The Use Of Flax Seeds For Medicinal Purposes

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Young people probably do not remember this song to the music of Raymond Pauls, but in the seventies of the twentieth century it sounded from the radio speakers, from the windows of houses, passers-by sang it under their breath: “There are waves in the open, either the field or the sea - blue linen. Like a song, like a flame, like the sky under your feet - blue flax ….

In short, a real hit is one of Pauls' first hits. Of course, the song was not dedicated to botanical culture - flax, but love, but flax was also not in last place there.

Now, unfortunately, in our country the sowing of this industrial and food crop has significantly decreased, and therefore many do not even imagine the amazing picture - a field of flowering flax. For me, it is comparable only with the view of a field of blooming buckwheat - this is the same striking canvas.

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Imagine - you come to the field, and the wind sways thousands and thousands of flowering flax plants. They really resemble a fabulous blue water surface. And when the flax begins to ripen, the seed boxes turn yellow - and then this sea becomes golden. Only then, when the wind gusts, the seed pods with gusts, touching each other, still emit sounds - a slight clicking, like small maracas. It is difficult for a person who first saw such a field to remain indifferent.

The beauty of the plant is not the only virtue of flax. I, who was born in the middle of the last century, still remember how rural women turned flax stalks, which had passed the process of lying in the sun and rain, and then dried, into gray flax curls.

Then, from them, they manually, on spinning wheels, received threads, and then from the threads on looms, right in the huts, they weaved linen for bed linen, towels, tablecloths and even underwear - shirts and trousers.

Each family had such a machine, because there was no money, but there were workdays, which sometimes almost did not buy anything. And the villagers could not buy something - they did almost everything themselves.

I also remember the unique taste of flaxseed oil, obtained using a homemade press from flaxseeds roasted in the oven. Its aroma is even difficult to describe! The oil that is now sold in pharmacies and stores does not look like it at all, I once tried it and was disappointed. You will probably never be able to taste that fragrant oil from childhood.

In a word, flax was indispensable for the Slavs, as it dressed people and was served as butter to the table.

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An annual plant - common flax, or common flax (Linum usitatissimum) has two types - fiber flax, which reaches a height of 70 to 125 cm, grows in one stem, on each plant from one to three boxes with seeds. There are up to ten of them in a box. The fiber has a high fiber content - up to 30%, therefore it is grown mainly for fiber, although the oil from it is tasty and healthy.

Another type is flax-curly. This plant is undersized - from 30 to 60 cm, but its stem begins to branch strongly almost from the base, therefore, there are from 30 to 60 and even more boxes with seeds on it. Its seeds are larger, therefore this species is cultivated mainly for oil production.

Since ancient times, flax has been introduced into culture and grown by people. It was indispensable as a raw material for fabrics, and also as a source for extracting useful oil from seeds. Then people paid attention to some of the medicinal properties of this culture. Hippocrates already recommended that patients use flaxseed for inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Now traditional and folk medicine is practicing flax preparations for the treatment of a number of diseases. The medicinal properties of flax are explained by the chemical composition of the whole plant. But the most valuable substances are found in seeds. They are beautiful - brown-yellow with a shiny surface, have an ovoid shape, flattened, dense, if you take a handful of seeds in your palm, you immediately feel their weight. Flax seeds are famous for their polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Moreover, they contain a record amount of omega-3 fatty acid. It contains even more of it than fish oil. In addition, there are also Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. As you know, these plant fatty acids are very useful, they are a building material for all cells of the body, neutralize harmful toxins and cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol plaques, being a prophylactic agent against heart attacks and strokes, they reduce the risk of arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, platelets.

Flaxseed also contains protein, carbohydrates, mucus, sterols, linocinamarine, organic acids, antioxidants, potassium, selenium, magnesium.

The presence of mucus in flax seeds, which is released from them when brewed with boiling water, is also used in medicine. This mucus has a mild laxative, enveloping, emollient, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, and therefore is used in the treatment of inflammation of the esophagus and gastric ulcer. It also removes toxins and poisonous substances from the intestines during intoxication. This property of flax seeds - to envelop the walls of the esophagus and stomach - is also used for gastritis, both with low and high acidity. In folk medicine, flax seeds and diseases of the pancreas are treated.

