Flax seed is commonly referred to as linseed.  All things being equal get flax seed oil instead of flax seeds or flax seed powder as is this most easily assimilated into the body. 

Flax seed is popular primarily because it is a plant based source of Omega-3's.  Other popular sources of omega-3's include hemp oil, chia seeds, fish oil, Perilla oil, and walnuts.  Flax is somewhat controversial as it does not have omega 3's and omega 6's in the right 1-3 proportion like hemp.  It also goes bad very fast and turns into a carcinogen when rancid.  Some have suggested strangely enough that taking flax seeds will actually leave the body more deficient in essential fatty acids.  In all likelihood you are probably better off with hemp oil than flax seed oil.

On a positive note flax seeds have proven beneficial in a number of studies for various ailments.    A study at the University of Toronto showed flax seed oil was just as effective as the nasty drug tamoxifen in treating breast cancer tumours.

• University of Toronto Study on Breast Cancer and Flax
  

 

Please note that many of the cures on this website are in a state of incomplete progress. To simplify, I have created a 'best natural cures' page which I believe contain the most effective, non-drug, non-surgical cures available.