaratus (Chi Xiao Dou).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
