Side Effects of Flaxseed Oil

Comments on article "Side Effects of Flaxseed Oil"
Name Views and CommentsDate
Sh I have been taking Flaxsees oil pills since about 2 weeks a go and I have produces milk. I am not sexually active since 2 years ago and am not taking any hormonal pills so I think that should be a side effect of taking flaxsees oil pilla. 12/9/2011
WT Flax A few quotes from the article and related side-effects link:

"One of the nutrients in flaxseed is lignan. Lignan is that nutrient which helps in preventing cancer. Experts say that flaxseed contains almost 800 percent more lignan than any other foods. This makes flaxseed very good in preventing cancer."

"A preliminary study has suggested that high dietary alpha linolenic acid has increased the risk of breast cancer."

but,

"...few studies are pointing out alpha linolenic acid as one of the stimulant to prostate cancer"

...so which is it? I find the information contradictory and left more confused than before reading the article?!?		 7/28/2011
mario im sorry for all of you suffering in dark here is the truth i have no financial interest what im going to tell i have suffered for half century no doctors could diagnose me or help in 3 countries until i stumble on word candida as simple as this do you digest or do you ferment see about candida then flax seed oil will be no problem im 70 y old now not on any medication still climbing trees looping them with chain saw an sexualy active same weight but wery strict what i eat even so called health food could do you harm drop me a line if you want more info 6/23/2011
JJD Started drinking flax milk, and now suffer from very bad congestion, lots of mucus, and sinus headaches. Never again! 6/18/2011
KHOLA IT MAKES ME HAVE GAS BUT IT HELPS ME FROM CONSTIPATION. I TAKE TWO TEASPOON OF FLAXSEED IN THE MORNING CHEW THE SEEDS UNTIL THEY BECOME SOFT,THEN I SWALLOW THEM WITH WARM WATER IT WORKS FOR ME. 6/15/2011
rose i have used flaxseed for some months due to constipation and its helpful to me.Even if it takes me days without bowel movement,when i relieve myself,my stools will not be hard. 6/15/2011
Susan I tried Flaxseed oil but it gave me crippling abdominal pain and awful nausea. I tried it a two or three times over a couple of months but the side effects were just the same. 5/14/2011
Kristine I started taking ground flax every day about 2 weeks ago. Since then I have had horrible gas, cramping and feel very weird. I feel dizzy and light headed. I now have developed a rash on my neck, back, arms and legs. I would not have put it all together if I had not found this site. I am throwing the flax seed in the garbage. Hoping my itchy rash will clear soon. 4/20/2011
John G i meant to sign my name J G not J Gfns ... sorry... 4/3/2011
John Gfqs stay with codliver oil ... a good brand that uses mollicular distillation...one teaspoon full a day maybee two..bonus of lots of vitamin a and d... anyway i take it religiously.am 74 and should have another ten to 15 left in me. cheers . 4/3/2011
Paula I have been using ground flax seed since January and have been experiencing increasing heart palpitations, (I was tested for this 3 years ago but tests found nothing more than an ectopic beat). I have been wondering if something I have been recently using has caused the palps to return, and hey presto found this site. I have also been experiencing some stomach discomfort. I will stop using this product. 3/10/2011
anna aobut two years ago, me and my mom started taking flax seed ( i had just had a baby then). a few weeks later both of us started to feel dizzy. mom was diagnosed with vertigo and me with nothing...i knew something was not right so when i searched on computer i read about ms and thought i was suffering from that...i drove myself mad for 8 months trying to get out of the vicious cycle...finally i was okay and now i started taking flax seed again, this time with my husband. my husband felt dizzy and started to get rashes on his back (he has eczema on his leg and now started in 3-4 patches on his back) and i'm starting to get the dizzinss and light headed feeling again...so i wont be taking it anymore b/c now i know it is bc of the flaxseed.. 3/6/2011
Lee I am confused by this article. You claimed flax seed oil is not good but it has been used years without much complication. Exactly where did you based your doubts on? 2/25/2011
eugene can flaxseed oil cause boils 2/24/2011
Karen S I've been taking flax seed oil in capsule form for about a month and a half now. Now I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest. Just a real heaviness. I took flax seed oil with other supplements in the past and had similar issues as well as palpitations. My heart tests were fine. Stopped taking all supplements and symptoms subsided. Started up with flax seed oil and some other supplements to try to rule out the culprit and the heaviness is back. Suspecting this is the flax seed oil. I've stopped taking them to see if the symptoms subside. 2/21/2011
Andrea I started taking flax seed oil a couple of days ago .. about a spoonfull once a day and i have been having really painful abdominal cramps ..can barely move the pain is so bad andŽI canŽt stop farting .. not good 2/15/2011
