The origins and history of linseed and flax

The origins of the linseed and flax

Linum usitatissimum is just one species of the Linum family. Some are annuals others perennial.  The original ancestor of our domesticated flax and linseed  Linum biienne, was a little wild plant widely spread across Eurasia. It had delicate wiry stems and dainty blue flowers. Way back in history our ancestors  would have found linseed amazingly useful. They used its stems for its strong fibres to make string, ropes, fishing nets and clothes and the seeds would have been eaten as a nutritious food eaten like a grain. Later it’s oil became would become useful and the fibre too.

One of the first plants to be cultivated 

When man first found linseed growing it would have been highly valued as food and fibre. As a food it is rich in protein and energy. Its fibres would have been much sought after for weaving into fabric, thread and rope.  As civilization and technology advanced the plant was cultivated for oil was pressed from the seeds for waterproofing, heating, lighting, wood preserving, paint, and lubricants.

“The most useful Linum”. 

As the centuries passed and agriculture developed different varieties of Linum usitatissimum were developed. In much the same way some apples were developed for their sweetness to be “eating apples” and others developed for their size and other characteristics as “cookers” some varieties were selectively bred to produce better quality linen others, with shorter stems to resist being flattened by the weather were bred to give a better yield of seed and oil.  Some less specialised varieties of the plant  provided both the valuable linseed oil and equally important linen fibre.

Linseed and Flax History

B.C.

30,000

Remains of flax fabric fibres have been found in an area now Turkey.

8,000

Linum biienne in cultivation in Syria, Turkey, Iran.

3350-3100

Ötzi “the iceman” whose preserved remains were found in the Alps on the Austria-Italy border is one of the earliest people to be found with flaxseed as a food.  It is thought he was going to combine them with grains and other seeds to make bread or porridge.

2000

Babylonians used flax thread for weaving and the seeds medicinally.

1000

Egyptians using linseed oil for embalming and linen to wrap mummies.

500

Hippocrates used flaxseed as a medicine for the digestion and as a laxative

23 BC – 79 AD

Pliny the Elder records flaxseed used in the rations of roman soldiers added to multi-grain porridge or gruel to give them increased endurance.

800

Emperor Charlemagne decrees the people of France were to grow and consume flaxseed for their health.

1600

Nicholas Culpeper, herbalist, mentions “cold-drawn” linseed (flaxseed) oil as a treatment for many conditions including inflammation, tumours, chest infections and abscesses.

1864

Lino – made from linseed oil production started in Staines Middlesex UK.

1940

Flax project in the UK, growing flax for fibre for the war effort. Used for parachute harnesses and clothing

1950

Start of the modern era of using flax as a functional food for health Johanna Budwig developed Budwig Protocol including a diet which combines cold-pressed linseed (flaxseed) oil with cottage cheese, juices and other natural foods for treatment of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, digestion, infertility, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. A similar diet high cold-pressed flaxseed oil was prescribed by Dr Catherine Kousmine.