College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Cornsilk HERBAL POWDER (ZEA MAYS)

Urinary restorative & diuretic. Contains silica.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

As a cooling, nourishing, and antiseptic diuretic, Cornsilk was renowned among Native Americans for urinary tract infections. Like horsetail, cornsilk contains silica. But corn silk is more demulcent, while horsetail more astringent.

SUGGESTED USE

Please follow label or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my herbs?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of Cornsilk

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Affinity: Kidney Bladder Urinary
Family: Poaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Cornsilk
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Antilithic

STRONG ANTILITHIC

An herb that dissolves / breaks up stones (gallstones or kidney stones) so that it can be passed.

SEE ALL 'ANTILITHIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Soothing

SOOTHING

Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHING' FOODS / HERBS

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Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

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Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

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Antiseptic

ANTISEPTIC

Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Helpful in infections and for those with weak immune systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTISEPTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Alterative

STRONG ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Refrigerant

STRONG REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

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Hemostatic

HEMOSTATIC

An herb that stops bleeding.

SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'HYPOTENSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Urinary Tonic

URINARY-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.

SEE ALL 'URINARY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

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Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Cornsilk

Chickweed

Chickweed has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Refrigerant, Demulcent, Internal-detoxicant, Vulnerary, Alterative

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Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Diuretic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Hemostatic, Urinary-tonic, Antilithic, Internal-detoxicant, Vulnerary

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Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Antilithic, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Nutritive

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Cucumber

Cucumber has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Hypotensive, Refrigerant, Antilithic, Internal-detoxicant

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Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Nutritive, Alterative, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant

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Carrot

Carrot has these Actions in Common

Antilithic, Hypotensive, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Diuretic, Nutritive

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Aloe Vera Juice / Gel

Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Cholagogue, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Antilithic, Internal-detoxicant

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Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Hemostatic, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Diuretic, Refrigerant

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Hibiscus

Hibiscus has these Actions in Common

Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Hemostatic, Vulnerary, Cholagogue, Hypotensive, Diuretic

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Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Hepatoprotective, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Vulnerary

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Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Vulnerary, Analgesic, Hepatoprotective

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Cornsilk

Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Diuretic, Hypotensive, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive, Alterative, Soothing, Analgesic, Urinary-tonic, Antilithic

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Horsetail

Horsetail has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Urinary-tonic, Analgesic, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Antilithic, Demulcent, Diuretic, Hemostatic

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Red Clover

Red Clover has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive, Alterative, Vulnerary, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antilithic, Demulcent, Diuretic

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Echinacea

Echinacea has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Vulnerary, Alterative, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antilithic, Antiseptic, Diuretic

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Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Alterative, Vulnerary

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Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Vulnerary

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Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Hemostatic, Hepatoprotective, Hypotensive, Nutritive, Soothing, Alterative, Urinary-tonic, Demulcent, Diuretic

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Cleavers

Cleavers has these Actions in Common

Vulnerary, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antilithic, Demulcent, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

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Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypotensive, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory

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Manjistha

Manjistha has these Actions in Common

Antilithic, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Internal-detoxicant, Vulnerary, Alterative, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Cornsilk may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Analgesic: If the mechanism of pain relief is narcotic, do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Cholagogue: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect.
  • Hepatoprotective: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Hypotensive: Herbs that lower blood pressure can magnify the effect of blood pressure reducing pharmaceuticals.

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Kidney-Bladder-Urinary

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