Flaxseeds are a nourishing herb that is used for humans, horses, dogs, cats, cattle, llamas, you name it! The seeds contain 40% fixed oil, linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids, mucilage, protein and linamarin. The oil (edible, coldpressed flaxseed oil) is used as a daily supplement to strengthen and heal the lungs, heart, digestive tract, skin and mucus membranes. The seeds can be cooked into "linseed / flaxseed jelly" to be fed to horses (the raw seeds can colic a horse - they release gases) or ground into a meal.
Whole seeds can be added to breads, muffins, salads, cookies, soups and such for people. The oil can be fed 2 to 3 times a week to small animals - from 1/2 teaspoon to the little guys, to 2 tablespoons for a very large dog. The oil or jelly (recipe below) will lubricate the digestive tract maintaining gut motility. If the bowels become too loose, you are feeding too much; just reduce the dose. This is also true with magnesium and vitamin C - dose to "bowel tolerance". If you create diarrhea, you have overdosed the nutrient.
For people you can brew a tea (infusion) with 3 teaspoons of seed, pour one cup of boiling water over the herb, steep for 20 minutes and drink, strained.
Flax will strengthen the lungs, break up congestion, soothe the throat and sinuses, heal skin from inside, help the heart and nourish hair when eaten or drunk as tea. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
As a poultice, cooked flaxseeds will draw out infection and pain. It is useful for boils, psoriasis and shingles.
Flaxseed Jelly: For each horse use one handful of seeds and 2 quarts of water. Soak the seeds overnight (for 8 hours). Then bring to a boil, watching constantly! If this mixture boils over, and it tends to, it will make a gooey mess. Use a non-metal or enameled pot and wooden spoon. Stir often. Boil for a full hour. You will have reduced the water considerably and have a thick, slimey jelly to add directly to a bran mash or hard feed of grain or pellets. Do not strain it (you can't!). Dogs love to lick the pot/spoon and it's good for them; cats, too. It can help keep hairballs from forming in felines. Feed the jelly 2 to 3 times a week. It will help a horse shed and reduce dry, shedding hair in dogs. If you cook jelly for dogs, use the proportions above and keep the jelly in the fridge, feed a dog from one to three tablespoons of jelly in the food. People will not like to eat the jelly. It will keep for a week refrigerated.
