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Hundreds of years ago, native Australian aboriginals figured out that oil from emu birds could help with wound healing as well as aches and pains. Today, emu oil is widely used for skin conditions like eczema and burns. Modern research may support this native remedy.
Unsure about supplementing with a bird oil? Read on:
What Is Emu Oil?
As the name suggests, this oil is extracted from the back fat of the Australian Emu bird (Dromaius novaehallandiae), a flightless bird native to Australia (similar to the ostrich). This back fat is then rendered and filtered like lard, producing a clear bright yellow oil with several healing properties.
All the Good Fats…
Emu oil contains all three types of omega fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9), which makes it an excellent fatty acid supplement. About 50% of its fat content is from monounsaturated omega-9 fat called oleic acid. This fat is also present in olive oil.
It also contains various natural healing compounds like antioxidants, carotenoids, flavones, polyphenols, and phospholipids.
Just as grass-fed beef has more nutritious fatty acids than grain-fed beef, the nutritional content of this oil varies based on what the emus eat. Today, some emu birds are farmed for oil and meat rather than wild caught. Because emu oil is readily absorbed into the skin, it is very important to get your emu oil from a reputable source.
Benefits of Emu Oil
Recent research and human clinical trials support the benefits of emu oil for overall health and for specific conditions. It is important to note that in most cases, the studies showed that it was effective, but not as effective as conventional medication for several conditions.
However, this natural oil doesn’t come with the same side effects as these medications. In many cases, it can be a great natural option to help manage symptoms either on its own or together with other treatments.
Emu Oil Benefits for the Skin
Topical use is well supported in research. Scientific studies and anecdotal reports both show emu oil’s potential to:
Fight Inflammation (Eczema, Dermatitis, and Psoriasis)
If you have ever applied this oil to your skin, you probably noticed that it is very light and absorbs very quickly. The fat content of emu oil allows it to pass easily through the outermost layer of the skin (called the stratum corneum). This is likely the reason people often use it for chronic inflammatory problems like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
In patients with seborrheic dermatitis, emu oil may relieve itchiness, redness, and scaling.
Address the Internal Too!
Skin problems are often a sign that something is wrong inside, like food sensitivities, gut dysbiosis, or nutrient deficiencies. Conventional medications like steroids simply suppress the immune system. The symptoms are suppressed, but the root causes remain.
Emu oil can provide great relief, but it is still important to address the root cause to clear the skin.
Heal Wounds and Avoid Scarring
Many people find this oil very effective to support wound healing and reduce scarring. A 2015 study found that it promotes skin regeneration and reduces inflammation. Testing on animal wounds showed inconclusive results, and we still don’t have any human studies that confirm the effects of emu oil on a wound.
One 2016 study tested the effects of emu oil on the healing rate of burn wounds in mice. They found mice that receive this oil heal more slowly but have much less scarring compared to the control group. Another Chinese study tested emu oil on burn wounds of rats and found that emu oil is superior to betadine and liquid paraffin treatments.
Protect Nipples During Breastfeeding
A small clinical trial using emu oil on new breastfeeding mothers found that it is somewhat effective at relieving the pain from breastfeeding and keeping the nipple skin nourished. While this oil is helpful, the authors of this study erred on the side of caution and expressed concerns that more testing would be required to ensure that emu oil is safe for new mothers and babies before it is widely used for this purpose.
Stimulate Skin and Hair Growth
Emu oil can stimulate the regeneration of skin cells and hair growth in patients with health conditions that cause hair loss, including alopecia and chemotherapy. This use is the most widely documented with anecdotal evidence, though again, more research is needed.
Emu Oil Benefits for (Inside) the Body
Because emu oil contains many healing substances and can readily be absorbed, its health benefits are beyond skin-deep. Scientists have observed several anti-inflammatory benefits such as its ability to:
Relieve Arthritis
Applying this oil mixed with eucalyptus on the skin significantly reduces arthritis swelling in rats, especially compared with other oils like lard, fish oil, olive oil, and evening primrose oil. Therefore, emu oil may help with arthritis and joint pain in humans.
Reduce Gut Inflammation
Several studies show that emu oil is very healing to the gut, especially in cases of diseases like colitis and Crohn’s disease. Some specific benefits include:
- Soothing gut ulcers and inflammation that are side effects of chemotherapy (tested on mice).
