Cornsilk?

[Firecraft]

Can you use Cornsilk for anything? I have about 6 or 7 corn plants in the garden and I wonder if its used for anything. My step dad says people used to smoke it, but I'm only 13 so I don't think I'm smoking it :P

[crashdive123]

I've got no experience using it as a medicinal, but here is some information.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/15...for-corn-silk/

[whitis]

Google hits give a variety of uses, mostly claimed medicinal uses.

medicinal: used for a wide variety of conditions involving kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract including urinary tract infection, painful urination, incontinence, difficulty urinating, inflammation, cystitis, and kidney stones. possible anti-depressant, prostate problems, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, jaundice, fluid retention, diuretic, hepatic (hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver), astringent, malaria, obesity, controlling bleeding, gonorrhea , mumps, mild stimulant, edema, flu, menstrual cramps, tumors, warts, gout, poultice for boils and sores, appetite stimulant, styptic, antitubercular, antimicrobial

nutritional: has nutrient value

culinary: tea, add to cereals, soup, salads, breading for chicken or pork
http://eatingwild.blogspot.com/2011/...-for-corn.html

fiber: used to make yarn (edit: actually, this isn't made from the silk part as the name would imply)

Recreational: smoking, defeating drug tests

other: cosmetic face powders, soap?, insect repellent

contains tannins

infusions, tinctures, and capsules

used in american indian, chinese, turkish, haitian, trinidad, and iranian traditional medicines

No known side effects at customary doses. Beware of pesticide residues.

some other traditional medicine uses listed by country here: http://www.rain-tree.com/cornsilk.htm

it is possible dried corn silk would work as an oil lamp wick. Paper? fiber for Cobb buildings? insulation? confetti? mulch? tender for fire starting? belly button lint? gauze? fiber fill? tanning hides? animal bedding? brushes? texture additive for paint? biomass