LINAZA

linum usitatissimum

LINAZA
linum usitatissimum

English: Flax.

French: Lin.

Of the family of the LINAC.

Laxative and desinflamante. Inflammation of the bladder and rectum. Hemorrhoids. Catarrh of the throat, hoarseness, dry cough and painful. Stomach ulcer.

The cultivation of flax dates from the early days of mankind. From then until the second half of the nineteenth century was used for its fiber, which SHALL clothing and footwear, could also be dyed.

Used Part.

The seeds ("linseed")

COLLECTING: We pick the fruits when ripe, at the end of the summer. The collection is done manually or mechanically separating the fruits of branches and leaves.

FEATURES: This is an annual herbaceous plant, a single stem, narrow, hollow and long, up to 80 cm. tall, without knots, with several shoots at the base, with leaves, but sterile. In the leaves, narrow and long, ending in tip, is evidence of a longitudinal nerviaciones three very prominent. The flowers, large, a beautiful pale blue with five petals, are at the end of the stem and branches near the end, with long petioles. Open to the sun, but are closed if inclement weather. The fruit is a dry dish, spherical, nearly 1 cm in diameter, divided into five compartments with five seeds in each, they are oblong, brown, smooth and shiny (of which extracts the active ingredients)

LOCATION: Born of flax Caucasus has been grown on large plantations not only in Europe and Asia, but in Australia, Argentina or Brazil. Requires soil aerated, fresh and deep. There is a species that grows spontaneously in Europe (Linunt angzlstifóliziin) but has no therapeutic properties of flax.

Active Principles.

Mucilages acids (3 - 10%) Unsaturated fatty acids (30 to 40%) oleic, linoleic, linolenic. Protein (25%) Heterósidos traces of cyanogen (linustatina, linamarina) Phytosterols: beta - sitosterol, cholesterol, stigmasterol, cicloarteno, delta 5 - avenasterol.

Medicinal properties: The mucilage is responsible for the emollient properties (which softens the swollen parts) of flax seed. Also used against constipation. For its wealth in oil, also has properties worming.

APPLICATIONS AND USES: The seeds can be used directly, as if they were candy, for laxative effects (against constipation) Against intestinal inflammations of the stomach and used an infusion of seeds (one teaspoon per cup of seeds three times a day) The resulting flour milling seed (linseed meal) is used to prepare cataplasms emollients (mixing flour with water to obtain a consistent paste) is applied on the swollen areas and is wrapped with gauze.

Drug Action.

The abundance of mucilages, urónica in nature, gives it a laxative action mechanics, demulcent, Saciantes, soft and lipid lowering. The oil provides further dermatological properties similar to those of vitamin F, demulcent and antiseptic.

Indications.

In internal use are used to combat constipation, gastritis, diarrhea (due to their effect demulcent and absorbing) cystitis. Adjunct in the treatment of overweight, hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidemia. Topically in eczema, bruises, boils, abscesses.

Contraindications.

Esophageal stenosis, or pilórica intestinal ileus, acute abdomen.

Caution / Poisoning.

Although the content heterósidos cyanogenic is low (25 mg hydrocyanic acid per 100 g) it is recommended to take the entire seed (the cuticle prevent its release) and prescribe the flour for topical use only, taking the precaution that is fresh: Abnormalities in cutaneous rancidity can cause irritation.

Flax seed reduced postprandial blood glucose: controlling blood sugar levels when administered to diabetics. It can also interfere with the absorption of drugs, if taken together.

To avoid problems and to the effectiveness of the drug is optimal, we advise you to take with plenty of fluids (at least 500 ml per shot)

Galenica forms / Dosage.

Internal use:

Seeds: one to three tablespoons a day, with no chewing (see precautions) accompanied by abundant water.

Infusion: one tablespoon per cup soup. Boil two minutes, strain and infuse for 30. Two or three cups a day.

Maceration: 3 tablespoons, macerated for eight to twelve hours. Take two times, accompanied by plenty of water.

Oil: 1 to 3 tablespoons a day.

Topical use:

Seeds: decoction: 50 g / l, boil 3 minutes. Apply in the form of compresses, washes or enemas.

Flour: cataplasms: boil 15 to 25 grams in 500 cc of mineral water. Apply hot on boils, abscesses or adenitis.

Oil: applied topically.

The pharmaceutical interest lies in the seed, which is extracted from linseed oil, mucilage, linamarina and linamarasa.

Bibliography.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Dans la Plantes Les Thérapeutiques Moderne. 2. Paris: Maloine, 1986, pp. 273 - 4.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Medicinal plants of temperate Regions. Paris: Maloine, 1980, p. 151.

Bruneton, J. Elements of Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy. Zaragoza: Acribia, 1991, p. 63.

European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCO. P) Monographs on the medicinal uses of plant drugs. Fascicle I: Lini semen. March, 1996.

Fernandez, M; Nieto, A. Medicinal Plants. Pamplona: Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, 1982, p. 110.

Le Floc'h, E. Etude Ethnobotanique une contribution to the Flore Tunisienne. Imprimerie officielle de la République Tunisienne, 1983, p. 129.

Mulet, L. Ethnobotanical survey of the province of Castellon. Castellon: Provincial, 1991, pp. 259 - 60.

Mulet, L. Toxic Plants of Valencia. Castellon: Provincial, 1997, pp. 259 - 61.

Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Summary of Matter Médicale. Take II. Paris: Masson, 1967, pp. 288 - 90.

Peris, JB; Stübing, G; Vanaclocha, B. Applied Fitoterapia. Valencia: M. I. Official College of Pharmacists, 1995, pp. 347 - 8.

Peris, JB; Stübing, G; Figuerola, R. Guide to Medicinal Plants of Valencia. Valencia: Las Provincias, 1996, p. 223.

Real Spanish Pharmacopoeia. Madrid: Ministry of Health and Consumption, 1997, pp. 1240 - 1.

Samuelsson, G. Drugs of Natural Origin. A Textbook of Pharmacognosy. Stockholm: Swedish Pharmaceutical Press, 1992, pp. 76; 111.

Trease, GE, Evans, WCh. Pharmacognosy. Mexico City: Inter - MacGraw - Hill, 1991, pp. 354 - 5, 842.

Van Hellemont, J. Compendium of Phytothérapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 233 - 4.

Villar, L; Palacín, JM; Calvo, C. Gomez, D; Montserrat, G. Medicinal Plants of the Aragonese Pyrenees and other tierrras Huesca. 2. Huesca: Provincial, 1992, p. 140.

WICHTL, M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceutical. A Handbook for Practice on a scientific basis. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1994, pp. 298 - 300.

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