Double Blind Placebo- Controlled Study Using Emu Oil

Volunteers remained on any medicine they were using. Of those testing the emu oil 58% reported a significant reduction in pain, morning stiffness and swelling. Twelve percent of those using the placebo reported results. Proposed-Three month study, 500 participants diagnosed with arthritis in their hands. Using a dynamometer detect changes in the participant's gripping strength. Also test the sensitivity and number of tender and swollen joints. Volunteers must not take any arthritis medication for at least one month prior to the study.

WHAT IS EMU OIL?

The emu is a large flightless bird similar to an ostrich, and like the ostrich, is native to Australia. Settlers thought of them only as nuisances for years; emu can damage crops by stampeding through the fields, and are large and strong enough to break down fences.

Emu oil is a natural pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing oil with a PH balance very close to human skin. The product is obtained from the fat of Emu birds which originated from the lands of Australia. Originally the Australian Aborigines used emu oil for minor aches and pains, to heal wounds, and protect their skin. It's oil is world renown for its ability to deeply penetrate all five epidermis layers of the skin providing nutrients like (EFA) - essential fatty acids Omega-3 & Omega-6. This is what gives Emu Oil its moisturizing, pain relieving, $ anti-inflammatory capabilities. For more detailed information about Emu Oil, read our "Emu Oil" page.

Emu are now being raised as food animals, both in Australia and the US, providing meat that is closer to beef than poultry. Emu meat is high in protein, yet low in fat and cholesterol, and is being marketed as a substitute for beef.

Emu oil is oil that is rendered from the fat of the emu. Each bird yields five to seven quarts (approximately the same number of liters) of emu oil. It has a wide variety of uses, from cosmetics to machine lubrication. The aborigines, who lived in Australia before colonists settled there, used the emu as a source of food and other necessities, and have used emu oil for the aches and pains of age for centuries.In skin care, emu oil is an effective emollient. Containing quantities of fatty acids, it is an excellent skin hydrator, and can act like collegen, plumping the skin cells with moisture and smoothing out tiny lines. As a result, emu oil is being widely marketed, either alone or in creams, for use on facial skin. Used on burns, sunburns and scrapes, emu oil can reduce pain and blistering and is even thought to reduce scarring. Several hospital studies of these effects are under way.

The most promising use of emu oil is in pain management. Studies in rats and double-blind studies in humans seem to indicate that using emu oil on painful joints over a two-week period significantly reduces the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Because emu oil penetrates the skin deeper than other emollients, it is also an effective medium for introducing other ingredients through skin absorption. A blend of emu oil and eucalyptus and/or white camphor essential oils could prove effective as a sore muscle rub.

There are no known adverse side effects to using emu oil. It is thought to be so effective at reducing pain, however, some pain experts advise against its use for carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stress injuries. Their reasoning is that it may mask the pain enough to encourage the user to continue the repetitive motions that are causing the damage without modifying their routine, which might result in permanent nerve damage.

EMU OIL SOOTHES SOME SKIN WOUNDS

The emu -- a fast-running, flightless bird native to Australia -- is farmed worldwide for its oil, leather and low-fat, high-protein meat. Emu oil, made from the large bird's thick layers of fat, is rich in essential fatty acids. It was first used by native Australians thousands of years ago to heal wounds and protect the skin from sun and wind.

Uses: Emu oil is most commonly used topically to moisturize skin and treat minor cuts and irritations. Manufacturers say the oil also can relieve pain, treat arthritis, lower cholesterol and reverse signs of aging by thickening skin and reducing wrinkles. Some also market it for treating diabetes, Lyme disease and attention deficit disorder.

Dose: The oil is available in lotions, creams, shampoos, soaps and lip balm and also can be taken in capsules, which can contain 500 milligrams to 1 gram of oil.
Precautions: The American Emu Assn. says the oil has no side effects, but no careful studies have examined the supplement's safety in humans.

Research: Few scientific studies of emu oil exist. Laboratory investigations have shown that it can help reduce swelling and speed healing of wounds in some rodents. A study in humans showed that the oil is a strong moisturizer that most participants found preferable to mineral oil. There is no clinical evidence supporting other claims about the oil.

Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your health care provider for advice on selecting a brand.

EMU OIL

Introduction

Within the last ten years in the United States the emu has gone from being just another rare bird imported from a foreign country as an exotic animal to becoming among the fastest growing segments of alternative agriculture. The emu, hunted for thousands of years by Australian Aborigines for its red meat and lifesaving oil, came to the United States in the 1930s as a zoo animal and exotic pet. After 50 years in this country, word is spreading and interest growing in the emu as a source of low fat red meat, fine leather, unusual feathers and most particularly for its unique oil. It is this penetrating oil and its medical and cosmetic uses that are the main focus of this article.

History and Background

The emu, Dromaius nova hollandiae, is a flightless bird part of a group called ratites which also includes the ostrich and the kiwi. The emu is on the Australian coat of arms along with another equally exotic animal the kangaroo. Modern Australians learned early on from the aborigines the many valuable qualities in the emu and its oil. The earliest research studies in emu oil come from Australia, and Australia continues to export emu oil to this day.

In the United States today there is a growing network of ranches and research labs interested in emus and their incredible oil. Emu ranches, which raise the birds in a free-ranging manner, are found in all the lower 48 states, particularly in Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan and in the west in California, Oregon and Washington and north into Canada as well. This animal that was originally imported as an oddity, a rare species with unique attributes, has become the source of an oil worth hundreds of dollars per gallon on the current wholesale market. I personally have heard or read bulk wholesale prices ranging from $250.00 a gallon to $400.00 a gallon. Packaged for retail in one, two or four ounce containers it can cost much more, of course. Most people agree it is cheap at the price considering its health promoting characteristics.