Many insects are disoriented or repelled by terpenes, and putting the oil on exposed skin can keep bugs at bay. Reducing cholesterol Taken orally, emu oil is another source of fatty acids that can contribute to better digestive health. The anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil may also benefit gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. Vemu B, Selvasubramanian S, Pandiyan V. Emu oil offers protection in Crohn’s disease model in rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:55. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1035-y. Unadulterated emu oil can vary widely in colour and viscosity anywhere from an off-white creamy texture to a thin yellow liquid, depending on the diet of the emu and the refining method(s) used. [3] Industrially refined emu oil is composed of a minimum of 70% unsaturated fatty acids. The largest component is oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Emu oil also contains roughly 20% linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and 1–2% linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). [3] Fully refined emu oil has a bland flavour. [3] Since 2015 two small human studies have been done, one for use as a skin moisturizer and the other for use as an insect repellent. [5]

Afshar, M., Ghaderi, R., Zardast, M., &Delshad, P. (2016, March 16). Effects of topical emu oil on burn wounds in theskin of Balb/c mice. Dermatology Researchand Practice, 2016, 6419216 . Retrievedfrom It can help ease the pain of minor wounds, and the antioxidants may help protect the skin from additional damage. Bug repellant Applying emu oil to the skin before heading outdoors can help repel insects. This is partly due to substances called terpenes found in the oil.

The most popular benefit of emu oil is its use as an anti-inflammatory. It also contains compounds that have antioxidant properties.

According to a peer-reviewed article, posted to Nutrition, emu oil may also reduce the breast sensitivity common in breastfeeding mothers. While many topical creams claim to be effective for dry skin, arthritis, and inflammation, most creams and lotions are made up of large particles that cannot penetrate the skin. In 2004, researchers found that hamsters that consumed either emu oil or olive oil had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those that received coconut oil in their diet.

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The research also signals that applying emu oil to the skin may help increase the number of healthy skin cells. Emu oil stimulates the skin to reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, and rejuvenate aging or sun-damaged skin. Jeengar MK, Kumar PS, Thummuri D, et al. Review on emu products for use as complementary and alternative medicine. Nutrition. 2015;31(1):21-27. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2014.04.004. It appears that emu oil can pass this absorbable trait on to other compounds when they are mixed together. This property may explain why emu oil is regularly mixed into moisturizers containing other helpful compounds. Stimulating the skin Robbins, J. (2013, February 7). Ranchers findhope in flightless bird’s fat. The NewYork Times. Retrieved from Glynis, A. (2012, November). A double-blind,placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of an oral supplement in womenwith self-perceived thinning hair. TheJournal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 5(11), 28-34