FLAX LINUM USITATISSIMUM

FLAX (Linum usitatissimum L.) +++

Synonyms :
- Linum crepitans (Boenn.) Dumort., L. humile Mill., L. usitatissimum subsp. transitorium Vavilov & Elladi, L. usitatissimum var. humile (Mill.) Pers.

Activities (Flax) :
- Allergenic (1; APA); Analgesic (f; MAD); Antiaggregant (1; APA; PH2); Antiallergenic (1; WAM); Antiatherogenic (2; APA; BGB); Antiestrogenic (1; APA; PH2); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; BGB; WAM); Antioxidant (1; PH2); Antitumor (1; APA; BGB; PH2); Antitussive (f; PNC); Aphrodisiac (f; DEP; MAD); Astringent (f; BIB); Cardiotonic (f; DEP); Cyanogenic (1; BIB); Demulcent (2; APA; BGB; FEL; WAM); Digestive (1; WAM); Diuretic (f; BIB); Emetic (f; FAD); Emmenagogue (f; BIB); Emollient (1; APA; BGB; FEL; PNC); Estrogenic (1; APA); Expectorant (f; BIB); Fungicide (f; PH2); Hypocholesterolemic (2; PH2); Hypoglycemic (1; PH2); Lactagogue (f; BIB); Laxative (2; BGB; FAD; PH2; SHT; WAM); Lipolytic (2; APA; BGB; PHR); Pectoral (f; PNC); Peristaltic (2; PIP); Suppurative (f; BIB); Vulnerary (f; BIB).

Indications (Flax) :
- Abscess (f; BGB); Acid Stomach (1; WAM); Acne (1; WAM); Adenopathy (f; JLH); Allergy (1; WAM); Ameba (f; BIB); Aposteme (f; JLH); Arthrosis (1; APA; BGB); Ascarides (f; FEL); Backache (f; BIB); Biliousness (f; BIB); Bleeding (f; MAD); Boil (f; BIB; FAD); BPH (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; MAD; PH2; PNC); Burn (f; DEP; FAD); Cancer (1; APA; BGB; FAD; PH2); Cancer, abdomen (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, anus (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, breast (1; APA; FNF; JLH); Cancer, cervix (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; APA; FNF; JLH); Cancer, gland (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, mouth (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, neck (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, parotid (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, skin (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, testes (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, throat (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uvula (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; FNF; JLH); Cardiopathy (f; DEP); Catarrh (f; PHR; PH2); Cervicosis (f; JLH); Childbirth (f; BIB); Cholecystosis (f; PHR); Cold (f; FAD; FEL); Colic (f; FEL; HHB); Colitis (2; APA; FEL; KOM; SHT); Condyloma (f; JLH); Conjunctivosis (f; BIB); Constipation (2; APA; BGB; FAD; PH2; SHT; WAM); Corn (f; JLH); Cough (f; APA; FAD; FEL; MAD; PH2); Cramp (f; BIB); Cystosis (f; MAD; PH2); Dermatosis (2; APA; BGB; PH2; WAM); Diabetes (1; MAD; PH2); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Diverticulosis (2; APA; PH2; SHT); Dysentery (f; FEL); Dysuria (f; FEL); Eczema (1; WAM); Enterosis (2; KOM; PIP; PH2); Fever (f; FAD); Fungus (f; PH2); Furuncle (f; MAD); Gallstone (f; HHB; MAD); Gastrosis (2; APA; KOM; PH2; PIP); Glossosis (f; MAD); Gonorrhea (f; DEP; MAD; PH2); Gout (f; FAD; MAD); Hay Fever (f; HHB); Hemorrhoid (1; FEL); Hepatosis (f; JLH); High Cholesterol (2; APA; PH2); Hyperactivity (1; WAM); Hyperglycemia (1; PH2); IBD (f; PH2); IBS (f; PH2); Impetigo (f; MAD); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (1; PH2); Inflammation (2; APA; BGB; FAD; FEL; PH2; WAM); Itch (f; HHB); Kidney Stone (f; MAD); Leprosy (f; BIB); Lumbricus (f; FEL); Lupus (2; APA; BGB); Lymphangosis (f; MAD); Malaria (f; APA; BGB); Nausea (f; MAD); Measles (f; MAD); Mucososis (1; APA); Mycosis (1; PH2); Nephrosis (2; APA; BGB; FEL; HHB); Ophthalmia (f; PH2); Orchosis (f; JLH); Otosis (1; WAM); Pain (f; FEL; MAD); Parotosis (f; JLH); Pleurisy (f; BIB; FAD); Pneumonia (f; FAD); Proctosis (f; FEL; JLH); Proteinuria (1; APA); Pulmonosis (f; FAD; HHB); Pyelosis (f; HHB); Rheumatism (1; BGB; FAD; MAD); Sore Throat (f; APA); Splenosis (f; JLH); Stone (f; HHB); Swelling (f; JLH; MAD); Tumor (1; APA; BGB; PH2); Urethrosis (f; PH2); Urogenitosis (f; DEP); UTI (f; APA); VD (f; DEP; PH2); Water Retention (f;
BIB); Whitlow (f; JLH).

Dosages (Flax) :
-  (1300 mg) StX for 740 mg ALA, softgel (APA); 1 tbsp whole or crushed (not ground) seed/150 ml liquid 2 - 3 ×/day (APA; PH2; PIP); 1 oz seed/1 quart water at boiling point (FEL); 35 - 50 g crushed seed/day for hypercholesterolemia (PH2); 1 - 2 tbsp flaxseed oil/day as antiaggregant (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Flax) :
- Class 2d. Contraindicated in bowel obstruction (AHP). May lead to bowel obstruction if fluid intake is inadequate. Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages (PH2) (but PH2 designates no specific quantified dosage! JAD). May adversely affect absorption of drugs (as with any mucilaginous preparation). 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 osses (AEH). 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  (like, e.g.,  loperamide) (SHT). Do not use seed in patients with diverticulitis (WAM). 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 (Bisset, 1994). Dont confuse flaxseed oil with more poisonous denatured linseed oil (WAM). Seeds, like those of Perilla, are one of the best sources of that omega-3 fatty acid called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). See Rudins, The Omega-3 Phenomenon, for an incredible list of supposed indications for flax seed oil, an entire book full.