The medical significance of flaxseed is known from prehistoric times as a balancer of animal and human activity.

Flax seeds contain a lime which is traditionally cooked from "extracted" seeds. The resulting mucus has been used for the treatment and prevention of intestinal disorders. Flax Seeds contain essential fatty acids for vital functions. In feeding animals, their effect is reflected in the glitteriness of the hair, which is commonly known as a sign of well-being. Cooling from flax seed will recover most of the oil contained therein. However, some oil and valuable fatty acids remain in the hair. Also, the linseed material of the flax remains clothed and released in compression such that cooking is unnecessary when making mucus.