Flaxseed - Linum
usitatissimum
Also known as Linseed, the source of linen fiber, linseed oil
and linoleum.
Flaxseed is a slender, graceful annual that grows 1 to 2 feet
high and blooms pretty blue flowers during the summer months.
It forms seeds at the tips of the branches. These seeds produce
a very important oil that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which
is well known for its anti-cancerous effects.
Flaxseed is cultivated for its seeds, fiber and oil. The high
quality fiber comes from the stem. It is soft, flexible and lustrous.
It's well known for making linen, but it is also used for making
sails, nets, paper and insulating materials.
It is impossible to tell how long Flaxseed has been cultivated due to the fact that it spreads easily and has been found growing in most all countries as far back as the Middle Ages.
Today, Flaxseed is by far the richest source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a parent compound in the Omega-3 fatty acids, compared to fish which only contain trace amounts.
The whole seeds do not digest, so to get to the fatty acids, the seeds should be crushed before use. A coffee grinder works well. When soaked with water the flaxseeds begin to form a mucilage that is soothing and lubricating. It is used to soothe tonsillitis, sore throats, coughs, colds and constipation. Flaxseed tea is nice with a little lemon and honey. Roast the seeds as a substitute for coffee.
The dried seeds eaten whole will soothe irritations throughout the entire digestive tract. They swell by absorbing in fluids, drawing in toxins and this acts as an effective bulk laxative.
The seed do not have much flavor and can be added to almost anything. Add to salads or cereals, use when baking breads or muffins, add to soups and other hot foods. It pretty much disappears but the benefits go on. It really can go in almost anything. Fill a Parmesan shaker jar with Flaxseed and keep on your table near the salt and pepper.
Flaxseed (crushed) can be used as a poultice for arthritis, inflammation and skin irritations. Its drawing effect make it great for boils, abscess and infections.
Flaxseed oil can be drizzled over salads or simply be taken by the spoonful. It is the quickest way to get all the benefits this small seed has to offer.
Flaxseed is often used in Aromatherapy for its gentle weight. It is added to herbal eye pillows and microwavable heat packs. The seeds are quiet, non clumping and are often chosen over rice, buck wheat hulls and cherry pits.
Medicinal Properties include: anodyne, astringent, cyanogenctic,
demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, suppurative
and vulnerary.
Seeds are considered emollient, demulcent, pectoral, diuretic,
and astringent.
Flaxseed Uses:
Aromatherapy - Use in hot or cold packs. Add other dried
herbs for added benefits.
Poultice - Use hot or cold for wounds, boils and inflammation.
Tea - Drink for most stomach disorders including constipation
and diarrhea.
Hair Care - Make a poultice and apply to wet hair. Leave
on 5 minutes. Rinse.
Skin Care - Make a poultice and apply to skin. Use to speed
healing, reduce pain and soothe rashes.
Culinary - Add versatile seeds to soups, salads, baked
goods, infused oils, pretty much anything.
Cautions: Flax should be take with plenty of liquids.
Some parts of the plant contain toxins and should not be eaten
in large quantities. Livestock should not graze on pastures where
it grows in abundance.
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Recipes
Flaxseed Poultice - Grind seed and add enough water to make a paste. Apply directly to affected area. Wrap with cloth leave on up to 3 hours.
Flaxseed Tea - 1 tablespoon of crushed seeds per cup of water. Let partially dissolve, then drink, followed by a second cup of water.
Night-time Herbal Eye Pillow
2 cups Flaxseed
1/4 cup Lavender
1/4 cup Chamomile
Combine ingredients and let blend up to 2 weeks. Sew a fabric case desired size (approx 4"x 8"). Fill case with herbs sew closed. Lay head back, place over eyes and enjoy. Use room temperature to ease into a restful night sleep or use frozen to help combat a headache.
Flax Bread
* 1 14 cups water
* 2 tbsp. honey
* 2 tbsp. canola oil
* 2 cups bread flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1 12 tsp. salt
* 1/3 cup flaxseeds, ground or whole to taste
* 2 tbsp. sunflower seeds
* 1 tbsp. poppy seeds
* 2 tsp. fast rising instant yeast
Measure ingredients and place in bread machine pan in order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Whole Wheat Rapid Cycle. Remove baked bread from pan and let cool on wire rack. Yields 1 loaf.
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