▷ a useful plant with a long history

When we hear the word flax, most of us probably think of the famous flax seeds or linseed oil with its valuable omega-3 fatty acids. But flax, also called flax, has a much greater significance and is not only known in the kitchen, because the history of flax as a useful and medicinal plant dates back to the Stone Age and is therefore considered one of the oldest cultivated plants. We would like to give you a brief overview of the flax plant and discuss its benefits and potential.

What is linen and what is linen?

Flaxseed, which botanically is correctly called common flax and is also known as linseed, is an important crop for oil production and flax fiber production. It belongs to the flax family (Linaceae), to the flax genus (Linum), of which there are many different species. However, linen differs according to its field of application. So there’s linseed oil and flax fiber. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and also parts of Asia. But now we also find it in the wild and it is often planted in bee beds and meadows.

Flax is an annual plant nd can reach a height of over one meter. The plant has an upright habit and is usually solitary. The leaves of the plant have no stem and are alternate on the plant. The leaves are elongated and lanceolate, that is, oval but tapered. Flax can flower from June to August in different colors, from pale blue, purple, pink and rarely a beautiful white. The flowers are up to 3 cm large and have five petals. After the flowering period, the famous linseeds develop from the round capsules. Depending on the location, the seeds can be harvested from August to October.

The story on the screen

It is said that flax was cultivated in the early days of agriculture; the first testimonies date back to the 5th century BC. Linen has always been a valued plant, especially for its plant fibers which have become an important textile raw material. Already in the Stone Age, linen fibers were used to make ropes and fabrics. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt are said to have been wrapped in linen cloths before mummification, and flax was still a valuable plant in the Middle Ages and so Hildegard von Bingen is said to have used flaxseeds for medicinal purposes.

Until the 18th century, linen played a very important role as a textile raw material. However, with the increasing use of cotton and the introduction of synthetic materials, cultivated areas decreased and flax was increasingly replaced as a crop.

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Application and benefits of linen

Although its role as a useful plant is declining, flax is still an interesting plant in folk medicine. The valuable oil and linseed are said to be used for gallbladder problems, skin diseases, shingles, inflammation of the mucous membranes, colds, as well as for abdominal problems and rheumatic pain. In homeopathy flax is used for chronic diarrhea, hay fever and bladder irritation. But leaves and flowers are also used in naturopathy and homeopathy

The ingredients include the important mucilages, triterpenes, linoleic acid, phosphatides, sterols but also amino acids, cyanogenic lignan glycosides and unsaturated fatty acids, especially those beneficial to health Omega-3-fatty acids. Flaxseeds are also used internally for digestive problems such as constipation. Thanks to the mucilage, the seeds can bind water in the intestine and increase the volume of the stool, stimulating intestinal peristalsis and promoting bowel movements. Less known seems to be flaxseed tea, also used for urinary tract problems.

Linen in the medicine cabinet

A compress with ground seeds can also be applied in case of coughs, boils and skin inflammation. Alternatively, you can apply flaxseed oil to the rashes. Thanks to the seeds’ swelling properties and healthy Omgea-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds can improve stool consistency and fight inflammation. If you collect the seeds yourself, you should definitely only collect them when they are fully ripe, otherwise the immature seeds contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides.

Linen fibers are still used today. Among other things for textiles, but also for insulating materials and technical padding. Linseed oil is mainly used as a valuable cooking oil. Since it is a high-quality cold-pressed oil, it is best used for cold and unheated cooking. Linen is also used for cosmetics, care products, paints and varnishes. The seeds are traditionally used as food for humans and animals. Flax flowers are edible and can be used for culinary purposes. The fine flowers are particularly good as a topping for desserts or on salads and soups.

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Our new magazine on wild herbs

In addition to our books, you can find them in our herbalist’s shop www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de our new one too Magazine of the Cantina delle Erbe (available here), which appears once a season. Our latest summer edition focuses on the hot season: which wild herbs can be harvested now, which ones help against sunburn and which plants help against sweating? You can find these and many other topics in the summer issue (available here), which can be purchased in digital or paper format