The fiber as also been used to make clothing, strings, lamp wicks and sheets. Flax seeds have long been used for food and for medicine. In fact in the 700s AD, Charlemagne passed laws requiring his subjects to consume flax seeds in order to maintain their health. For cooking, they are ground into a nutty flavored flour and sprinkled over hot dishes. The seeds have also been used for digestive system troubles.
Flax seeds are high in mucilage content and act as a bulk laxative when taken wit a lot of water.
They are similar to psyllium seeds in their action though they are not as strong. Flax also has anti-tussive properties and was used by the Cherokee for colds, coughs and fevers. Externally, flax is a major ingredient in poultices used to treat burns, boils, and abscesses. Flax seed oil is a natural source high in lignan. Researchers found a low incidence of breast cancer and colon cancer in populations that have high high amounts of lignan in their diet.