Drugs & Medication

Linseed oil is a yellowish drying oil derived from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum, Linaceae). It is obtained by pressing, followed by an optional stage of solvent extraction. Cold-pressed oil obtained without solvent extraction is marketed as flaxseed oil.

Contents 1 Uses 1.1 As a paint binder 1.2 As a wood finish 1.3 As a nutritional supplement 1.4 Additional uses 2 Boiled linseed oil 3 Nutrient content 4 References

Uses

As a paint binder

Linseed oil is the most commonly used carrier in oil paint. It can also be used as a painting medium, and is available in varieties such as Cold Pressed, Bleached and Refined.

As a wood finish

When used as a wood finish, linseed oil does not cover the surface as varnish does, but soaks into the (visible and microscopic) pores, leaving a shiny but not glossy surface that shows off the grain. Wood treated with linseed oil only is resistant to denting, and scratches are easily repaired, but the wood and oil surface is not as hard as a modern varnish, and it slowly absorbs moisture if allowed to stay wet. Soft wood benefits from the protection from denting but requires more applications and even more drying time than harder wood does, if the grain is to be completely filled. The oil penetrates deeply and fills the grain, because it dries slowly and shrinks little or not at all on hardening. It is a traditional finish for gun stocks, however a very fine finish may require months to obtain. Oiled wood is yellowish and darkens with age.

As a nutritional supplement

Flaxseed oil is suitable for human consumption, and is used as a nutritional supplement. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid, which appears to be beneficial for heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and a variety of other health conditions. Flaxseed also contains a group of chemicals called lignans that may play a role in the prevention of cancer.^[1]

Additional uses

• Animal feeds
  Putty
  Sealants
  Caulking compounds
  Brake linings
  Linoleum
  Earthen floors
  Textiles
  Bicycle maintenance as a thread fixative, rust inhibitor and lubricant for the spokes of bicycle wheels
  Foundry products
  Leather treatment
  Polishes, varnishes and oil paints
  Animal care products
  Wood preservation
  Synthetic resins
  Treatment for the raw willow wood used to make cricket bats. Linseed oil has a special cultural place in cricket-playing countries.

Boiled linseed oil

Boiled linseed oil is used as a paint binder or as a wood finish on its own. Heating the oil makes it polymerize or oxidise more readily, effectively shortening the drying time. Today most products labeled as "boiled linseed oil" are a combination of raw linseed oil, petroleum-based solvent and metallic dryers. The use of metallic dryers makes boiled linseed oil inedible. There are some products available that contain only heat-treated linseed oil. These are usually labeled as "polymerized" oils though some may still be labeled as boiled.

Nutrient content

Nutrition information from a typical commercially available flaxseed oil:

Per 1 Tbsp (14 g)

• Calories: 130
• Calories from fat:130
• Total fat: 14g
• Omega-3: 8g
• Omega-6: 2g
• Omega-9: 3g

References

1. ^ Flaxseed Oil. University of Maryland Medical Center (April 2002). Retrieved on 2006-11-12.