Corn silk (Zea mays) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine systems, particularly in various cultures such as Chinese, Native American, and South American folk medicine. It is primarily employed as a diuretic and for supporting urinary tract health. Its use for gallstones is less common but does appear in some herbal traditions. Historically, corn silk has been included in remedies intended to "cleanse" the liver and gallbladder or to support the flow of bile, which is sometimes believed to help prevent or treat gallstones.

However, there is limited scientific evidence to support the efficacy of corn silk for the treatment or prevention of gallstones. Most of the available research focuses on its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, with a few animal studies suggesting potential hepatoprotective effects. There are no robust clinical trials or mechanistic studies directly evaluating corn silk’s effectiveness in dissolving or preventing gallstones in humans.

In summary, while corn silk is used in some traditional systems for liver and gallbladder health, its use specifically for gallstones is primarily based on tradition rather than scientific validation. The overall quality and quantity of evidence supporting its use for this condition is low.