LINSED

Flax is an erect, herb, cultivated for its oily seeds. Leaves narrow and entire. Flowers are large, blue or bluish violet and entire. Flowers are large, blue or bluish violet and pentamerous in terminal panicles. Stamens 5 and alternating with staminodes. Fruits capsular, with five cells, each containing 2 seeds. Seeds are yellowish or blackish brown, small, flattened, oval, with smooth and shining seed coat and small albumen. It is used internally in habitual constipation, functional disorders of the colon resulting from the misuse of laxatives and irritable colon, as a demulcent preparation in gastritis and enteritis.

Flax seeds benefit : Externally, the powdered seeds or the press-cake are used as an emollient, in poultices for boils, carbuncles and other skin afflictions. The oil pressed from the seed (linseed oil) has been used for a variety of industrial purposes and the oil-free meal could befed to livestock. In addition to usage of seed for industrial purposes, whole flaxseed is used extensively in baked goods in Europe. They are even used to stuff pillows for Therapeutic purposes.

OTHER NAME : LINUM USITATISSIMUM, LINACEAE, FLAX SEEDS.