Emu oil

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
An Emu
An emu, the source of emu oil

Emu oil is an

body fat harvested from certain subspecies of the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae, a flightless bird indigenous to Australia.[1][2]

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.

linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).[3] Fully refined emu oil has a bland flavour.[3]

Emu oil has previously been wrongly promoted as a dietary supplement with the claim it can treat a variety of human ailments, including cancer and arthritis.[4]

Research

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]

Commercial emu oil supplements are not standardised and vary widely in their potency.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration highlighted emu oils in a 2009 article on "How to Spot Health Fraud", pointing out that many "pure emu oil" products are unapproved drugs.[4]

See also

  • Snake oil
  • List of ineffective cancer treatments

References

  1. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". American Emu Association.
  2. Archive.org
    .
  3. ^ a b c "Emu Oil Trade Rule 103: RULE 103 – DEFINITIONS OF GRADES AND QUALITY OF EMU OIL USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES" (PDF). American Emu Association.
  4. ^
    PMID 10628313
    . Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  5. PMID 25441585
    .
  6. S2CID 23295481
    .
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