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Mahes Visvalingam
Post-retirement postings

Please note that this site is under construction.

 

Some Experiences with Natural Medicine
and related observations

 


Linseed/Flaxseed

Disclaimer

Linseed is an excellent source of food, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and soothing mucilage -  See http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2.  However, there are some warnings which you need to heed.

 

Types of Linseed Health Products

  • Colour - Brown or golden

  • Whole seed, often baked in bread and mixed into cereal bars and breakfast cereals.  Whole linseed is difficult to digest and may pass right through digestive system still intact.

  • Ground seed is better for health.  

  • Oil - rather expensive and goes rancid very rapidly, especially when not refrigerated.  Also, it does not contain the fibre or lignans found in the seed.  My body does not like the oil and I used it up - as a rather expensive lubricant - on gardening tools!

Warning

http://www.webmd.boots.com/vitamins-and-minerals/flaxseed?page=2
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement-interaction/possible-interactions-with-flaxseed-oil

  • Raw and unripe seeds may be poisonous. Newton Friend (1917) observed that if linseed is crushed and moistened, hydrogen
    cyanide is slowly liberated in consequence of the action of an enzyme on a cyanogenetic glucoside.  See http://archive.org/stream/chemistryoflinse00frierich/chemistryoflinse00frierich_djvu.txt  I have myself on the advise of some friends and texts, soaked linseed overnight in cold water and drunk it down in the morning.  I know others who sprinkle crushed raw linseed on breakfast cereal.  When I tried both these methods, my body did not like it - so I stopped.  Golden linseed ground and boiled for 8 minutes works best for me. Since it seems to be easily absorbed, I have no more than 1 teaspoon, given other warnings about linseed.  You can have too much of a good thing.

  • Too much linseed without adequate water can cause blockages, bloating, cramps and constipation/diarrhoea

  • Linseed can interact with supplements and medication - both allopathic and herbal.  So, check this out (see Resources), especially if you have:

    • blood thinning medication

    • diabetes - since linseed lowers blood sugar

    • thyroid problems

  • Women with breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer or endometriosis and men with prostate cancer need to be aware that Linseed is said to contain more phytoestrogens than soya beans.  Scientists are still unsure as to whether they are good or bad for hormone-related diseases (like breast and prostate cancer).  http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/lignans/#biological_activity  Pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and those on hormone-replacement therapy or contraceptives should speak to their doctor for the latest guidance.

Good for

Consult your medical practitioner if

Note:  When looking at evidence we need to be mindful that both China and India are large producers of linseed.

 

Other claims:

  • weight loss - I found that home-made linseed oil can fill you up, and so you dont eat as much.

 
  • bleeding disorder - linseed thins the blood - so check if you have bleeding gums etc.
  • bowel disorder
  • on medication for heart disease or hypertension
  • hormone-related conditions (see warnings) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed/DSECTION=safety
  • on medication for diabetes
  • thyroid problems - it may seem helpful for hypothyroidism for a while, but the condition is reported to get worse

 

 

My experiences

Resources

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/flaxseed

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement-interaction/possible-interactions-with-flaxseed-oil

 

Disclaimer

© Mahes Visvalingam, 10 Jan 2012
Last updated on 22/01/14