Ellen Key question then: what is alternative to flax seed meal and Omega 3 Fatty Acid pills since both affect my digestive system? 2/9/2011
James So happy I found this site.. I used to take Flaxseed 1000 MG pill a day and was having these horrible migraines... I linked them together. So I stopped taking them. Then yesterday I decided to try it again and only had 1000MG and have very similar side effects of head and neck pain. NOW i know there isn't coincidence.. I am definitely convinced that the Flaxseed has given me these headaches. Its going in the garbage! Im sure its good for you, but maybe in much smaller doses. 1/30/2011
J mcclure Took two tablespoons. Heart palpitations within fifteen minutes. Heartbeat down to 55. After few minutes up to 68, and irregular for an hour or more. Feeling very weak. Seemed like diuretic as well. Drank 2glasses of juice, bit of salt. Terrible experience. 1/29/2011
Debra C Perryma Sometimes you can never tell whos telling the truth about what products are out there, its all become a market to get people to buy or not buy each others product. I'm so tired of this health war, what I need is someone who has no interested (financially) in a product. just tell the truth...what really works with exercise? 1/25/2011
Polly I've been reading some of the side effects that some of you have been having. Flaxseed is a plant estrogen. Excess estrogen can give you migraines, digestive problems and sleep problems. Estrogen is like caffeine and probably should be taken in the morning.
Estrogen is the culprit for hormonal migraines so a lot of flaxseed will make migraines worse and more painful. I know this from being a migraine sufferer.		 12/27/2010
michael I have been taking flaxseed oil for about a month now... and i have noticed recently that it gives me abdomonal pain, headaches, over all feeling of tiredness, brain fog, even think some palpatations.. mabe some insomnia...i have taken fish oil before and has effected me the same way with the abdomonal crampings and belching... 12/5/2010
Hanne I am a 52 year old female, who bought a bottle of coldpressed and cooled flax oil yesterday, hoping to relieve muscle stiffness. I had 1 tablespoonful of the oil and spent a good part of the night awake because it energized me so much. I had little stiffness in my feet & ancles when I awoke, which was nice. However, I have had huge nausea and headache since yesterday, more than 24 hours after I took 1 spoonful of the oil. Very unpleasant and not recommendable. 12/4/2010
Irene I started taking flax oil caps about 10 days ago, 2-3 per day; hair and skin looked better. Then I ground some flax seeds (undated, but a bit old probably) with mortar and pestle and put in big pot of soup. Ate the soup for 4 days and had migraines of increasing intensity--thought my brain was going to explode. Figured out what caused it after the soup was gone. I am afraid to use the oil caps now that I have this sensitivity. 12/3/2010
Julia I am a woman so am not going to get prostate cancer but I do get cysititis a lot and recently have had it so often and even when I haven't, my urine smells strong. i have been put on a course of anti-biotics for 3 MONTHS and that worries me. It did start to calm down but even with the anti-biotics it is starting up again. I have recently again been taking Flax Seed Oil and it seems that the the things might coincide. Your list of side affects doesn't mention this but I wonder what you think. 11/13/2010
Tiffany I guess certain things works well for certain people and to that fact it explains why we all have different body chemistry's,so what that being said,take what works best for you.Good Luck! 11/10/2010
louise I think more research needs to be done. Taking flaxseed can't hurt you anymore than the side effects of prescription medicines. 11/8/2010
donna I have ben taking for 4 months and have had hair thinning and hair loss , was taking the cold pressed flax seed oil in capsule form to help with digestive problems it has helped with that but my hair looks bad, have stopped taking as I noticed it started at the same time 10/27/2010
vicky does it work for hot flases ,i started as of one day 10/17/2010
lynn I have been taking the capsules for about 5 months , 2 aday i am in my 40s and had nothing but good effects, chronic constipation is gone, more energy and skin looks younger, and pre menopausal symptons are gone guess it works well with my body chemistry 10/17/2010
yvonne powell Years ago...it was coconut oil that was being attacked in this manner...they said it caused prostrate cancer then...i dont know if
God would create something that was meant to be eaten that will hurt human beings it was created to nourish...I do know that linseed is used regularly in the Caribbean to make a drink...my grandfather used it my father used it...if it it reacting differently now within the human body it must be the presence of some substance reacting to it		 10/4/2010
April I started flax seed oil capsules about 4 days ago and had very vivid dreams.
I was recalling people in my past. It woke me up feeling anxious . I have taken fish oil for a about a years no problems. Back to fish oil. I could also feel the blood circulating through my legs while sleeping.		 9/29/2010
