1. Description:
Maize (scientific name: Zea mays, also known as corn, dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn, Chinese Pinyin: Yu Mi, Simplified Chinese: 玉米), is a species of annual, erect, flowering, herbaceous plant in genus Zea (grasses family, Poaceae). As a staple food and widely grown in tropical and temperate regions around the world, the plant can grow up to 4 m tall. The seeds and flower of maize are used as anticancer drug, antihypertensive, antiphlogistic, stomachic, diuretic, discutient and antiasthmatic in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as hepatitis and various cancer.
Other simplified Chinese names of maize include: 玉蜀黍, 棒子, 包谷, 包米, 包粟, 玉茭, 苞米, 珍珠米, 苞芦, 大芦粟, 粟米
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Maize is considered to have sweet, neutral and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the stomach and large intestine meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Maize & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Diabetes
Powdered nutgrass root and white poria are taken with corn soup to heal diabetes.
3.2 Anti-Cancer
Recent studies found out that maize contains Glutathione (GSH) which plays an important role in a multitude of cellular processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, and disturbances in GSH homeostasis are involved in the etiology and progression of many human diseases including cancer. While GSH deficiency, or a decrease in the GSH/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) ratio, leads to an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress implicated in the progression of cancer, elevated GSH levels increase the antioxidant capacity and the resistance to oxidative stress as observed in many cancer cells.
3.3 Diuresis
Congee with corn flour and Chinese yam is taken to treat difficulty passing urine.
3.4 Bleeding Stopping
Ferrous sulfate, livid salt, sulfur and congee with corn are to be made into pills for oral taking to treat chronic rectal bleeding and blood in stool.
3.5 Hepatitis
A decoction of flowers of maize and other herbs is taken orally to treat hepatitis.
4. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions:
For people with stomach problems, long-term usage can cause negative consequences.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.