Emu Oil - Flight of the Flightless Bird
- By Stephen Holt, M.D.

Earty explorers of the Australian continent were fascinated when they discovered the emu, an ancient flightless bird. Folklore told of stories of native aborigines who had used emu oil as a valuable treatment for wound healing, skin disorders, injuries and arthritis. The emu is a bird that has been imported into the United States and has become an important part of U.S farming. It is quite notable that the emu presents delicious, low cholesterol meat that is served in more sophisticated restaurants in Western countries. The benefits of emu meat have been long known to citizens of Australia and New Zealand, but recent scientific studies have focused on the potential health benefits of emu oil.

Emu oil has a very special series of constituents which are fatty substances that have been used as a clever but natural way of penetrating the skin. Emu oil is believed to be particularly soothing under a number of circumstances. The oil can act as a carrier agent to help penetrate the skin barrier. Furthermore, emu oil has become particularly beneficial as an ingredient in cosmetics where antioxidant substances and other beneficial agents can be absorbed into the skin for better cosmetic appearance and skin health. In fact, emu oil is regarded these days as one of the most valuable moisturizing agents that can be applied to the skin on a topical basis.

Researchers in Australia have looked at the potential benefits of emu oil in a number of circumstances including bone and joint disorders and skin ailments. The health benefits of emu oil are most apparent when the oil is applied to the skin. The value of emu oil is as a basis to produce topical rubs that can assist in managing bone and joint problems and/or pain.

A very popular product is Silver Emu™ or Blue Emu™ which are topical naturally developed bone and joint rubs that contains the power of emu oil. The products Silver Emu™ and Blue Emu™ are sold as topical rubs that are odorless, non-greasy and easy to apply. These formulas are presented in a convenient form that provide a powerful, versatile soothing formula of emu oil, aloe, with valuable natural additives such as methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and glucosamine.

Emu oil is also available in a pain relief cream that can be used for the temporary relief of all aches and pains of muscles and joints. These problems may be associated with arthritis, strain, simple backache, bruises, sprains and other problems that result from physical activity such as muscle soreness and stiffness.

Emu oil pain relief cream contains menthol as an immediate cooling pain reliever and methyl salicylate as an agent to help remove pain. The pain relief cream, Blue Emu or Silver Emu contain other ingredients such as allantoin, aloe, calendula, chamomile, vitamin D, horse chestnut, comfrey root, glucosamine, and vitamin E, combined with the strength of emu oil.

Emu oil is available as pain relief patches which are presented as five pain relief patches in a box. These patches contain pain relief ointment on a breathable, adhesive cloth patch. The patch can be applied for the temporary relief of pain and aches from arthritis, bruises, sprains, pulls and simple backaches. These pain control patches contain the cooling analgesic affects of menthol together with aloe, eucalyptus oil and methyl saucylate.

Finally, the ultimate type of emu oil product has been developed as a bone and joint rub which combines the power of extra emu oil in a higher concentration, together with natural ingredients that can help support bone and joint health and/or relieve discomfort in a temporary manner. This new product has been called Silver Emu™ and is available only in a silver topped tub.

The advantage of Silver Emu™ is that it is all-natural and contains no artificial ingredients or colorants. Slver Emu™ and Blue Emu™ have been successfully used by aerobic fitness enthusiasts who have benefited from the topical use of this unique emu oil product.