Flaxseeds - Health Benefits and Potential Side Effects

Botanical Name of Flaxseed: Linum usitatissimum.

Other Common Names:
Linseed, chih-ma, common flax, flax, flax weed, lint bells, toad flax, uma, winterlien.

Habitat:
Flaxseed is thought to have originated in Egypt and was found from the Mediterranean to India. However, it is one of the oldest cultivated plants known and has been found during the excavation of ancient Egyptian tombs. Today, it is cultivated around most of the world as it is not only valued for its nutritional and medicinal uses, but it is also used in the making of cloth, paper and other useful products. Flax prefers deep, moist soils that are rich in sand, silt and clay.

Description:
Flaxseed is a small herbaceous annual with a single stem that reaches a maximum of four feet in height. The stalk has alternating rows of linear, inch-long leaves. Flax blossoms have five petals and are usually blue in colour, but can also be bright red. After the flowers have died, flax bears a fruit that is a round dry capsule less than a centimeter in diameter. Each capsule contains several seeds which resemble small apple pips.

Plant Parts Used:
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil.

Flaxseed Capsules
(Linum usitatissimum)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution:Wikipedia

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed Oil Softgels by Starwest Botanicals Flax Oil (1000 mg, Organic) by Vitabase

Therapeutic and Traditional Uses, Benefits and Claims of Flaxseed

• The seeds, which are high in fiber and mucilage, absorb large amounts of fluid and draw out toxins when ingested and act as a gentle bulking laxative. Flaxseed is, therefore, an effective herbal treatment for diarrhea and maintaining a healthy digestive tract and may even be effective in the prevention of chronic diseases such as diverticulosis.

The Medicinal Herb Flaxseed
(Linum usitatissimum)
Koehler's Medicinal-Plants - 1887
• Flaxseed oil is well known for its high content of essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are only accessible if the seeds are split prior to ingestion. Essential fatty acids such as linolenic acid and linoleic acid have numerous health benefits including the prevention of heart disease and healthy fetal development.
• Flaxseed may be a natural remedy for high blood pressure and may also lower levels of a protein called homocysteine in the blood. This protein is measured as a major risk factor for the onset of heart disease
• These small seeds are also a rich source of fibers known as lignans. Friendly bacteria that are naturally occurring in the digestive tract convert lignans into compounds that may fight cancer by reducing tumor size. Lignan fibers also mimic estrogen in the body and may modulate hormone levels, thereby providing a natural remedy for hormone fluctuations associated with menopause and premenstrual syndrome.
• The anti-inflammatory compounds in flaxseed may provide an herbal treatment for relief of symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.
• Sjögren’s syndrome patients may find relief of dry eyes with treatment of ingested flaxseed oil.
• A single trial has provided evidence that the fatty acids found in flaxseed may naturally improve symptoms associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Flaxseeds have been used traditionally as an herbal topically treatment for chronic coughs, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema and boils.
• Flaxseed also has antioxidant properties, which may be the basis for a recent claim by body builders that it decreases recovery time after injury and increases stamina.

Dosage and Administration

Flaxseeds should always be taken with lots of water as they absorb large amounts of water from the body during digestion. Seeds can be soaked in water prior to consumption. The maximum dosage for flaxseed is 50g of seed or 20g of oil daily. Recommended dosage for adults and children over 12 years old is 5-10g of seeds – whole or crushed, or 1-2 tablespoonfuls or 1-2 capsules of oil daily. Children 6-12 years of age can receive half the adult dose, though 1 teaspoon of oil should be sufficient to relieve constipation. It is only recommended to give flaxseed to children under 6 years of age with strict medical supervision. One should expect to feel the effects of this dosage within 18-24 hours. Administration should be for 2-3 days at a time. The oil should be used within 24 hours of grinding otherwise ingredients lose activity.

Potential Side Effects of Flaxseeds

It is always recommended that you speak with a healthcare professional prior to taking herbal remedies if you take regular prescription or non-prescription medications or dietary supplements as there may be interactions. Flaxseed may change the effectiveness of some medications including blood thinning medications such as aspirin or warfarin; diabetic medications such as insulin; and oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. If you are taking any of these medications, consult a healthcare professional. Once confirmed to be safe, it is suggested that flaxseed be taken several hours before, or after taking other medications or supplements as it may slow the absorption of these other oral medications. One study has suggested diets rich in some of the fatty acids found in flaxseed may be lined to increased risk of macular degeneration. People with diabetes, prostate problems, or schizophrenia should consult their doctor before taking flaxseed.

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