Botanical Index No. 418

Flax

linum usitatissimum

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Allergenic, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antiallergenic, Antiatherogenic, Antiestrogenic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Antitussive, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Cyanogenic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipolytic, Peristaltic, Suppurative

Primary Conditions Treated

Bleeding Boil BPH Bronchosis Burn Cancer abdomen anus breast cervix colon gland liver mouth neck parotid skin spleen stomach testes throat uvula uterus Cardiopathy Catarrh Cervicosis Childbirth Cholecystosis Cold Colitis Condyloma Conjunctivosis Constipation Corn Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Diverticulosis Dysentery Dysuria Eczema Enterosis Fever Fungus Furuncle Gallstone Gastrosis Glossosis Gonorrhea Gout Hay Fever Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Cholesterol Hyperactivity Hyperglycemia IBD IBS Impetigo Induration Infection Inflammation Itch Kidney Stone Leprosy Lumbricus Lupus Lymphangosis Malaria Nausea Measles Mucososis Mycosis Nephrosis Ophthalmia Orchosis Otosis Pain Parotosis Pleurisy Pneumonia Proctosis Proteinuria Pulmonosis Pyelosis Rheumatism Sore Throat Splenosis Stone Swelling Tumor Urethrosis Urogenitosis UTI VD Water Retention Whitlow Aphrodisiac Demulcent Emollient Pectoral Vulnerary Abscess Acid Stomach Acne Adenopathy Allergy Ameba Aposteme Arthrosis Ascarides Backache Biliousness

General Dosage

1 StX for 740 mg ALA, softgel; 1 tbsp whole or crushed seed/150 ml liquid 2–3 ×/day; 1 oz seed/1 quart water at boiling point; 35–50 g crushed seed/day for hypercholesterolemia; 1–2 tbsp flaxseed oil/day as antiaggregant.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Contraindicated in bowel obstruction. May lead to bowel obstruction if fluid intake is inadequate. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. May adversely affect absorption of drugs. Commission E reports contraindications: ileus; interactions: reduced absorption of other drugs possible. No adverse effects when used with a sufficient amount of liquid. Other sources report contraindications: intestinal obstruction; patients with inflammatory intestinal diseases should use the seed only in its swollen state. Abuse of high doses may result in electrolyte losses. Bulking agents should not be taken by those with stenotic lesions of the GI tract. Do not take bulking agents when lying down or at bedtime. Do not use with antiperistaltics. Do not use seed in patients with diverticulitis. Under pessimal conditions, 100 g linseed can liberate up to 50 mg HCN, enough to bring about symptoms of poisoning. But these conditions, rarely, if ever are maintained. Most HCN is metabolized via the enzyme rhodanase, which can convert 30–60 mg HCN per hour into the relatively toxic thiocyanate. Even doses of 300 g of ground linseed evoked no symptoms of poisoning in a volunteer. Single doses of 100 g reported to not cause significant rise in blood HCN and thiocyanate levels. Taking 15 g linseed thrice daily for 3 to 4 weeks raised thiocyanate levels in blood and urine. Don’t confuse flaxseed oil with more poisonous denatured linseed oil.

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