Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is extracted from dried flax seeds. Flax seeds are from the Flax plant which is a member of the Linaceae plant family. This plant is known as one of the oldest cultivated plants known to man. Flax plant is a herbaceous annual that grows up to a maximum height of 4 feet. It is indigenous to parts of Asia and Europe. This small plant has slender stems with dark leaves that measure about 40 mm long and 3 mm broad. These leaves have a slender lanceolate. Each Flax plant has a single stem that is smooth with alternately arranged leaves. The flax plant bears pale blue or turquoise blue color flowers. Flax flowers have five petals and measure about 15 to 20 mm in diameter. The flowers are followed by round fruits that are 5 to 9 mm in diameter. This dry capsule contains many shining brown seeds that are ovate in nature. Flax seeds are shining and glossy, containing several brown seeds which measure about 4 to 7 mm long. These seeds are shaped like an apple pip.
Linseed oil is cold pressed from dried flax seeds. Both Linseed oil and Flax seed oil might sound different with their names. Flaxseed as well as Linseed oil is extracted from dried Flax seeds but the processing method differs. The former is raw, cold-pressed oil and is generally sold as a dietary supplement whereas, the latter is heated and allowed to pass through chemical treatments. Generally, there are two varieties of flax seed where one variety is brown in color and the other is yellow in color. Both these seed varieties have equal amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and other chemical constituents with the presence of solin in yellow flax seeds being an exception. Flax seeds are generally used as one of the ancient commercial oils as well as active ingredients in paints, fiber and cattle feed.
Latin name: Linum Usitatissimum.
Alternative names: Toad Flax, Linseed, Chih-ma, Lint Bells, Common Flax, Winterlien Flax, Flax Weed and Uma.
Flax plant prefers to grow in temperate zones with full sun to partial shade. It can be grown in moisture retent soil or any type of soil with natural feeding. Propagation can be carried out either by using the seeds or the stem cuttings. Cultivation is done during early spring and harvesting is done in early autumn. Flax oil contains mucilage, triply unsaturated α-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, doubly unsaturated linoleic acid, monounsaturated oleic acid, protein, stearic acid and linamarin saturated acids. This oil also contains essential fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids that have high nutritional values.
Uses: Linseed oil is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, cancerous tumors, symptoms of menopause, atherosclerosis, hormonal imbalances, urinary disorders, constipation, cough, cold, pleurisy, digestive disorders, catarrh, ulcers, burns, gallstones and abscesses.
