Plantain Herb and Corn Silk Tea (Che Qian Cao and Corn Silk)

Why people make this tea

Gout arises when uric acid builds up in the joints, causing sudden, intense pain — often first felt at night in the big toe. Traditional Cantonese food therapy has long used plantain herb (che qian cao) as a diuretic herb to help the kidneys flush out excess fluid and reduce damp-heat in the body. Corn silk — the fine strands attached to fresh corn — has a similarly gentle, diuretic quality and is one of the most economical and accessible food-therapy ingredients there is. Together, they make a light, pleasant herbal tea that Nourilo recommends as a regular drink for those managing gout or prone to urinary tract discomfort in hot, humid weather.

Method

1. Wash the plantain herb thoroughly, including the roots. Cut into sections.
2. Rinse the fresh corn silk under cold water.
3. Place both ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
5. Cook for 45 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 600 ml.
6. Strain and drink as a tea.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is also helpful for those with a damp-heat body constitution and can support healthy weight management. It provides additional relief for those dealing with kidney-related water retention, urinary tract inflammation, or prostate discomfort — easing urinary frequency and urgency. If fresh plantain herb is not available, dried herb can be used at half the quantity. Those who know their constitution is kidney yang deficient and do not have heat symptoms should avoid this tea.