TCM: Listed under “Herbs that drain downwards”, included in “Moist Laxatives”, it also tonifies Blood and dispels Wind.
General: Flax is an annual herb which is believed to have originated in Egypt, but is now grown worldwide. Flax is one of the oldest cultivated plants in history; passages in the Bible mention that Jewish high priests wore garments made from flax, and flax-woven cloths and flaxseeds have been found in Egyptian tombs.
Flaxseed has been used therapeutically for thousands of years. As far back as the first century, Pliny the Elder listed more than two dozen remedies that included flaxseed, for conditions ranging from constipation to inflammation. It is still listed in the official Chinese pharmacopeia as a treatment for constipation and dry skin. In Europe, it is used as a laxative and to reduce skin inflammation. The German Commission E has approved the use of flaxseed (internally) for chronic constipation, gastritis, enteritis, and to treat colons damaged by overuse of laxatives.