Flaxseed
Linum usitatissimum L.Linaceae // seed · seed oil
Overview
Plant parts
seed, seed oil
Known constituents
alpha-linolenic acid, lignans, mucilage
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include alpha-linolenic acid; lignans; mucilage; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Flaxseed has been used for constipation; cardiometabolic health; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (constipation; cardiometabolic health), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Moderate evidence for bowel regularity and small lipid/BP effects; outcomes depend on preparation.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is seed; seed oil; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Bloating; obstruction if taken without fluid; raw immature seed contains cyanogenic glycosides. Contraindications/cautions include GI obstruction.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include May delay oral-drug absorption and add to anticoagulant, BP or glucose effects.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Food use generally acceptable; medicinal use in pregnancy remains uncertain.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
Botanical synonym
Linum humile Mill.
Taxonomic identity note
- Flaxseed is treated here as Linum usitatissimum L. in the family Linaceae; recorded older names include Linum humile Mill..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance5 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph