Yu Mi Xu
English Name: corn silk
Pharmaceutical Name: Stigma Maydis
Medica Category: Water-Regulating and Damp-Resolving Herbs
Properties: Yu Mi Xu enters the Urinary Bladder, Kidney, and Liver channels; it is sweet and bland in nature and cool in temperature.
What is Yu Mi Xu?:
The Chinese Herb Yu Mi Xu is dried corn silk (Zea mays L.). It can be used alone (boiled in water and made into a decoction (tea)) or combined in formula with other herbs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Yu Mi Xu:
Yu Mi Xu promotes diuresis and regulates water circulation. In large doses it addresses edema and arising from nephritis. In formula, it is used to treat lin zheng (dysuria syndrome) with heat signs and urinary stones present and edema.
Yu Xi Mu clears damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels to address infectious hepatitis, cholecystits, and gallstones, and jaundice. It is also used to address xiao ke (wasting & thirsting syndrome).
**safety note— this herb has a diuretic effect and should be used with caution/under supervision of a trained TCM practitioner when combined with pharmaceutical medications that have diuretic effects (such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), and torsemide (Demadex)) to avoid potentially excessive loss of fluids and/or electrolytes.
**safety note— this herb contains Vitamin K which may reduce the effectiveness of Warfarin (Coumadin), and its concurrent use with anticoagulant drugs should be monitored carefully to avoid blood clots.