Latin (Botanical) Name: Linum Usitatissimum
Plant Family: Linaceae
Common Extraction Method: Cold press
Typically Used Plant Part: Seed
Color: Light golden yellow
Aromatic Characteristic: Bitter, woody aroma
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is the most common type of flax from the Flax family. It is a plant that produces silky, bluish or yellow flowers between June and August.
Flax is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Its homeland is the region from the west of the Mediterranean to India. Its history goes back to the Neolithic times. There are evidences that it was cultivated in the Çayır front region of Diyarbakır 7200 years ago. It is understood from the paintings on temples and tombs that flax was grown in Egypt in the 4th century BC. They wrapped the mummies in a blanket made entirely of linen.
The Romans cultivated flax for its fiber and seed. Agriculture in England was started by the Romans.
Flax has been grown for its fiber and seeds in the Near East and Mediterranean regions for 4000-5000 years and is produced in many parts of the world.
Linen weaving in Anatolia dates back to the beginning of 2000 BC. During the Ottoman period, agriculture and weaving were developed. The oldest historical documents related to flaxseed oil mills (Bezirhane) are the Ottoman tax records of the Kanuni period between 1500-1501. Before the First World War, there was a significant amount of flax cultivation and fabric trade along the Black Sea coast stretching from Şile to Rize. With the spread of cotton, the linen trade has decreased all over the world.
Its seeds contain 40-45% oil. Flaxseed oil is obtained from its seeds by cold pressing method. Flaxseed oil offers many health benefits, especially thanks to the fatty acids it contains.
KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
BENEFITS
Flaxseed oil helps nourish, moisturize and smooth the skin [1] [2].
Flaxseed oil has anti-inflammatory characteristic thanks to the linolenic acid it contains; helps reduce joint pain and stiffness [3].
Thanks to the high rate of Linolenic Acid (Omega 3) it contains, it helps to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, gain flexibility in the arteries and heart health [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].
WARNINGS
ACADEMIC STUDIES
[1] K. Neukam, S. De Spirt, W. Stahl, M. Bejot, J-M. Maurette, H. Tronnier, U. Heinrich (2011). Supplementation of flaxseed oil diminishes skin sensitivity and improves skin barrier function and condition. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 2011;24(2):67-74.
[2] J. Yang, S. Min, S. Hong (2017). Therapeutic Effects of Fermented Flax Seed Oil on NC/Nga Mice with Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2017;2017:5469125
[3] D. Mozaffarian, J. H.Y. Wu (2011). Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: Effects on Risk Factors, Molecular Pathways, and Clinical Events. Journal of the American College of Cardiology Volume 58, Issue 20, 8 November 2011, Pages 2047-2067.
[4] H. Campos, A. Baylin, W. C. Willett (2008). Alpha-linolenic acid and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction. Circulation, 2008 Jul 22;118(4):339-45
[5] S. Saxena, C. Katare (2014). Evaluation of flaxseed formulation as a potential therapeutic agent in mitigation of dyslipidemia. Biomed J., Nov-Dec 2014;37(6):386-90.
[6] S. P. B. Caligiuri, A. L. Edel, M. Aliani, G. N. Pierce (2014). Flaxseed for hypertension: implications for blood pressure regulation. Curr Hypertens Rep., 2014 Dec;16(12):499
[7] G. K. Paschos, F. Magkos, D. B. Panagiotakos, V. Votteas, A. Zampelas (2007). Dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil lowers blood pressure in dyslipidaemic patients. Eur J Clin Nutr., 2007 Oct;61(10):1201-6.
[8] T Hilden (1991). The influence of arterial compliance on diastolic blood pressure and its relation to cardiovascular events. J Hum Hypertens., 1991 Jun;5(3):131-5.
