Linseed

(Linum usitatissimum L., Linaceae)

Also Called: Flax Seed.

Description: Linseed is one of the oldest plants of cultivation and does not occur as truly wild.
It is an annual (certain varieties are biennial), 20-80cm (8-32 in) high; the varieties yielding the seeds have branched stems bearing alternate leaves that are narrow, lanceolate, about 2.5cm (1 in) long, with 3 principal veins.
Flowers, borne at the apices of the branches, 1 •5cm (0.6in), generally blue, more rarely white or red, with 5 petals.
They are open only for a few hours.
Fruit a spherical capsule, indehiscent in cultivated varieties.
Seeds 4-6mm (0.15-0.2in) long, oval, glossy, brownish-yellow to brown.

Habitat: Not known in the wild state; cultivated in many parts of the world for its flax fibres and for the oil derived from its seeds.
The seeds for medicinal use are from England, Holland, Morocco and Argentina amongst others.

Part Used: Seeds.

Constituents and Action The seeds contain abundant mucilage in the epidermis; the seed itself contains 30-40% of fixed oil together with a substance that in the presence of water yields prussic acid.
The seed is a laxative because of the action of the mucilage in the intestine; on swelling, the mucilage also acts as a lubricant of the intestine.
The fixed oil acts in the same manner.
Externally the crushed seeds, in the form of a poultice, aid the healing of abscesses, suppurations and relieve rheumatism.

Usage: Internally as a laxative the entire seeds are taken (allow 1-2 teaspoonfuls of seeds to swell in half a tumbler of water for 2-4 hours and swallow the mucilage alone or together with the seeds).
Externally the crushed seed (crushed linseed) mixed with hot water is used as a poultice for inflammations, suppurations and bruises of many sorts.
It is also used at times for inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, but without real result.