Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil is derived from the seed of the plant linum usitatissimum which is used for making medications used to treat a variety of diseases and conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders and even skin conditions such as acne. It also goes by another popular name, Linseed oil (Wiki). The substance itself is extracted from the seeds of the Flax plant via cold pressing. One of the most popular uses for the oil is as a varnish for wood furniture.
It excels at this mainly because it has the ability to polymerize into a state that is solid (Wiki). When applied to the surface of wooden furniture, it will slowly shrink is it dries off. But it does not coat the surface of the wood. Instead, it is able to seep into the tiny pores that all types of wood possess. This gives it a nice sheen that properly showcases the natural wood markings of the material.
Unfortunately, it does not provide a physical barrier against scratches. In oil based paints, It can be used as a pigment binder. Use as a resin has decreased over the years due to the discovery of synthetic resins. It does however, have very promising use as supplement.
Flaxseed oil is used as a form of medicine for numerous forms of diseases and disorders as stated above, it is also speculated that the alpha linolenic acid (Wiki) that is found in large concentrations in the oil is cancerous. One such speculation is that of how this product plays a role in breast cancer where the alpha linolenic acid is found in clinical trials to directly increase the risk of breast cancer. In animal and test tube trials, however, the alpha linolenic acid is found to possibly have a positive side effect that seems to protect against breast cancer. This is because the oil is assimilated in the form of lignans (Wiki) which is similar to human estrogen hormone.
Due to the similarity, lignans are used to compete with estrogens for a part in certain chemical reactions which may help slow down breast cancer and other types of cancers that requires estrogen. However there has already been a study regarding how effective flaxseed oil is towards certain diseases which have proven that consumption of flaxseed oil may help with the lowering of an average blood sugar level in diabetics, the lowering of low density lipoprotein and improving kidney function in patients with systemic lupus erythemathosus. Also, the product also contain omega-3 fatty acids which is a form of unsaturated fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by the body but is essential for maintaining a normal metabolism for the body.
It has also been speculated that the oil is able to assist with the production of platelets which is a clotting agent of the blood. However, it has been found that the use of flaxseed oil is not without its risks and one should always consult a doctor before consumption. Lastly, flaxseed oil can be fire hazard especially if cloth is soaked in the oil. Due to the nature of the substance, it tends to oxidize very quickly. Such oxidation can increase dramatically if the soaked cloth is exposed to heat. This will eventually bring about a situation where the dissipation of heat is quickly overtaken by the accumulation of heat. The result? Combustion.
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