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The Flaxseed poultice is probably one of the most famous applications of the herb. The ground seed is mixed with boiling water until it is a thick mush. This has been traditionally used for poultices, old sores, boils, carbuncles, inflammations, tumors. enlarged glands, joints, swellings, pneumonia, pleurisy, sprains, bruises, contusions, or inflammations of any part of the body, expen gravel stones, removing spots from the face, colic, burns, and scalds.
This erect, delicate,8-22 inch annual is slender. The glabrous stem has few branches and bears alternate, sessile, simple, entire, lanceolate to oblong leaves. Each branch has 1-2 blue or violet-blue, flat, 5 petaled flowers. The fruit is a IO seeded capsule, seeds are smooth, flattened, shiny, oily and brown. It is cultivated in the U.S., mostly in the northwestern states, found wild along roadsides, railroad lines, waste places.
The seeds are mineral-rich and yields a cold-pressed oil for cooking. Historically used for treating nutritional deficiencies. A decoction of the seeds is used for coughs, lung and chest problems, digestive, urinary disorders and to eliminate gall stones.
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