When it comes to improving health, natural products have become all the rage.
And really, why shouldn’t they be?
They don’t use any harmful toxins or chemicals, they are often quite easy on the skin, they are affordable, and their production processes tend to have minimal environmental impact – all of which is very positive if you ask me!
With this in mind, one natural remedy that has been making a bit of splash in the health industry of late is emu oil.
What is emu oil and where does it come from?
The emu is a flightless bird (scientifically named ‘Dromaius novaehallandiae’ for those interested) native to Australia that looks quite like an ostrich.
Now, as its name suggests, emu oil is actually extracted from this rather unique animal.
You see, an adult emu typically grows to weigh about 100 pounds, of which approximately 25 pounds is fat.
This fat is bright yellow in colour and contains an extremely high amount of fatty acids – of which over 50% is a specific type of healthy boosting fatty acid known as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs for short), with another considerable portion being polyunsaturated fatty acids (or PUFAs for short), which have also been shown to impact health in a positive manner.
Taking all of this into consideration, this fat is extracted and refined to create emu oil.
What are the health benefits of emu oil?
Emu oil was traditionally used by the native Australian people, the Aborigines, who applied it to the skin to relieve minor aches and pains, improve and accelerate wound healing, and to protect the skin from environmental damage.
Interestingly, with its growing popularity, emu oil has since been thought to improve upon a host of health conditions, while simultaneously reducing inflammation and boosting health in its entirety.
With this in mind have taken an objective look at the research around emu oil to determine how effective it truly is!
Does emu oil lower cholesterol?
There are two types of cholesterol found in the blood – HDL (or ‘good’) blood cholesterol, and LDL (or ‘bad’) cholesterol.
HDL is considered ‘good’ as it shuttles fat molecules from the blood towards the liver, where they can then be broken down and used for energy. On the other hand, LDL cholesterol is considered ‘bad’ because it keeps fat molecules within the blood, increasing its likelihood of ending up stuck to the walls of your arteries (which can lead to a number of cardiovascular issues).
While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, there is research to suggest that the consumption of emu oil can cause significant reductions in total blood cholesterol and LDL blood cholesterol, thus improving your blood cholesterol ratio in a very positive manner [1].
Does emu oil reduce inflammation and pain?
Both the MUFAs and PUFAs found within emu oil have been shown to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties. With this in mind, animal studies have shown that the topical application of emu oil to sites of inflammation can cause large reductions in that inflammation [2].
Taking this into consideration, emu oil may have the ability to reduce inflammatory driven pain, such as joint and muscle pain – although more research is needed in humans to confirm this with any degree of certainty.
Does emu oil boost the immune system and fight infection?
It is first important to state that there is currently no research looking directly at the immune boosting properties of emu oil specifically – but that there is evidence to suggest that the MUFAs found within emu oil may have a positive impact on the immune system in its entirety.
You see, the consumption of these MUFAs has been shown to support immune cell function, therefore improving the capacity of the entire immune system to fight off disease and infection [3].
As a result, emu oil may boost the effectiveness of the immune system, but again, more research is needed in this area to confirm.
Does emu oil help with arthritis?
Arthritis is a disease typified by severe joint inflammation, that results in pain, declines in joint range of motion, and extreme joint stiffness.
Due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, emu oil has been shown to reduce the severity of arthritic joint inflammation in rats, suggested to work more effectively than a potent dosage of ibuprofen [2].
We should also note that while there is currently no scientific research in humans to replicate these results, there are plenty of people suffering from arthritis who swear by its effectiveness.
Is emu oil good for the gastrointestinal system?
Again, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, emu oil has shown promise in animal models as a treatment for inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases such as mucositis and inflammatory bowel disease [4].
As a result, it may also have the ability to improve digestive health and function by reducing intestinal inflammation, while also reducing the severity of any concurrent gastrointestinal disease.
Does emu oil improve skin quality?
Emu oil has long been suggested to impact the skin in a positive manner – and recent research has begun to demonstrate that this is indeed the case.
In fact, the application of emu oil to the skin has been shown to accelerate the growth rate of specific skin cells known as keratinocytes. In doing so, emu oil has been shown to enhance wound healing and promote marked improvements in skin health and quality [5].
Does emu oil improve eczema?
Eczema is an umbrella term used to a describe a group of conditions that cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed, resulting in a high level of itchiness and discomfort.
