flax

Reported Uses

• NOTE: see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table
• acne [Insufficient Evidence]
• BPH [Insufficient Evidence]
• breast CA [Insufficient Evidence]
• burning mouth syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• cancer prevention, colorectal [Insufficient Evidence]
• cancer prevention, endometrial [Insufficient Evidence]
• cancer prevention, lung [Insufficient Evidence]
• cardiovascular dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• CKD [Insufficient Evidence]
• constipation [Possibly Effective]
• diabetes mellitus [Possibly Effective]
• fatigue [Insufficient Evidence]
• HTN [Possibly Effective]
• hypercholesterolemia [Possibly Effective]
• IBS [Insufficient Evidence]
• impaired glucose tolerance [Insufficient Evidence]
• mastalgia [Possibly Effective]
• menopausal sx [Insufficient Evidence]
• metabolic syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• nonalcoholic fatty liver dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• obesity [Possibly Effective]
• osteoarthritis [Insufficient Evidence]
• osteoporosis [Possibly Ineffective]
• peripheral arterial dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• pharyngitis [Insufficient Evidence]
• pneumonitis, radiation-induced [Insufficient Evidence]
• polycystic ovary syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• prostate CA [Insufficient Evidence]
• rheumatoid arthritis [Insufficient Evidence]
• SLE nephritis [Possibly Effective]
• ulcerative colitis [Insufficient Evidence]

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: may incl. whole, ground or flaxseed extract; flaxseed products contain soluble fiber, lignans w/ phytoestrogens; not to be confused w/ flaxseed oil, a unique component w/ potentially different clinical properties

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

BPH

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 300-600 mg extract PO qd

breast CA

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 25 g PO qd

cardiovascular dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g PO qd

constipation

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 3-25 g PO bid; Alt: 50 g/day PO in divided doses w/ meals

diabetes mellitus

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 10-60 g PO qd; Alt: 600 mg extract PO tid

fatigue

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 g/day PO in divided doses w/ meals

HTN

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 10-60 g PO qd

hypercholesterolemia

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 30-50 g PO qd

mastalgia

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 25 g PO qd

menopausal sx

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 40-90 g PO qd; Alt: 1000 mg extract PO qd

metabolic syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 550 mg extract PO tid; Alt: 30 g PO qd

nonalcoholic fatty liver dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g PO qd

obesity

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 30 g PO qd; Alt: 1.28-2.56 g mucilage/200 mL water PO bid w/ meals

osteoarthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply poultice compress topically qd x30min

pneumonitis, radiation-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 40 g PO qd; Start: 1wk before XRT

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g PO qd

prostate CA

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g PO qd

rheumatoid arthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g PO qd

SLE nephritis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 15-45 g/day PO divided qd-tid

ulcerative colitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 g/day PO divided qd-bid