I remember my grandmother giving us a big brown bag of corn every August. It was a tradition for sure. The second part of this tradition was the shucking of the corn. For some reason I really enjoyed this task my mother made me do, but there was just one unforgettable drawback to the chore: those wispy silk strands bursting out from the top. I would have to drag my hand against a towel or whatever I had nearby (probably my pants) to rid myself of this nuisance. What a drag man.
If I had only known all the health benefits from these little guys! I would have gladly struggled with them – a huge grin on my face all the while. Well maybe not – the healthy aspect to any food was not high on my list at that point in my life.
Fast forward to me in my fifties – and I think this information should be spread far and wide!
What Is Corn Silk?
Corn silk refers to the stringy, shiny strands encapsulating the corn’s kernels and peeking through the husk tops. These strands are usually considered waste material and discarded when the corn is harvested. However, corn silk offers amazing potential health benefits and has been embraced by many Native American, French, and Chinese cultures for thousands of years.
These wispy strands have been used to treat ailments such as edema, kidney stones, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chest pains, depression, prostate problems, and urinary tract infections. Corn silk is full of antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, so don’t let it go to waste! Some fantastic ways to access corn silk’s health benefits year-round is to add as a topping on salads – or on any dish that you would like to add some extra nutrients to. Also you can make teas, spices and tinctures from corn silk.
How to Make Your Own Corn Silk Tea
A mild, pleasant tea and easy to make:
- Soak in water.
First, you will need to remove the corn silk from the ear of corn. Soak the strands in water to wash away dirt and debris. Be sure not to use corn silk from any crops that have been sprayed with non-organic pesticides or herbicides.
- Boil the silk in fresh water.
After the corn silk has been rinsed with water, boil a pot of fresh water. Once the water is boiling, add the corn silk and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the water from the heat and allow the tea to cool.
- Steep and enjoy.
Steep the tea for 5 minutes, then strain the silks from the new corn silk tea. Most people describe the flavor of this nutritious drink as earthy with a hint of sweetness from the corn. You can drink corn silk tea to treat urinary tract infections, prostate problems, kidney stones, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, among other things. Store the tea in a covered jar in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
Corn Silk Spice
Corn silk is often used in many health supplements. The easiest way to store it for future supplement recipes is to make corn silk spice.
- Dehydrate the corn silk in a dehydrator or by baking it the oven at 200 degrees F. You could also dehydrate the strands outdoors by placing them in a sunny area for 24 to 48 hours.
- Grind the dried strands in a food processor or finely chop the silk into a powder. Store the spice in an air-tight container to be used for several months.
Corn Silk Alcohol Tincture
You can also use dried corn silk to make an alcohol tincture. Just mix 6 oz of finely chopped, dried corn silk with 12 oz of high proof vodka. Store the tincture in a covered jar and add a few drops to juice or water for medicinal purposes.
– Heather Wentworth