What is Flax used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses Flax has been used for more than 12,000 years as a source of fiber for producing linen. It was one of the earliest plants used for purposes other than food. Flax is prepared from the fibers in the stem of the plant. Flaxseed or linseed oil, derived from the flaxseed, has been used to smooth and soften the skin, and as a laxative, particularly for animals. Flaxseed oil also is used in paints and varnishes and as a waterproofing agent. Flaxseed cakes, the material left after oil has been extracted from the plant, have been used as cattle feed. Traditional medicinal uses of the plant have been varied and, at times, unusual; one text notes that the seeds have been used to remove foreign material from the eye. A moistened seed would be placed under the closed eyelid for a few moments to allow the material to adhere to the seed, thereby facilitating removal. Other uses include the treatment of coughs and colds, constipation, and urinary tract infections. The r
