Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

• Constipation.
• Hypercholesterolemia.
• Menopausal symptoms.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• Gastrointestinal obstruction.

Use Cautiously in:

• Pregnancy and lactation
• Bleeding disorders
• Diabetes
• Hormone sensitive cancers/conditions.

Endo: hypoglycemia.

GI: bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea.

Hemat: increased bleeding time.
Misc: allergic reactions.

Natural-Drug Products:

• Increased risk of bleeding with anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.
• May have additive blood sugar lowering effects with hypoglycemic agents.

Natural-Natural Products:

• Increased risk of bleeding with herbs that have anticoagulant/antiplatelet properties including clovegarlicgingergingkoginseng and others.

• Oil: Whole or ground seeds:

• PO (Adults): Hypercholesterolemia: 40–50 grams/day. SLE nephritis: 15 grams twice daily. Mild menopausal symptoms: 40 grams/day.

Linum usitatissimum, linseed, phytoestrogen

• Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid which lowers serum cholesterol and reduces platelet aggregation. Ten grams of flaxseed contains 4 grams of dietary fiber which also helps lower cholesterol and increases fecal elimination of bile acids. Flaxseed is an indirect food source of lignans which alter estrogen metabolism to produce less active estrogen metabolites. Flaxseed improves renal function by decreasing blood viscosity, reducing serum cholesterol and reducing inflammatory response.

• Reduced serum cholesterol.
• Improved renal function.
• Increased bowel movements.

Therapeutic Classification: laxatives, lipid-lowering agents

Absorption: Unknown.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Unknown.

Half-life: Unknown.

• Instruct patient to follow directions provided with product.
• Encourage patients to use other forms of bowel regulation, such as increasing bulk in the diet, increasing fluid intake (6–8 full glasses/day), and increasing mobility. Normal bowel habits are variable and may vary from 3 times/day to 3 times/wk.
• Advise patient that this medication should be used in conjunction with diet restrictions (fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, alcohol), exercise, and cessation of smoking.
• Advise patient not to use laxatives when abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever is present.
• Instruct female patients to notify health care professional promptly if pregnancy is planned or suspected.

FLAKS seed