Flax seeds

Flax seeds, commonly referred to as Alsi, can be used in case of cough, digestion and body pain related issues. It is also useful in weight management.

Headache: If you have a headache due to swelling, mix powdered flax seeds with cool water and apply it on your forehead.

Redness or inflammation of eyes: Soak flax seeds in water and put a few drops of the water in your eyes.

Swelling of ears: Cook flax seeds in onion juice, strain it, and put 1-2 drops in your ears.

Asthma: Soak 5gm of flax seeds in 50ml water for 12 hours and drink this water twice a day. It is important to eat the right kind of foods for better results.

Cough: Dry roast 2-3gm of flax seeds and consume it with honey or rock sugar.

Cold and cough: Dry roast the fine powder of flax seeds and add rock sugar to it. Take 5gm of this mixture with warm water twice a day.

If you experience cough and breathing difficulties, you can boil 5 grams of powdered flax seeds in water. Mix rock sugar (mishri) with it and drink it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In winter, use honey instead of rock sugar.

Dry cough and breathlessness: Take 3 grams of flax seeds and soak them in 250 ml of boiling hot water. Cover the mixture and let it sit for an hour. Then, add some rock sugar to it and drink it.

If you have tuberculosis, you can powder 25 grams of flax seeds and soak them overnight in cold water. Sieve the water in the morning, heat it slightly, and mix some lemon juice to it. Drink this water.

For piles and constipation, consume 5-7 ml of flax seed oil.

For constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, chew 1-2 teaspoons of raw or roasted flax seeds after meals. ¹

To manage weight, take ¼ cup of roasted flax seeds, grind half of them, and add both powdered and whole flax seeds to 1 cup of chilled yogurt. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 medium-sized sliced banana to it, and eat it in the morning. ¹

If you have an enlarged spleen, mix 2-5 grams of roasted flax seed powder with honey and consume it.

If you experience a burning sensation while urinating, you can try the following remedies:

• Mix 10-12 grams of flaxseed powder with 5-6 grams of rock sugar and consume it every 3 hours.
• Crush 10 grams of flaxseeds and 6 grams of mulethi in 1 liter of water, boil it until the water reduces to half, which is 500 ml. Drink 25 ml of this mixture after adding 10 ml of rock sugar, and drink it every 3 hours.

For knee pain relief, you can apply a mixture of flaxseeds and psyllium husk.

For back pain relief, you can apply a mixture of flaxseed oil and dry ginger powder (saunth).

For arthritis pain and swelling, the application of a thick layer of flaxseed oil can be very helpful.

For gout or joint pain, you can apply a paste made of flaxseeds and milk.

To treat any swelling or pain, mix 4 parts of flaxseed powder with 10 parts of boiling water slowly. Apply oil to the affected area before applying this paste.

The mixture of black pepper, honey, and flaxseeds can work as an aphrodisiac and it thickens semen.

To promote restful sleep, mix castor oil and flaxseed oil in a bronze utensil and grind it. Apply the paste to your eyes as you would apply kohl.

Precautions to be taken while using flax seeds ¹:

Flax seeds have a bulk-forming effect and should be taken after grinding and with plenty of water. If you are taking anti-diabetic drugs, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels. Similarly, if you are taking antihypertensive drugs, it is important to keep an eye on your blood pressure. Flax seeds should also not be taken during pregnancy.

Flax seeds for pros:

If you have knots in your throat, you can make a paste by powdering flax seeds, safed kikar (khejri), mustard, drumstick seeds, hibiscus flowers, and radish seeds with buttermilk and applying it on the knots in your throat.

If you have difficulty urinating, you can powder 50 gm flax seeds and 3 gm licorice (mulethi) and cook it in an earthen vessel with 250 ml water. When the water reduces to 50 ml, sieve it and add 2 gm of saltpeter (kalmi shora) to it. Drink this in 20 ml quantity per consumption with a gap of 2 hours in between.

In case of difficulty urinating, burning sensation while urinating, or blood in urine, you can powder 20 gm flax seeds and 20 gm licorice (mulethi). Then, add it to an earthen vessel with 1 liter of boiling water. Cover and leave it for 1 hour. Sieve it and add 25 gm of saltpeter (kalmi shora) to it. Store it in a bottle. Drink this in 25 ml quantity per consumption with a gap of 3 hours in between. Within 24 hours, you will see relief from these issues.

References:

Most of this article has been sourced from: Acharya Balakrishna - Ayurvedic Jadi Booti Rahasya - Atsi - Pg 39-42

1.      ALSI - Ayurvedic view on Alsi - https://www.1mg.com/ayurveda/alsi-74