Emu Oil: Beneficial or Bird Brained?
Leah loves to learn: I recently purchased this reportedly “wonderful” Emu Oil on ebay and, whilst waiting for it to arrive, I am curious as to whether there is any scientific basis to back up the claims made about it. Apparently it’s amazing both in the fight against acne and as a moisturiser. To me, that sounds like a contradictory sentence.
The Right Brain gives her the bird:
Emu oil is made from the fat of the second largest bird in the world, Dromaius novaehollandiae, better known as the Australian emu. What’s the first largest bird, you ask? Who do you think we are, The Bird Brains??
Seriously though, the Australian aborigines have supposedly used emu oil for centuries for treating burns, cuts, and other wounds. Let’s take a closer look at this miracle bird oil.
Good for skin
Emu oil is primarily made up of unsaturated fatty acids (About 70%). The largest component is oleic acid (20%), an unsaturated fatty acid that naturally occurs in skin. It also contains a pretty good slug of linoleic acid (20%) and linolenic acid (1-2%) both of which are Essential Fatty Acids for skin. So, it makes sense that emu oil would be an effective treatment for dry skin. Furthermore, according to a 2003 research study, it’s an effective anti-inflammatory. (Interestingly, that same study also showed that fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, and liquefied chicken fat had similar properties. But emu was the best of the bunch so if you’re offered the choice between emu oil and liquefied chicken fat, go for the emu.)
Anxious about acne
Leah also asked about the effect of emu oil acne. The answer to that question is a bit harder to sort out. A quick websearch revealed LOTS of references stating that emu oil is noncomedogenic (i.e., won’t clog pores and cause acne.) But most of these references were from companies selling emu oil or from other non-scienctific sources. The only bona fide scientific references we could find (here and here) state that oleic acid (the major component in emu oil) is VERY comedogenic. While it’s theoretically possible that other components in emu oil counteract the comedogenic effects of the oleic acid, we couldn’t confirm it one way or the other. So, we’re skeptical and we suggest that if you have acne prone skin you try it at your own risk.
What about hair?
Another of the Beauty Brains community, Rachel, asked how emu oil compares to coconut oil for penetrating hair. We weren’t able to find any test data to answer that question but there’s certainly no harm in trying it. So oil away, Rachel, and let us know how it works out for you.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
There’s enough scientific evidence to suggest that emu oil could be good for your skin, but if we’re not sure how it might affect acne. If you’re interested, here are a few emu oil products to try:
Vanish Triple Emu Oil (As seen on Oprah, so you KNOW it must be good!)
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Bionic Beauty Says:
Ahhh, even if it does help with skin, you can count me out on this trend. lol. I just couldn’t bring myself to put bird fat on my face.
I’ve found Tea Tree Oil works well for acne though.
Happy New Year!
Bionic Beauty
Cate Says:
I’m glad someone asked about Emu Oil. I was just looking into it a few weeks back. I was VERY skeptical about putting something oily on my already oily chin and forehead.
Thanks Beauty Brains!
Grace Says:
Aborigines did not use Emu oil as stated - this is well conditioned marketing lie that has circulated since the first Emu Oil came out last century. Research into emu fats has shown potential benefits but, to date, are not conclusive. Claims that it is a super anti-wrinkle serum and skin thickener as well as being able to hydrate ALL skin layers is just pure, unadulterated hogwash.
Emus are very intelligent animals. That they are killed for a small pocket on the back of their feet in the name of a convoluted beauty claim SICKENS me.
In addition, you should NEVER place tea tree oil on your face. Always in a carrier oil or cream - it serves as a brilliant acne treatment.
Right Brain Says:
Grace: You raise a good point about aborigine’s use of emu oil. I was just citing folklore with that comment and didn’t do the research to determine if it is true or not.
I agree that there ethical issues associated with killing emus or any animals just to get cosmetic ingredients, but I don’t know enough about emus to know what the real issues are.
For example, if they’re using the birds for meat and emu oil is just a byproduct of that process, then it could be a different story. But we’re certainly against animal cruelty just for the sake of beauty care products.
K Bear Says:
I’m torn about Emu Oil - I essentially agree with Right Brain’s last comment.
I’m not sure if people eat Emus, but if they do so, in a sustainable way, it may not be so bad to use the byproducts. To cut them open just to get the oil…I don’t know about that.
There are other oils and products that work really well for the skin and hair, including Vitamin E and flaxseed, either taken internally or applied topically.
sarah Says:
Hi…
yeah all of the emu is used in the process…the emu can be used in many ways…leather…emu oil…meat…feathers…
Emu Oil is one of the most sustainable products out there and its great it has all these benefits as well…
Melinda Says:
Emu meat is very good and very good for you. Emus are not killed merely for their “oil”. The meat is low in fat and in cholesterol (1g fat per ounce). Recipes aboutd for emu meat.
