Around the world humans have been using oils to support the body for thousands of years. We eat it, put it on our food, our hair, our skin, and even our wounds. One of the most well-known oils, olive oil, is now almost a kitchen staple, and people know that it is good for them to eat, as well as apply topically. There are many oils that benefit internally as well as externally, and one growing in popularity is emu oil.

Emu oil is a natural oil derived from the fat of the emu bird - native to Australia. It has been traditionally used by indigenous Australians for its medicinal properties and is now growing in popularity in skincare and health products.

Emu oil is primarily produced in Australia, where emus are native and commonly farmed for their meat, oil, and other products. However, emu oil is also produced in other countries, including the United States, where emu farming has become more widespread.

Benefits of Emu Oil

There are benefits to consuming emu oil, but this profile is for the topical application of it. Emu oil is rich in essential fatty acids, including omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9, which are beneficial for skin health. Other benefits include:

Healing: The fatty acid composition is what makes emu oil anti-inflammatory and aids in the healing process for skin. The fatty acids also help keep the skin moist.

Vitamin K: Emu oil is one of the very few oils that have vitamin K2 in it. Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps our body utilize vitamin D and ensures calcium gets to where it needs to go.

Common ways to use Emu Oil

Emu oil can be eaten or applied topically to the skin.

Safety Concerns: There are no known safety concerns.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Other Concerns: None

How Emu Oil is Made:

Emu oil is made by rendering the fat from the emu bird. The fat is typically collected from the bird's skin and flesh. Then it is processed through various methods, such as filtration and centrifugation to separate the oil from other components. This results in a pure, refined oil that can be used for various purposes.

Select Studies About Emu Oil

Estudio observacional abierto (serie de casos) sobre la eficacia y la tolerabilidad del aceite de emú en el tratamiento de pacientes con psoriasis y eccema xerótico - ScienceDirect

This small study of 27 people using emu oil on their eczema and psoriasis showed a massive reduction in symptoms in 30 days.

Emu Oil: A Natural Alternative for the Treatment of Vulvar Pain (scientonline.org)

This study out of California had 53 women use emu oil to help with vulvar pain for 9 months. The study concluded:

“Emu oil demonstrates a high level of patient satisfaction for a variety of conditions that may cause vulvar pain and irritation. As a safe, non-hormonal medication with no reported side effects, certain patients who are opposed to estrogen or in whom estrogen is contraindicated may benefit from its use. Additional prospective research, with emphasis on non-atrophic vulvar pain conditions, is warranted”