The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies root to flax seed oil and apply it directly to the boil or use as a poultice.
Balancing
Hormones: Flax seed contains
lignans, a type of phytoestrogen. This helps balance female hormones, especially in post-menopausal women, and helps with symptoms of menopause.
Cancer: Flax seed and flax seed oil work as a complementary treatment as well as for the prevention of breast cancer and prostate cancer, where they seem to reduce PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels. Flax seeds help decrease breast cancer risk, lower the risk of metastasizing, and help to kill cancer cells in postmenopausal women. Consult with your oncologist.
Harvesting: Flax seed is harvested in the same manner as wheat. Harvest when the plant and fruits are dry and the seedpods begin to split. Shake over a sheet and sift. You may have to crush the seedpods to access the seeds.
Warning and Recommendations: Ground
Flax Fruit Capsules, D. Gordon E. Robertson - Own work, CC by SA 3.0
and powdered flax seed go rancid very quickly. I keep my flax seed whole until I need them, then grind or crush only the needed amount. Drink plenty of water with flax seeds.
Couch Grass, Agropyron (Elymus) repens
Identification: The crawling tubular root is elon-
Couch Grass is often considered a simple weed and a nuisance; however, it has a list of medicinal properties that can’t be ignored. It is also called dog grass, witchgrass, quack grass, and twitch grass. It can grow up to 3 feet (0.9m) tall and is part of the Poaceae (Grass) Family.
gated while the leaves are slender. Each short stem produces five to seven leaves and possibly a flower spike at the terminal. Each flower spike is composed of oval-shaped spikelets less than an inch (2.5 cm) long. The flowers appear in late June through August. The seed heads look like a stalk of grain. The roots are elongated, thin, tubular and whitish in color with yellow ends. Couch grass grows aggressively and is capable of crowding out agricultural crops and is often found on cultivated land. It likes loose and sandy soils and will die out as the soil becomes compacted.
Edible Use: The grain has food value as fodder for animals, and I am told that the root is sometimes eaten when food is scarce. I’ve never tried it. The roots can also be ground and roasted to make a coffee substitute.
Medicinal Use: Use the rhizomes of this plant to make a tincture, infusion, or decoction.
Urinary Tract Problems, Kidney Stones, Cystitis, Gallbladder Diseases: Couch grass is effective at treating urinary tract problems including inflammations, infections, and slow and painful urination caused by muscle spasms of the bladder and urethra. It soothes the mucous membranes and relieves 67
