Emu Oil: Benefits and Risks

I like to think I’m up with the latest health trends. When I heard about it, I had to find out more.

What is it exactly. What are the benefits of emu oil? Are there any risks?

What’s the best way to learn about something? Write about it!

Where Does Emu Oil Come From?

As we used to say, “I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.” It comes from the animal (that’s your third guess).

You might not know that it comes from fat deposits under the birds skin and it’s bright yellow in color.

If you’re not familiar with emus, they look very similar to Ostriches, they are flightless birds, native to Australia and look like this.

What Are The Benefits of Emu Oil?

Native Aboriginal Australians have been using if for over 40,000 years for pain relief, to help wounds heal quicker and to protect skin.

The benefits of emu oil are attributed to its high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), antioxidants, omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.

Emu oil’s many benefits include:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Skin moisturizer
• Pain reliever
• Bug repellent (but may also attract mosquitoes)
• Cholesterol reducer
• Breast sensitivity for breastfeeding moms
• Hair and nail growth
• Weight loss
• Reduce skin damage associated with cancer radiation
• Heal wounds
• Other ailments.

Inflammation

One of the popular benefits of emu oil is it’s use as an anti-inflammatory. My husband has severe arthritis in his hands and he now swears by it.

The reason it works so well is that it’s easily absorbable through the skin. This allows it to pass on this characteristics of other compounds when mixed together.

My husband uses emu oil mixed with aloe vera, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and glucosamine which is commonly used for joint pain. Add the emu oil and these compounds now permeate to the joints.

In a review posted to the journal Nutrition, researchers wrote that the anti-inflammatory effect may also help with ear inflammation and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS).

Anti-Aging

Emu oil is a great moisturizer because it prevents or reduces water loss in the skin. It promotes Collagen production and helps rejuvenate aging and sun damaged skin.

The effects of emu oil, caffeine and vitamin k were studied on 11 woman. Coated pads were applied to only one eye. The eye that was treated showed improved elasticity, fewer lines and faded dark circles.

Linoleic acid is a compound in Emu oil that may also help lighten age spots

Breast Sensitivity

Breast feeding mothers have found relief using emu oil for irritated nipples and areola. According to one peer reviewed study, applying emu oil-based cream for a 24-hour period soon after delivery reduce sensitivity.

If you try this make sure to wipe your nipple and breast with a warm cloth to remove any residual oil. It’a unknown if Emu oil is safe for children or infants to ingest.

Breastfeeding guidelines are not likely to change until more research is conducted on emu oil.

Hair Health

Many people say emu oil:

• Increases hair fullness
• Adds shine
• Controls dandruff
• Eliminates split ends
• Prevents hair loss.

Try adding a few drops of peppermint oil to emu oil and massage into your scalp. Be very careful if you have sensitive skin.

Emu oil supplements can also improve hair density, decrease brittle hair and nails and prevent hair loss. This is due to its high levels of omega-3 and omega 6-fatty acids.

Studies on mice suggest that emu oil can help the growth of new hair follicles.

Before You Buy

Make sure:

• The emu oil is coming from ethical farmers who use the whole animal
• You are buying highly refined oil
• To buy organic
• Avoid added ingredients
• Check color and smell

Check out the American Emu Association website to help you find ethical sources and understand the quality grading system.

Side Effects

• There are no known side effects of using high quality emu oil
• There is little known about the long term effects
• Lower quality emu oil can contain contaminates that can cause redness and skin irritation.
• Studies are based on highly refined uncontaminated oils so side effects from lower quality oil is undocumented. Be careful!

The Verdict

The topical benefits of using emu oil sound very promising. for anti-aging, moisturizing, skin conditions, arthritis, hair and nail health and breast sensitivity.

The quality of the oil is a key factor. Always buy high grade oil and look at product reviews before purchasing.

Before using emu oil as a dietary supplement get your doctor’s approval.

There’s not much data regarding the benefits of emu oil over other types of type of fatty acids.

Always buy high quality emu oil with other high quality ingredients. This is so important because the emu oil helps carry the other ingredients inside your body.

Keep in mind that the emu is killed for it’s oil.

More research is needed to prove the benefits but anecdotal evidence is favorable. Please share your experiences and thoughts below.

REFERENCES:

Medical News Today

Healthline

Verywellhealth

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