It branches at the top and has small, pale green leaves. When the plant blooms, each branch is topped with 1 or 2 delicate blue flowers. The fruit is a long capsule. Ripe seeds are removed from the fruit and dried for medicinal use. The scientific name for flaxseed is Linum usitatissimum.
Common names are flax, flaxseed, linseed, lint bells, and linum.
They are not subject to the same scrutiny and regulations as prescription medicines. Flaxseed oil may be taken as a liquid or capsule to lower cholesterol. Ask your doctor what dosage you should take for this purpose. Ground flaxseed meal may be used to prepare hot poultices for pimples, boils, and carbuncles. Flaxseed is an ingredient in some medicines for coughs and colds.