Overview
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.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence for
- 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.
Side Effects
Special Precautions and Warnings
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.
Interactions
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with CORN SILK
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) interacts with CORN SILK
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) interacts with CORN SILK
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) interacts with CORN SILK
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) interacts with CORN SILK
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.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Dosing
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.
This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.