- Reducing damage and inflammation in a rat model of ulcerative colitis when combined with licorice. Another study also found that emu oil alone can help with ulcerative colitis.
- Protecting the gut from more ulceration when combined aloe vera in a Crohn’s disease model in rats.
Given that many of these chronic digestive health problems have a lot in common, it is likely that eating this oil might help with other diseases of inflamed gut as well. However, additional studies, especially in humans, are necessary to confirm this.
Balance Cholesterol
Olive oil is often recommended to help balance cholesterol levels. It is said to increase good cholesterol levels. This native oil contains many of the same beneficial fats and may have the same effect. A 2004 study found that hamsters fed emu oil had significantly better cholesterol and triglycerides compared to hamsters fed with olive oil.
A Note on Emu Oil for Sensitive Skin
The skin can absorb and make use of natural oils. For sensitive skin, animal fats are generally better tolerated than plant-sourced fats. This may be because animal fats contain fatty acids that are more similar to the fatty acids that are present in our skin. Emu oil is one of the most anti-inflammatory oils that the skin recognizes and readily absorbs.
Those who have eczema or very dry, itchy skin, may benefit from this natural oil. For additional moisturizing, it helps to mix it with tallow balm or a body butter. It is possible, however, to mix emu oil with other ingredients or even tallow for the best of both worlds.
Bottom Line (& What I’ve Tried)
This is certainly one of the more unusual remedies I’ve tried over the years. It isn’t mainstream, but I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it so I figured I’d share my experience. To be honest, I was reluctant to try this remedy for a long time … but I’ve known about it for over a decade.
In fact, in high school, a kid in my class used to talk about emu oil and how he used it in various ways. Back then, I just thought it was a little unusual (nice grown up way of saying what I really thought). To my surprise, years later I stumbled on open research supporting the benefits of this bird oil.
When one of my favorite companies started carrying a high quality emu oil, I decided to give it a try. It certainly isn’t the most effective or versatile remedy I’ve tried over the years, but I did notice that it is one of the few oils I can use externally without breaking out. I’ve been experimenting with it in lotions and other topical recipes and prefer to use it this way.
Have you ever tried emu oil? What did you use it for? Please share in the comments below!
Sources:
- “Origin of Emu Oil“
- M.K. Jeengar et al., “Review on emu products for use as complementary and alternative medicine,” Nutrition 31, no. 1 (2015).
- Mohammad Afshar et al., “Effects of topical emu oil on burn wounds in the skin of Balb/c mice,” Dermatology Research and Practice, 2016.
- Li ZQ et al., “Effects of topical emu oil on wound healing in scalded rats,” Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao 24, no. 11 (November 2004).
- V. Zanardo et al., “Efficacy of topical application of emu oil on areola skin barrier in breastfeeding women,” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 21, no. 1 (June 15, 2015).
- Michael F. Holick, “Use of emu oil for stimulating skin and hair growth,” US Patent 5744128 A, April 28, 1998.
- A. Turner et al., “Traditional medicinal oils sourced from birds,” Progress in Drug Research 70 (2015).
- Ruth J. Lindsay et al., “Orally administered emu oil decreases acute inflammation and alters selected small intestinal parameters in a rat model of mucositis,” British Journal of Nutrition 104, no. 4 (November 2014).
- Sethuraman et al., “Modulation of PPAR? and TNF? by emu oil and glycyrrhizin in ulcerative colitis,” Inflammopharmacology 31, no. 1 (February 2015).
- Bhaskar Vemu et al., “Emu oil offers protection in Crohn’s disease model in rats,” BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine 16 (2016).
- Thomas A. Wilson et al., “Comparative effects of emu and olive oil on aortic early atherosclerosis and associated risk factors in hypercholesterolemic,” Nutrition Research 24, no. 6 (June 2004).
Easy Vegetable Frittata Recipe (Not Just for Breakfast!)
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Emus are not raised specifically for the oil. Their primary use is for their lean red meat. Unlike other animals raised for food, a full 95% of an emu gets used, including the fat that’s refined into oil, the skin that’s tanned into leather, and the feathers that are used for crafts and jewelry.
