Today I will process the corn silk (Zea Mays), I harvested several months ago. I decided to air dry this corn silk like they used to do, instead of running it through a dehydrator.
Normally, I dehydrate this, and chop it in a food processor to powder. Since I was using the old drying method, I needed to hand process it using a mortar and pestle.
This is medicine from YOUR own garden:
Here are the tools:
Here is the corn silk from six ears of corn, that will be processed.
First I cut up the corn silk as small as possible, to save grinding time in the mortar and pestle.
Next, I ground the corn silk in the mortar and pestle, and it looks like this:
I dug out one of my small (24 capsule) machines, and loaded the empty capsules. Pouring in the ground corn silk it looks like this:
Tamped down into the capsules:
Assembled final capsules:
Now for the Herbal common uses; this supports the Urinary tract system, inflammation of the urethra, bladder, prostate, kidneys and pelvic area. It is good for painful, difficult, and burning urination. It is a mild diuretic so it helps with fluid retention, heals and soothes the urinary system. It is Historically used to treat gonorrhea and since it removes excess uric acid build up it helps with kidney stones, gout, and arthritis.
Not bad medicine, for what most people throw away when they eat corn on the cob! This is something almost any homesteader can easily grow. This is a hidden use for corn; that every prepper and homesteader, should know about!