Maize. Stigmata maidis.

Synonym—Corn silk.

PREPARATIONS—

A fluid extract from the ear terminals of the common field corn prepared when yet green. Dose, from one to two drams.

Specific Medicine Stigmata Maidis. Dose, from twenty drops to two drams, in water.

Therapy—The agent is a diuretic and demulcent. It apparently has antiseptic properties, due probably to the presence of maizenic acid which has a desirable influence in neutralizing excessive alkalinity of the urine, and in the cure of phosphatic gravel.

It is of value in catarrhal cystitis, soothing, and neutralizing the strong ammoniacal odor, and decreasing the mucous secretion. In lithemia it increases the flow of water, and decreases the excessive proportions of uric acid and the urates. It is specific in relieving bladder irritation in these cases.

In painful urination from any cause, it is beneficial, and is a good auxiliary in the treatment of gonorrhea. It influences all catarrhal conditions of the urinary passages.

Dupont advised its use in dropsies due to heart disease. He says it reduces the edema, and as the edema disappears there is a better regulation of the blood supply throughout the system; the pulse beats more regularly, the action of. the heart is slower and the rhythm is improved. While this fact is true, there is not much improvement in dyspnea, nor in the actual condition of the heart when hypertrophy, contraction, or inefficiency are present. The agent is well tolerated by all patients.

Dr. Pruitt of Arkansas in 1893 reported the use of a distilled extract of Corn Husks in the treatment of malaria. He had observed its use in many cases of chronic intermittent fever. In no case had he known it to fail in giving relief to the entire train of symptoms, often intractable to other remedies. It controls the persistent temperature, quiets irritability of the stomach, regulates the action of the liver and kidneys and reduces enlarged spleen. It has a mild, diuretic effect in many cases, relieving dropsical conditions not dependent upon actual kidney lesion.

Dr. Fledderman of Nebraska following the above suggestions, treated a boy who had long been having malarial fever. He secured some tablets from a Homeopathic pharmacy that were made from a tincture of corn husk. With this he cured the boy in a short time of the malarial condition. In another case of chronic malaria with cirrhosis and dropsy with the same remedy, and succeeded in relieving the condition in a few weeks, and in curing the patient in a fairly reasonable time.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.