Linseed (Flax)

Flax is an annual herb with slender stems, narrow leaves and delicate pale blue flowers, cultivated for its fibre and for its glossy brown seeds. Known only as a cultivated plant, it is grown across India, especially in central and northern states.

In Ayurveda the seed is known as Atasi. The seed and its oil have traditionally been used in nourishing diets and in poultices and oils for skin care and joint comfort, and the seed is valued for its soothing mucilage.