Flax is grown in large volumes by agricultural firms in the Middle Belt for fiber, seeds and oil. If you wish, you can grow this culture in the garden area, I think there will be no special problems with it, but is it worth bothering yourself with this if the main medicinal raw material is freely sold in pharmacies - flaxseed in packages of 100 grams. You can also find flaxseed oil in pharmacies, and the pharmaceutical industry has launched the production of the drug "Linetol". It is obtained from linseed oil. This drug is taken internally for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, and externally used for the treatment of radiation damage to the skin, chemical and thermal (caused by low or high temperature exposure) skin burns.

Also, medicinal oil is made from flax seeds, which is recommended to be used as a wound-healing agent. They lubricate frostbitten parts of the body, dry skin. It is also used in cosmetics.

Like many other medicinal herbs, flax seeds are used in the form of decoctions, infusions, and medicinal poultices are made from them.

Since flax seeds have an enveloping effect, they are used for inflammation of the digestive tract. Medicinal infusions and decoctions are prepared from them.

Flax seed infusion for stomach treatment

For its preparation, one tablespoon of flax seeds should be poured into a thermos in the evening, pour 400 ml of boiling water and leave in a closed thermos overnight. The resulting infusion is taken before meals in half a glass (100 ml). The infusion must be consumed fresh, it cannot be stored for a long time.

Flax seed decoction for stomach treatment

To obtain it, one tablespoon of seeds is poured with a glass of boiling water (200 ml) and placed in a sealed enamel container in a water bath. Boil this way for half an hour, stirring from time to time. The resulting broth is taken before meals in 100 ml. The active substances contained in flaxseed soften the effect of gastric juice on the walls of the stomach, relieve pain and inflammation.

Decoction for the treatment of gastritis

For its preparation, flax seeds are poured with boiling water in the ratio of one part of seeds to thirty parts of boiling water. Pour boiling water over the seeds and keep in a sealed container over low heat for 15 minutes. Then the broth is cooled, filtered and taken in 50 ml half an hour before meals. Such a decoction is useful for gastritis with high and low acidity. It is also recommended for the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Flax seed infusion for heartburn and pancreatitis

For its preparation, one tablespoon of flax seeds is poured with a glass of boiling water (200 ml). Insist for two hours with regular shaking. Then they filter the infusion, squeeze out the used raw materials. Take 50 ml before meals. The course of treatment for pancreatitis is one month.

The mucus formed during infusion has an enveloping and analgesic effect, quickly normalizes the acidity level.

Infusion for gout and diabetes

To obtain it, 15 g of flax seeds are poured with a glass of hot water (200 ml) and infused for 15 minutes. Then filter the infusion and take a tablespoon five times a day.

Using such an infusion, folk healers prepare compresses and lotions for the treatment of burns, wounds, abscesses, boils, ulcers on the skin.

Flaxseed poultices

Various inflammatory skin diseases in folk medicine are also treated with poultices. They are prepared from crushed flax seeds, which are poured into two linen bags. Then the bags are in turn dipped in boiling water and applied hot to sore spots, as well as to wounds, ulcers and boils.

Flaxseed decoction

It is taken to enhance the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in the treatment of hemorrhoids, gout and rheumatism. It is also used as a laxative.

A decoction is prepared from two teaspoons of flax seeds, which are poured into 400 ml of hot boiled water. Then, in a sealed container, boil the broth in a water bath for 15 minutes, then insist for 10 minutes and shake. After straining, take 2 tablespoons ten minutes before meals. As a laxative, take 100 ml of this broth on an empty stomach.

Contraindications

It is worth refraining from taking preparations with flaxseed for pregnant and lactating women. It is not recommended to take them with acute cholecystitis and gallstone disease, as well as with poor blood clotting. Before starting treatment with flax seeds, you should consult your doctor.

E. Valentinov