That being said, not all farms treat their emus with love and care. That’s why it’s so important to know the source of the emu oil you purchase. At Emu Joy (formerly Emu Bliss, as mentioned by Kathleen Kahl in the comment earlier) our oil comes from emus raised on a family farm in the United States. It is rated in the top 2% of emu oil in the U.S. for it’s purity and level of beneficial fatty acids, and is certified by the AEA.
Yes, there are non-animal oils that are good for the skin, but they do not have a lipid profile that is nearly identical to our own skin, which is what allows emu oil to penetrate so deeply. This also makes it an excellent carrier oil when making your own formulas.
P.S. Thanks for posting this well researched article Katie. Emu oil has can help many people for a wide variety of ailments, but very few people have even heard of it.
Hello,
just a question on this emu oil. Is is refined? Most of the emu oils are refined oils. I found a few brands that offer unrefined oil, but I suppose there will be some unpurities in it then?
Also, if refined, how does this process take place (heat, sifting ? With clay or chemicals?) There are many different ways.
Thank you for answering.
I’m wondering the same thing: refined vs unrefined…
This is just sick. With all of the healthy, cruelty free, healing oils available, why would a person promote the use of this type of oil? Honestly Katie, this post is so disappointing.
I certainly understand that there are differing opinions when it comes to using animal products and absolutely respect that. I have gotten a lot of questions about emu oil, so I was offering my take. And there are a lot of non-animal oils available, though none of them work in exactly the same way on the skin. I know doctors using emu oil in formulations because it is the most effective in some cases.
I have had a scalp condition for a couple of years.md script and dermatology ineffective.I received a coupon re a hair study as I was losing hair now. I was given emu oil shampoo and conditioner.The prpblem was secretong sebum and hormones coating hair folllicles.I shampoo every other day.After a month it started to work .It cleaned follicles and hair loss has diminished. greatly.New growth evident.I wlll only use emu oil shampoo and conditioner. I am looking into sulfate free emu oil products for my hair.
Your information is NOT in the least bit sick! Thank you so much for the great information and sharing your knowledge on emu oil. For the person who is concerned about the cruelty… They use 95% of the bird… The oil is used to heal people without Pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs do more harm then good ! Not to mention all the ridiculous side effects. We eat other animals. This is an intelligent informative article. We have the right to know our options. It may not be for everyone? But that is up to the discretion of each individual. Keep your curl criticism to yourself! Their are intelligent people who are very thankful for the ones who are not afraid to give the public this kind of knowledge. I for one appreciate this knowledge tremendously. .. Keep the articles coming. Dont let anyone discourage your wonderful work!
Honestly this is disturbing, we do not need to kill emu’s to use their body fat on our face, skin, and internally. I know your chatholic and one of the Ten Commandments of your own religion says “thou shalt not kill” seems a little hypocrytical to me.
They are farmed just like many other animals are. Thou shall not kill refers to killing (murdering) people, not animals.
Well said Katie. I’m getting pretty sick & tired of people going on about not killing this animal & not killing that animal. I am a christian & therefore I know that all animals & plants have been given to us humans, to use in the ways they are meant to be used. We were given animals to use for food, fur for clothing, etc. There are certain animals we are not supposed to eat the meat of, but overtime of course like everything, someone decided to change that. This world would be totally covered by all sorts of animals & no room for humans, if they were just left to continue to breed & not be killed for what they were intended, if all these animal rights people got their way. I love animals & growing up never wanted to see or hear of any of them being killed – but I grew up – would be a good thing if a lot of other people did also.
What a shame that religion is being used to support our own selfish.wants. Killing is being done in the name of Islam nowadays. The same was true of Catholics and non Catholics during the Spanish inquisition and the time of Henry 8th. We bandy around the word ‘Christian’ as if it somehow makes what we say more legitimate. We also pick and choose what we want to follow. ….what man is put to death for mastubation these days, for example?
I am not vegetarian but I try to only buy humanely killed meat. Just because we were give meat to eat by God, doesn’t mean we have to abuse animals.
Killing a beautiful bird just because it makes us more comfortable is an atrocity and hiding behind the label ‘christian’ along with the obvious rudeness thst often goes along with it would certainly be equally abhorrent to God.
Here in Australia emu’s are a nuisance, in some parts there’s so many of them!. Also they’re bred on farms for certain resources. Do you not wear make up, creams, ointments, shampoos… etc. Where do you think the ingredients in these come from?
