Flax is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world, grown as early as 7000 BC. It is grown for its seed and fiber. Flax grows best in cool climates, Russia and Canada being two of the leading growers in the world. It is planted after the danger of frost has past, and is harvested at different stages, depending on whether it is being grown for the seed or fiber. ¹

The fiber is used to make linen fabric, rope, thread, high quality paper, and a variety of other products. The seed contains linseed oil, which is used commercially, to make varnishes and paints. In recent years, flax seed has been promoted as a health food, being high in fiber and protein.

There is another, lesser know, use of flax seed, that I would like to share with you:

Boiled Flax-seed Oil has the ability to clear the lungs of mucus, and help the body rid itself of disease.

¹ World Book Encyclopedia; 1990 edition.

Last spring, I visited a friend of mine, who is skilled in herbs and naturopathy, to see what she would recommend for lung problems associated with West Nile. My brother-in-law had contracted West Nile four years earlier, and was having ongoing problems due to it.

His lungs were the main source of irritation, always hurting, always susceptible to flu and cold. He could not work a full day without getting sick, and was often sick for a month or more at a time.

She recommended some basic herbs for strengthening the lungs, then paused and asked if we had tried flax-seed oil. She went on to explain that boiled flax-seed oil turned mucus to water, making it easy for the body to absorb and dispose of. She told me how to make boiled flax-seed oil, and strongly suggested we try it, before purchasing anything else.

That evening, I tried it out on my family. We all had stuffy noses and a cough, so I figured we would be the guinea pigs. After all, it couldn’t hurt anything. The next morning found every one breathing freely and all coughs gone. I passed the information on to my sister, who made her husband try it. He began getting better right away. It has not been a total cure for him, as his lungs are badly scared, but he can now work a full day, without getting sick.

Boiled Flax-seed Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups filtered Water
• 1 Tablespoon Flax Seed

Instructions:

1. Place flax seed and water in small sauce pan and bring to a boil.
2. Boil for eight minutes.
3. Remove from heat.

The oil is now ready for use. It is the consistency of egg whites, and has the same binding properties. It can be taken directly or used in recipes, several of which I have listed below.

Having the consistence of egg whites, my family prefers it mixed in something else.

Flax-seed oil goes rancid quickly, so keep refrigerated and use within two days.

Within a few hours, everyone was breathing easily. The coughs disappeared overnight.

I kept the treatment up for a few days, to make sure everyone was healthy.

After about three days of use, we began to notice a detoxifying affect. Our joints seemed to be releasing old hurts. Then, my husband and I began to get sick with virus like symptoms. It appears, that in all the detoxing, our bodies were releasing old viruses. (Viruses are stored in the spine, ready to attack when the immune system is weak.)

We upped our immunities with vitamin C, and cut back to using Flax-seed Oil every other day, until all symptoms where gone. Since then, we have used the Flax-seed Oil when ever a stuffy nose hits or a virus threatens, and remained well.

* These are my observations and my experience. 

Serves 6

• 4 cups Milk
• ½ cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 recipe Boiled Flax-seed Oil
• Cinnamon to taste

In a blender, mix all ingredients until thoroughly blended. Serve.

Serves 6

• 3 cups Ice Cubes
• 6 oz. Orange Juice Concentrate
• ½ cup Sugar
• 1 recipe Boiled Flax-seed Oil
• 2 ½ cups filtered Water

In blender, crush Ice Cubes. Add remaining ingredients, and blend thoroughly. Serve.

• Add to any shake or blended juice you enjoy.
• In quick breads and cakes: Replace half of the eggs with Boiled Flax-seed Oil, substituting 1/3 cup Oil for each egg.
• Add to soups, as a thickener or just for the health benefits.
• Mix into mashed potatoes.
• Stir into Oatmeal.
• Add to rice, before serving.
• I have successfully used it when baking Cheese Cake when I was out of eggs.

Warning: Do NOT cook with grains. The flax binds the water, making it impossible for the grain to absorb it and cook properly!