Emu oil: traditional healing treatment for Aborigines wins new converts

Until about 15 years ago, emu oil was quietly used as a cure-all remedy by Aborigines in Outback Australia, who believed it sent powerful healing agents through the skin and into the body. They ascribed many medicinal properties to the oil, claiming positive results in the treatment of conditions like arthritis and tendonitis.

The emu, a 1.8-metre-tall flightless bird that resembles an ostrich, has become increasingly popular for its meat, which is rich in healthy fatty acids and low in fat. However, it is the layer of fat between the hide and the flesh that has increasingly been gaining attention.

Taken orally, the oil is said to improve cholesterol levels, aid weight loss and act as a cough syrup for colds, H1N1 (swine) flu, and flu. Applied topically, the oil is used as a natural anti-inflammatory that works to treat swollen or sprained muscles, joint pain, skin conditions like eczema and rosacea, and is also widely used in the treatment of healing burns and scars.

The oil, which is derived from the bird's processed fat, is an alternative treatment for chronic pain conditions, as well as various skin ailments. Apart from its liquid form, it also comes in soaps, creams, drops and capsules. Some products have recently become available at stores in Hong Kong.

"Emu oil has been shown to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and moisturising properties. It consists of an abundance of omega 3-6-9 oils and is generally well tolerated by most people because it is known to be hypoallergenic," says Dr Ardyce Yik, a Canadian-licensed naturopathic doctor at the Integrated Medicine Institute.

Research by the University of Adelaide released in April last year provided some evidence for emu oil's anti-inflammatory properties. In lab experiments, the oil was also found to help treat a variety of common bowel diseases, as well as the intestinal damage caused by cancer chemotherapy.