So if YOU don’t kill, what the heck do you eat, use on your hair and skin and take internally to kill cancers etc??? Every day thousands of plants are killed!.. Build a bridge
Are you kidding me? Every time Katie posts something about using a product that contains animal products, here come the “How can you kill animals for this” folks. Katie is not and has never claimed to be a vegetarian or a vegan. It’s mind boggling to me why you all continue to comment on how disgusted you are with her use of animal products. There are plenty of blogs written by vegans – please go read those. It’s super obvious that you continue to read and comment because you take every opportunity you can find to tell everyone how humane you are. We get it. Now go away.
There is much abuse of animals shown daily on the internet. Many people are hurt by seeing this and knowing animals are hurt. I can’t eat meat…clogs my blood vessels. I eat it once a year…yesterday and now my arms are “on fire” with circulation cut off. I don’t blame her for mentioning that if possible taking a plant may hurt less. Animal Vit A/Vit B12/Fe etc may work better for health. Cod liver oil has Vit A/Vit D. People may not feel as bad about fish as other animals. They are eating dogs/cats etc…which they torture. Just live and let live. People may need to help in their own way on sites. Best wishes.
AMEN DJ, AMEN!!!!!
DJ. That is the best response yet. Made me laugh.
I find it interesting that everyone has to shove their own life choices down other people’s throats…. If you don’t want to use animal products, that’s great. I am by no means for the way humanity bulk produces animals and wastes so much.
However, she has the right to write (ha) about whatever she wants on her blog. If you dont like it, don’t read it. Not like the title was ambiguous…
Anybody else wanna borrow a soap box?
I have found it great for several years on the minor pains of growing older… sore knees, feet, thigh muscles. Blends in so easily and has been very effective for me
Emu oil is the only thing that takes care of my little patches of dermatitis I get every winter. I get it from a company called Emu Bliss. Good prices and may choices. The pain relief version works great on sore muscles.
You would support killing a beautiful bird for “little patches of dermatitis”?
There are so many other ways of dealing with our discomforts. Why do we feel we’re so important that another creature has to die to make us feel better?
With all due respect Fiona, you have no right to trivialize Kathleen’s condition. Emu oil is the ONLY thing that has helped my sensitive skin, & you have no clue what I had to go through to find something that helped it. I’m very grateful for that, & it’s no different than how the Aboriginals respected & appreciated the way the birds sustained them.
Chris Masterjohns article on Vit K has emu oil listed an excellent source.
I appreciate the honesty of your experience. My only experience is with Emu oil is as a carrier oil for essential oils, and I have to say it was superb to any other carrier oil.
Eczema/Dermatitis/Psoriasis/inflammation/arthritis etc. can be due to gluten. I tried Emu oil, but I can’t have certain oils so it did not help me. Each person is different. I learned by research/trial and error.
This site states the Emu’s are killed for their oil. Seems a bit cruel to me.
https://thepailife.paiskincare.com/blog/2015/02/03/yes-emu-oil-actually-comes-from-emus/
Cows are killed for steak, pigs for bacon, fish for sushi, etc….
And I’m of the opinion that unless you’re living in an area where animals is your only source of food hence imperative for your survival it’s completely unnecessary. Science is starting to prove this as are thousands of vegan fitness enthusiasts across the globe that have proved that using animals is needed to achieve their optimal health & fitness goals. And yes, I’m one of those vegan ethusiasts. I like the rest of the info on your page & in the spirit of wanting to live harmoniously among everyone, vegans & nonvegans alike I’ll continue to peruse your sight.
I used Emu oil when I had Shingles. It immediately soothed the itching and the “blisters” healed quickly with no scarring. I got the product at the Host Fest in North Dakota. When I got home I ran out so I got some at a local store. It did not help at all. The product I used was from a farm in Minnesota. I have also used it with good success for Canker sores. I always keep some on hand to give to people who get Shingles. Some have tried many other products before getting the relief that the Emu oil gave.
My baby had very bad eczema and only thing that helped was emu oil
Katie,
Your comment regarding cows being killed for steak, pigs for bacon… added nothing of substance to the conversation and didn’t address anyone’s concerns. Maybe do some extra research and do a follow up.
Very unfortunate comment. There’s no need for Emu Oil at all! There’s loads of others sources. I do agree with all the comments. We do already too much killing!!!
