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Pharmacy >> Medicinal powers of foods |
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When ever Flax Seed
becomes a regular food item among the
people, there will be better health
- Mahatma Gandhi
According to Ayurveda, the seeds are oily, hot, hard to digest,
tonic, aphrodisiac and useful in treatment of biliousness, backache,
inflammations, ulcers, urinary discharges, eye troubles, leprosy etc.
Leaves cure asthma.
According to Unani system of
medicine, seeds are mucilaginous, diuretic, aphrodisiac, galactagogue,
emmenagogue, and useful in treatment of cough and kidney troubles.
Bark and leaves are good for gonorrhoea. Oil from seeds removes
biliousness and impure blood. It is useful in loss of appetite,
internal wounds and ring worm.
Reliable and relatively consistent
scientific data showing a substantial health benefit in the
use of Flax for Systemic lupus erythematosus
and Constipation.
Flax seed has been used for constipation. It has
also been used for controling cholesterol and blood sugar levels in
the body. Separate doses of this product from other medicines by at
least 1- 2 hours, since flax seed may interfere with drug absorption.
Flax seed has been used at normal doses in pregnancy. Higher than
normal doses are not recommended for use during pregnancy.
Flaxseed is the most abundant food source of lignans, a family of
phytochemicals that is drawing the interest of many health
researchers.9 10 11 Lignans are not actually present in flaxseed;
rather intestinal bacteria produce them from precursors in flaxseed.
Lignans have antioxidant activity,14 and test tube and animal research
suggests they may also have significant effects on the metabolism and
function of the hormone estrogen.
Vegetarian sources of Omega 3 fatty acids
are flax seed oil. Omega 3 rich diet is essential for life long
good health including
- Retina development of foetus
- Sufficient ALA in mothers diet act as a
precursor to DHA an essential
- component for brain development
- Mental development during infancy and childhood
- In teenagers reduces aggression and depression
- Middle years improves blood circulation,
prevent heart diseases, cancer, lung diseases and
osteoarthritis.
- Senior years prevent joint and
inflammatory diseases and mental deterioration.
Caution:
As with any source of fiber, flaxseed
should not be taken if there is possibility that the intestines are
obstructed. People with scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) should
consult a doctor before using flaxseed. Although a gradual
introduction of fiber in the diet may improve bowel symptoms in some
cases, there have been several reports of people with scleroderma
developing severe constipation and even bowel obstruction requiring
hospitalization after fiber supplementation.
Flaxseed may slow down the absorption of oral medications or other
nutrients if taken at the same time; therefore, flaxseed should be
ingested several hours before or after other medications
Flax
is considered anodyne, astringent, cyanogenctic, demulcent, diuretic,
emollient, expectorant, laxative, suppurative and vulnerary, Linum finds its way into folk remedies for boils, bronchitis,
burns, cancer, carbuncles, cold, conjunctivitis, corns, coughs,
diarrhea, gonorrhea, gout, inflammation, intoxication, labor,
rheumatism, scalds, sclerosis, sores, spasms, swellings, tumor.
Since linen has a long anticancer folk history, it is interesting to
see that Linum contains the anticancer agents
3'-demethylpodophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxin and b-sitosterol. Seeds are considered emollient, demulcent,
pectoral, diuretic, and astringent. Crushed seeds make a good
poultice, either alone or with mustard; lobelia seed added in the
poultice for boils. Sometimes seed are roasted and used in a
poultice. Sometimes employed as an addition to cough medicines.
Linseed tea used for colds, coughs, irritation of the urinary tract
(when honey and lemon juice may be added). Internally, oil given as
a laxative. Linseed oil mixed with an equal quantity of lime water,
known as carron oil, is applied to burns and scalds. Oil mixed with
honey is used as a cosmetic for removing spots from the face. In
veterinary medicine, oil is used as a purgative for sheep and
horses, and a jelly formed by boiling seeds is often given to
calves. Hartwell notes that flax is a folk remedy for such cancerous
conditions as apostemes, cancer of the breast, and mouth;
condylomata, indurations of the breast, cervix, limbs, liver,
spleen, stomach, testicles, uterus, and viscera; sycosis; tumors of
the abdomen, fauces, feet, glands, intestines, neck, parotids,
testicles, uterus, and uvula; warts, and whitlows
Flaxseeds is known as San, Alsi in Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi, Ali
vidai in Tamil. Flaxseed is also known as Linseed, Atasi, and Jawas in
Marathi, Tishi in Bengali, Pesi in Oriya, Agasi in Kannada, Avise
ginzalu in Telugu, and Cheruchana vithu in Malayalam.
Tamil Name: Alshi, Alsi
Common and popular names of Alsi (Linum usitatissimum) around the
world.
Languages/Regions/Countries Names
1) Arabic Bazar-ul-katan, Bazr-ut-kattan, Kattan
2) Bengal Masina, Mosina, Musni, Tisi
3) Brazil Linho
4) Chinese Hou Ma
5) Danish Hoer
6) Dutch Vlas
7) Egypt Kittan
8) Finland Lin, Pellavan
9) English Common Flax, Flax, Linseed, Lint, Lyne
10) Formosa Hu-ma
11) French Lin,Lin chaud, Lin commun, Lin cultive
12) German Flachs, Lein, Haarlisen
13) Greek Linon
14) Gujarati Alshi, Alsi
15) Hebrew Bad
16) Hindi Alsi, Tisi
17) Kurdish Gosh
18) Italian Linon
19) Morweiah Lin
20) Persian Basarak Katun
21) Polish Len
22) Portuguese Lin haca, Linho
23) Russian Len, Lyon
24) Sanskrit Atasi, Chanka, Deri, Huimwati, Nilapushpi, Madagandha,
Parvathi, Masruna
25) Spanish Linon
26) Tamil Alshi, Alsi
27) Telugu Atasi, Ullusulu
28) Turki Ziggar
29) Urdu Alasi
30) Uriya Pesu
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