Carrie Have been reading extensively about flax seed oil with cottage cheese. I have stage 3 lung cancer & have taen 36 radiation treatments, & have discussed atlength with A Chemo Oncologist, &he says he does not want to give me Chemo as m ylife would never be the same as it is this moment. Unlike two more oncologist he does not tell me I have a very limited to to live.My heart, blood pressure is perfect andno ther healthproblems that I knwo of. Take no medicine except Lunesta to sleep. Am tired of gong to Dr's, but would like an HONEST opinion as to whether flax oil will maek my situation worse or help as timegoes by? 9/10/2010
Sharon McNeil Can taking flaxseed oil gel caps cause itching? 9/5/2010
C. clunan Started talking flaxseed meal, over cereal or bananas, and noticed my stomach swelled and trouble with gas. How much should I be taking and what can I do about the above side effects? 8/22/2010
Will The amount of EPA in falxseed oil is very low? No kidding, it is in fact ZERO! 5/30/2010
Molly Started taking flaxseed oil, suppose to slow down the activity of cancer cells. No headaches from the oil, but constipation and significant weight has occured. Not impressed 5/20/2010
Reference Pleas I don't see any references for any of the data listed here, specifically claims about flaxseed oil causing breast cancer or being an inflammatory agent. 5/15/2010
Cindy I was reading this because it seems every time I try to take Flaxseed oil I end up with a very bad headache . I was wondering If that is a side effect of flax seed oil? 5/3/2010
williamshaw I have been taking flaxseed oil for 10 years now is it true that flaxseed oil link to prostate/breast cancer 4/25/2010
Amber I have tried on numerous occasions to take flaxseed oil caps. Within 30 mins I feel anxious and super dizzy like took a percocet but not as calm very jittery. I though it was my imagination but today after 1 month of stopping I took one again and felt like I was going to pass ou.t I know it is not for me. Omega 3 vitamins wil have to do. 4/22/2010
Carly Hello! I've been taking Omega 3-6-9- fish oil for a year with great results: much less frequent asthma attacks, and fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis pain. I ran out of the Vitamin World brand that I had been using and bought this other kind to try (local VW closed) from Sundown Naturals also containing borage and flaxseed oil. After about 3 hours of taking the very first liquid capsule, I started to experience itching of my neck and scalp, a sensation of swelling in the back of my head, then slight dizziness and a burning gnawing kind of headache, followed by mild shortness of breath, tingling in the face, arms, and hands. I hadn't done anything else new or unusual, so I realized I must be having a reaction to something in the new brand. Now I'm sure it was the flaxseed oil. Took a Benadryl cap, eventually symptoms subsided. Won't be taking anymore. Will stick with a straight fish oil, with no reactions or side effects! 4/22/2010
jeff williams i take 1 teaspoon a day i get pain in my back might be gallbladder but it makes my pain subside it is known though to be beneficial to the liver but obviously people react diff . 4/15/2010
Byron This could have been a very useful item to counter-balance all the beneficial health claims. However you screwed that up by not backing up your comments with actual citations and links to the imaginary studies you keep mentioning. If you can't, then you are just wasting our limited and precious lives. 4/14/2010
Don Wetzel will flax seeds cause gas and belching? 4/9/2010
A. B. Ubba Since she is not an MD or health science professional I place very little weight on what she says, especially when overwhelming evidence points to the opposite of her conclusions. 3/26/2010
Cole I started taking Flaxseed Oil capsules today...I took one at lunch...felt ok...took one after dinner tonight and am feeling really dizzy. Don't think I will be taking them anymore. 3/24/2010
Cheryl Hart I was taking flaxseed oil for 2 months and developed heart palpitations. The doctor couldn't find the cause but asked if I had recently started taking anything new. 2 days after not taking it the palpitations stopped and have not returned. I was only taking 2 capsules a day. I have switched to fish oil with no problems. 3/11/2010
Barb Hi. Just started using flaxseed oil x 3-4 days, 1-2 tsp only over salad. I have had a headache now for as many days & only just today associated it with the flaxseed oil. it was the only change I had made in my diet or supplements. I also had had a different problem when I tried fish oil capsules (tongue & throat issues). I'm thinking I am going to have to stick to salmon several times a week vs supplements. Glad to find this site to substantiate my suspicions of headache r/t flaxseed. 3/11/2010
B Mitchell Hi
I've found it interesting reading people's comments about flaxseed oil. I recently tried the Budwig Diet to improve my health for a few days, and duly mixed the flaxseed oil into cottage cheese. However, whilst on the diet I felt very, very tired, and it seemed that all the old knocks and injuries I'd had in my body suddenly starting bothering me. So I came off the diet.