Raquel,
In order to take your comment seriously, please use correct English. It should read, “There are loads of other sources.” You wrote, “There’s loads of others sources.” And personally, I find emu oil works wonders on my skin.
Cows, pigs, and lamb are a class 2a carcinogen. I see no need to eat animal foods.
I agree Gillian… we humans do enough killing. There has to be a better way than slaughtering poor little Emus.
Cate, Emus are not little : The Emu is Australia’s tallest native bird, reaching between 1.6 m and 1.9 m when standing erect. The Warrego Hwy passes an emu farm and I hate to think of their destiny, being bred for their meat and oil, same as other creatures that end up on our dinner plate. Emu oil like jojoba oil does penetrate the skin layers as this article says.
Saying “little” was just a figure of speech… 🙂
Here’s a thought. It’s a fact that whenever we eat something, something gave it’s life, whether that’s a strawberry or a fillet of fish. We assume because plants have no nervous system, that we are causing no pain. We can’t see air and yet, it’s there. What if our senses are just too base to perceive the experience of the plants we eat? Most are grown and harvested in circumstances that are far from natural. Then they get thrown into boiling water, chopped up, stir fried and grilled. And what of the fellow human beings working those fields that are exposed to pesticides and sometimes harsh working conditions? Since something has to die for us to eat and live perhaps the answer is gratitude for the life given, period. And for those called to it, improving the lot of animals, plants and farm workers in whatever way they feel called to do.. CAFO’s are sad.. If your health is best supported by including meat in your diet, find a local farmer with humane practices and purchase there. And there’s nothing natural about the life of a plant grown from the practices of big Agra. nor the chemicals that some farmworkers are exposed as they do their part to feed us or the very real effects of pesticides and fertilizers on our water supplies and soil. Grow your own, visit a farmer’s market or join a csa.. I, for one think Katie has done a great job of helping families be informed so that we can make better, more life affirming choices for our families and our planet. I will continue to look forward to her posts–her website has been a blessing for my family for many years.
Lori – Well said and totally agree! Some of the comments on here are appalling!
It is good to have many different remedies to provide more options due to cost, availability, practicability and sensitivities. But I agree Gillian – it’s all about our wants and needs at the cost of countless beautiful beings and natural habitats. We need to consider how we impact the ecosystem and how we treat every beautiful life-form. Not only are animals being raised for ‘our’ wants but many are being born and raised in utter cruelty. Maybe next lifetime we should come back as one of these beautiful beings.
Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and practices. We are all capable of making decisions for ourselves and really don’t need all of you to be our moral compass. IF you disagree, or don’t like what’s posted, easy enough to click out of the site. There is Absolutely no need in all the hateful attitudes and immature behavior.
Sounds interesting but I just can’t do it! Personally I think there are so many other options that don’t use animal products for healing that I find this to be excessive. Comfrey, Dr Christopher’s bone and tissue salve, hemp, chia, fermented cabbage and other fermented foods all do the work without harm. I’m not vegan or vegetarian but I will opt for other options. Thanks for always doing so much research and finding great products.
I tend to agree with you, Jazmin Gill. There are wonderful benefits of coconut oil and olive oil. I imagine these are just as good. But interesting to hear about.
I am now going to unsubscribe from this newsletter! Didn’t think I’d ever see anything like this on here. I’m a vegetarian, & have been using cruelty free products all my adult life. There is NO NEED for this at all.
GREAT ARTICLE on the emu oil – not a single part of the bird goes to watse in an ethical farm.
for the negative naysayers:
MONKEYS are being used / abused to harvest coconut oil – so perhaps take a look at your coconut oil to see if it was sourced ethically first before purchasing
BLOOD CASHEWS – another product on the rise like coconut oil due to veganism – the BLOOD CASHEW aptly named due to the human rights being ABUSED in the harvesting of cahsews in Vietnam. See some of the workers hands and the burns they are receiving.
Again, CHECK FIRST to see if your cashews are being harvest ethically.
I definitely agree that you can get BETTER care for your skin without any animal products! And I would love to hear about how they are extracting this Emu oil from the back fat of Emus. I’m sure they don’t just let them extract it easily. I’d love for you, Katie, to add environmental implications of using certain elements that you write about. It sounds like this could be a potentially bad situation. Similar to Bear Bile where bears are kept in captivity to harvest for bile for Chinese medicine.