Flaxseed Has Several Medical Uses
Flaxseed Has Several Medical Uses
Flaxseed comes from the flax plant, which grows in the United States
and Canada. The oil from the plant comes from grinding the flaxseed.
Flaxseed is a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential
fatty acid and precursor to omega-3 fatty acids. Lignans in flaxseed may
be responsible for its antioxidant activity. Some of the medical uses for
Flaxseed includes hot flashes, breast pain, arthritis, and high cholesterol
treatment. It has also been used to prevent cancer.
The typical dose of liquid formulations of flaxseed oil is 1 tablespoonful
daily. The dose of capsule forms of flaxseed oil is 1000mg. Two or three
tablespoonful of bulk flaxseed may be mixed with ten times the amount of
water and used as a laxative. Prescription medications should be taken 1
hour before or 2 hours after flaxseed. As a precaution, flaxseed may increase
the risk of bleeding when used with blood thinning medications.
Flaxseed should not be used by women who are pregnant, particularly
during the last two trimesters, due to the risk of premature birth.