Why shouldn’t you put tea tree oil on your face? I have used it many many times to take care of small blemishes and had suffered no ill effects.
grace2 Says:
hi,
im doing an assignment in home ec, and i was wondering if any of you guys had an emu recipe.
i also agree with not killing emus, but i have to do this for an assignment
Sapphira Says:
For the life of me, i can not see how anyone can look into an emu’s face (as like the one pictured above) and want to eat it, let alone rub it’s oil on your face. How can y’all live with yourselves for doing such a thing. Shame on you.stop being so vane and get a life!!!
Sapphira Says:
Sorry, I mean vain not vane!
Julie Says:
Hi, I just slathered emu oil on my face, and I love using it.
Personally, I don’t eat meat because of the heartless slaughter that goes on in the meat industry, nor eggs, the way they treat chickens that lay eggs is inhumane in my book.
I became interested in emu oil 3 months ago and researched it heavily on the web. Frankly this is the first negative site I have found in 4 months of looking at emu sites, and I am NOT looking at any products, just papers on the oil and birds. I wonder if Left Brain has spent that long looking at emu related information?
Any vegetarian, I am not one, should not use emu oil.
They do use the emu meat, skin, feathers, leg skin, and oil to produce products. The emu’s live until they are about 18 months old when they meet their destiny.
I think emu’s are cute too, so are cows, pigs (pigs are also quite smart), and lambs.
It took me 2 1/2 months to order some emu products and I spoke with the woman who owned the ranch that produces the products before ordering to find out how she treated her emus. They range freely in fenced areas full of grass, are not given any hormones or other crud, and she likes her animals.
I was skeptical, but I also have osteoarthritis, and wouldn’t have believed it unless I experienced it. I was in deep pain, put the emu pain reliever on my back and the pain disappeared instantly. I also have adult acne, and my acne has improved since using emu oil on my face.
So, research away looking up websites, but until you try it yourself, you just really don’t have a clue how the emu oil will affect you.
Julie Says:
A little contradiction there - I have been looking at these sites since December 2007 - it is now the end of February 2008, count the months yourself if you are truly interested in how long I have been looking at emu sites - those are the dates.
Sheila Says:
I have had the privilege to learn a lot about the emu industry in the past few years, writing about local emu farmers, attending the American Emu Association convention in 2007, and learning from doctors there who did some of the clinical research about the benefits of emu oil.
It is not a gimmick that emu oil was first used as traditional medicine in Australia. One Canadian doctor I learned from WENT to Australia, SAW an aboriginal man walking around with an emu oil-soaked pad on his leg which was covering an injury, and the doctor learned from there the history of its uses. Since about 1987 emu oil has been studied in Australia, and here in the U.S., research continued to discover that in its 100% natural form, comedogenicity tests of the oil revealed a “negative result”. When topically applied, the oil has also been found to heal burns, increase hair growth and skin cell growth, yet diminishes recent scar tissue, repairs the ‘rete’ pegs in the outer layers of the skin that cause wrinkles, heal psoriasis and other skin conditions, as well as heal our pets and livestock. Reducing inflammation is its most remarkable characteristic, and is also highly penetrable through the skin and into the joints and muscle tissue - hence the reason why sports medicine professionals use it on millions of atheletes. The meat is 99% fat free, and is a Heart Healthy meat according to the USDA. The farming practices are highly regulated, and the birds are all raised naturally here in America. Do your own research to learn more by seeking out the websites of emu farmers/producers. What’s more - remember, it is a NATURAL substance whose ingredients are easy to pronounce and do not produce side effects, as with synthetic medicines. American physicians are now beginning to incorporate emu oil into their practices. Even though its source is the fat of a large bird, which may seem gross, I use it knowing that Nature made it… not some pharmaceutical company. Read more about it… you’ll be fascinated.
Left Brain Says:
Shelia,
The fact that it comes from nature doesn’t make it any better than something that is produced synthetically. In reality, that makes it more dangerous because it can be contaminated from natural disease-causing bacteria.
And there is no evidence that emu oil is going to heal burns, grow hair or affect skin cell growth. Although, I could be wrong. Could you provide some scientific evidence of what you say?
Bonugli Says:
My grandsons have bad allergies and eczema. Emu oil soap and oil are the only things we have found that clears up their sensitive skin. It has worked miracles! I also told a friend with her grandson, who has eczema and it worked great! I would highly recommend it to anyone. I get mine off Ebay from Ginny’s Cajun Store. She is the most reasonable in price. IT WORKS!
Dreniva Says:
It is true that emu oil could provide some anti-aging benefits to the skin? Hope any one can answer.