I noticed one of your contributors mentions chia seed. Has anyone had any experience of chia? I would love to hear.		 2/24/2010
Glyn I found a bottle which had been kicking round the kitchen for about a year and mixed a tablespoon with my mashed potatoes, I now have a headache... Now I will only use it for wooden tool handles, If you want omega 3, 6 and 9 in perfect balance for the body hemp oil is the oil to go for 2/8/2010
Zoe Avery I started taking flaxseed about a week ago. I was consuming about 2 tablespoons a day. I began having horrible abdominal pain and gas, trouble sleeping and severe dizziness/brain fog. I'm going to stop taking it immediatley to see if my symptoms improve. 2/4/2010
friend flax seed oil must be fresh pressed (refrigerated) and completely mixed (with a blender) with a sulfur based protein like cottage cheese in order to provide health value (this is a common cancer protocol known to work). otherwise it is harmful. 11/1/2009
Tanya Yes - I always get a headache when I take flaxseed oil in a capsule. I have seeds, but they have been stored for a while. They smell like oil paints (like linseed oil). Out they go! Thanks for the info on unstable oils! 10/3/2009
Michelle My son has severe food allergy and respond to atopic eczema. I let him drink one teaspoon of flaxseed oil for three days. I found he got weak and very rough skin all over the body .Especially on his back. He also has on his face redness after taking the oil. I put in the youghurt so the method I use should be fine. The next day his skin on the face has no redness but still rough skin and also the body. I found that if I stop to feed him then his skin recovered a lot.
Just wonder why we use the correct method but still has clearly skin problem ? Should I keep feed him?Does that need a period to let the body get use to it?		 9/29/2009
AT I started taking flax seed yesterday, and experienced no trouble. However, when I took it today, within twenty minutes I was vomiting. I do not recommend taking this supplement. 9/2/2009
Kisha Obviously a number of us experience more side effects using flax oil. I have experienced similar problems with both flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil: lower abdominal cramps and a stitching pain in my mid back. Mild headaches sometimes accompany as well. 6/9/2009
David I started taking flaxseed a day ago and started feeling dizzy and lightheaded the same day I took it. I took about 2 tablespoons the first day. I took both in my coffee. I tried it again today with the same results, feeling lightheaded. I bought the flaxseed whole and grounded it myself. Will this go away after I get use to it or is this a side effect for some people? 6/5/2009
sara aside affects for me on flax seed almost killed me i could'nt breath always dizzy pain on my joints legs hurt all the time i well never use them agian 5/28/2009
brittney it made me feel sum type of way like i was going crazy.it made me feel sexy 3/31/2009
getbuzy i love it baby 3/31/2009
mandy Yesterday I took two tablespoons of flaxseed oil mixed with 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese and had a bad dream. This morning almost couldn't get up to work. And I didn't release it is because of the flaxseed oil. So this morning before work, I took 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil mixed with two spoons of cottage cheese. The whole day I had bad headache, sensitive to light and noise, dizzy, stomach stir up, heart palpulation, frequent bowl movement and breathing problem, almost fall down in the bus. I am going to return the bottle to the store. 2/17/2009
fran I would like to get information on chia seed.
Can you call me at 803 397 5475		 2/9/2009
angeles lambis well since im taking flaxseed my stomach is almost ready to explote a lot i mean a lot of gas...