With this in mind, when applied to the skin the unique anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil have been shown to cause declines in the inflammation associated with eczema, leading to the suggestion that it may indeed have the capacity to help treat eczema [6].
Does emu oil improve psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that often leads to elevated and itchy sections of skin, which, in more severe cases, can become covered in thick silvery scales.
Given that psoriasis is driven by internal inflammation, it is highly likely that the application of emu oil may reduce the severity in the signs and symptoms associated with the disease, although more research is needed in this area [7].
Does emu oil improve stretch marks?
Stretch marks occur during times of rapid growth, where the connective tissue found within middle layer of the skin (also known as the dermis) is stretched beyond its capacity, resulting in the development of small tears within that skin layer.
The white lines associated with stretch marks are in fact the lower layers of skin showing between these torn sections of dermis.
As emu oil has been shown to enhance wound healing, it has been suggested that the application of emu oil to stretch marks may reduce their severity and assist in the repair of these torn skin sections [5] – although it is important to note that no human research has been performed to prove this correct as of yet.
Does emu oil improve wrinkles and scars?
Taking the above point into consideration, there is also evidence to suggest that, through its ability to improve skin quality and tissue healing, the application of emu oil may also reduce the severity of wrinkles and enhance scar healing [8].
Again, it is important to state that there is no human research to support this, despite many people swearing by its effectiveness.
Is emu oil good for piercings?
After receiving a skin piercing, it is highly typical of the area to become inflamed and painful – which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that you are literally punching a hole in the skin!
Due to emu oils potent anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties [5], it makes the perfect piercing treatment, where it can be used to enhance healing and reduce the risk of any unwanted side effects such as infection or swelling.
Does emu oil prevent pain from breastfeeding?
Pain from breastfeeding is extremely common in new mothers, which often comes with a decline in skin quality around the areola, where it can become severely dry and dehydrated.
Interestingly, there is research to suggest that the topical application of emu oil onto the areola can improve hydration and skin quality, causing a subsequent reduction in pain – making it a great option for those looking to prevent and improve upon pain caused by breastfeeding [9].
Does emu oil promote healthy hair and nails?
While many people suggest that emu oil does have the potential to improve hair and nail quality, there is no research to suggest that this is the case. While it may have the ability to improve hair growth in areas of damaged skin through its impact on wound healing, it is unlikely to improve general hair and nail health.
Best emu oil product reviews
Now, given the effectiveness of emu oil on various aspects of health, we wanted to give you some product options that you can implement into your lives immediately.
It is important to note that each of these products are fully certified by the American Emu Association (or AEA for short). A product with AEA certification ensures that the emu oil used is 100% pure and of the highest quality, and that the emus that it was derived from enjoyed the best life possible, in which completely humane farming methods were used throughout its lifetime.
Pro Emu AEA Certified Emu Oil
This emu oil by Pro Emu is one of the most popular on the market – and for very good reason too.
Providing you with nothing but 100% pure, high quality emu oil, this product truly is a fantastic choice for those looking to receive the positive health effects of emu oil as efficiently and as effectively as possible.
Azure Naturals Ultimate Emu Oil AEA Certified
Azure Naturals have been producing great quality organic products for a very long time, and their emu oil is no different.
Giving you 100% pure emu oil that has been produced using the highest quality production processes, you really cannot go wrong.
Oorooba Ultra Clear AEA Certified Emu Oil
Our final product by Oorooba is of the highest quality, in which this 100% pure emu oil has undergone thorough refinement processes to ensure that it is absorbed into the skin easily and effectively.
This product has a small point of difference, in that it is completely clear compared to the usual yellow colour associated with emu oil.
Does emu oil have any safety concerns?
As it is derived from completely natural ingredients, and its health boosting properties come from all-natural fatty acids, emu oil appears to be one of the safest organic products on the market. When applied to the skin it has been reported to improve upon skin irritation, acne, or hair loss, rather than cause it – putting many people’s fears to rest.
Moreover, due to its organic make up, it also appears to be safe for use with babies, children, and dogs.
Conclusion
Emu oil appears to be an extremely safe and effective treatment for various skin disease, while also stimulating improvements in skin quality combined with reductions in skin scarring and wrinkles. Amazingly, emu oil also appears to accelerate the healing of wounds, and even lower levels of blood cholesterol.
It truly is one the most amazing natural products on the market.
If you have had any experience with emu oil, we would love to hear about it – so please drop us a comment and we will get back to you ASAP.