thanks		 1/20/2009
irene Pressner I wonder if ingesting 1200mg per day of flaxseed oil my nails turned yellow,? 12/23/2008
Irene I have just finished my first bottle of organic linseed oil and have noticed two changes in my health. The first was very positive in that my skin looks brighter however a more worrying aspects has been with my breasts. I am post menopausal and have noticed that my breasts are slightly more tender and fuller. I have purchased another bottle but I think it will be my last. 12/23/2008
JUNE. R, E. INFO I HAVE GATHERED OVER SEVERAL YEARS OF HAVING USED FLAX // LINSEED OIL FOR RELIEF OF CONGESTION & COUGHS as A CHILD SUCCESSFULLY and TO SOME DEGREE AS AN ADULT IS, THAT IT HAS NOW BEEN SHOWN THAT FLAX SEED OIL IS VERY UN-STABLE and OXIDISES RAPIDLY TO A TOXIC FORM OF OIL (HENCE ITS SUCCESS IN KILLING BORER BEETLE IN WOOD and WOOD PROTECTION) IT IS ADVISED NOW TO ONLY CONSUME THE FRESH SEEDS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN FRESHLY GROUND. ALL SEEDS and NUTS SHOULD BE FRESH, VACUUM PACKED and UN-HEATED TO AVOID TOXIC CHANGES TO THEIR OILS. IF YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED, FRESH PRODUCT and GRIND IT JUST BEFORE EACH USE , and DO NOT HEAT IT , THE ALPHA LINOLENIC ACID CAN BE CONVERTED BY THE BODY TO ITS USEABLE FORMS OF DHA and EPA AS LONG AS THE B VITAMINS and THE CORRECT ENZYMES ARE PRESENT . SALMON OIL HAS THE EPA and DHA already CONVERTED , BUT ALL OILS SHOULD BE FRESH and COLD PRESSED , PROTECTED FROM LIGHT and HEAT, and NOT COOKED WITH IF IT IS A POLYUNSATURATE ALL OF WHICH ARE UNSTABLE and become TOXIC if NOT used AS DISCRIBED. THE ONLY STABLE OILS FOR COOKING ARE THE MONO -UNSATURATES LIKE OLIVE OIL and FRYING and BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED , BRAISING and BAKING IS BETTER . SATURATED FATS LIKE BUTTER ARE STABLE FATS FOR COOKING, BUT USE IN MODERATION, ALL OILS BECOME OUR ENEMIES IF NOT HANDLED IN THIS CAREFULL WAY BUT AMAZING HELPERS IF WE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEM. FLAX SEED OIL IS PARTICULARLY UNSTABLE and SHOULD ONLY BE USED IF PRODUCED and KEPT IN METICULOUS CONDITIONS ,, SO BEST TO AVOID IT. unless YOU ARE VERY SURE OF PRODUCTION METHODS., AS ANY OIL IN TOXIC FORM WILL CAUSE INFLAMMATION, and THESE FORMS ARE NOW BEING POINTED OUT AS CARCINOGENS...NOTE I AM 69yrs AND A WOMAN WITH 40 yrs OF EXPERIENCE AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ,NOW RETIRED and looking at AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE PITALLS THAT WE ARE NOW LEARNING EXIST. IN OUR DIET. 8/23/2008
Rosie I decided to make a salad dressing with flax seed oil. I poured it all over my potatoes today and guess what? I am just feeling the same way some one described here, stomach cramps, gas, my head feels heavy, kind of tired. I hope all this will go away soon. I keep thinking as soon as I get home I will throw away that bottle of flax seed. bad bad bad... 7/12/2008
Anna Since I have been taking Flaxseed oil 1000mgs (about a year), I have recently had eisodes of heart palputations and was hospitalized, however, nothing physically was found wrong.

Has anyone had a similar experience that might be associated with Flaxseed oil or any other vitamines or herbs?		 6/19/2008
Dianna I would like to know if anyone else has had any of these problems with taking the flaxseed? 1/11/2008
Dianna I started taking ground flaxseed and was having abdonimal pain, gas and waking up at 3:00 am with pain. I had to sleep on 3 pillows to elevate myself to sleep. I quit taking it and feel better again. 1/11/2008
Laura It was recommended that I add flaxseed oil supplements to help relieve symptoms of dry and itchy eyes due to roscea...after being on it for a few weeks I started having pretty substantial pain in my joints, especially my knees...in thinking back to what I had changed, I decided that I would stop taking the flaxseed oil and within 2 days, my symptoms stopped. 1/8/2008
Dr. M. Swanson Please send the references to the Side Effects of Flaxseed oil
 12/11/2007
Pat Bucher I started taking 1300mgs of flaxseed oil in a gel tablet and I started feeling bad. I had a lot of gas and stomach cramps. I also got heavy feeling in my head and felt dizzy. I stopped taking it for two days and improved. I began again and the symtom came back . Has anyone else had this problem? 10/22/2007
suresh kumar Thank you for your article, it has very illuminating. 6/27/2007
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