What is emu oil? What are its benefits and potential harms?

Emu oil is a light yellow oil, consisting mainly of fats, and it is extracted from the fat cells under the skin of the emu bird, one of the birds found in Australia that resembles ostriches, and in this article we will talk about the most prominent health benefits of this oil.

Benefits of emu oil for the body

There are a huge number of health benefits of emu oil, but it should be noted that there is little scientific evidence for most of these benefits, including the following:

1. Reduce weight and lower cholesterol

This oil helps reduce weight and lower cholesterol, so fish oil pills can be replaced with emu oil pills, especially in people who suffer from fish allergies, but there is a need for many scientific studies to prove this benefit.

2. Reduce inflammation

This oil is a rich source of fatty acids that improve digestive functions, and the anti-inflammatory properties present in it help treat some digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.

3. Insect repellent

Applying this oil to the skin before going outside helps prevent insect bites, because it contains terpene, which is an insect repellent.

Benefits of emu oil for the skin

There are several benefits that this oil may provide to the skin and skin, such as:

1. Moisturizing the skin

This oil is an ideal option to increase body hydration and prevent water loss, and it is preferable to use a skin lotion that contains emu oil, and this is more effective than using the oil directly on the skin, and some scientific studies have reported that using this oil does not cause serious side effects to patients. Eczema.

3. Reduce skin aging

This oil stimulates the production of collagen, which is one of the elements that maintain the beauty and freshness of the skin and reduce wrinkles, and contains antioxidants that prevent skin aging, as reported by a study in 2015 conducted on 11 women, that when mixing this oil with caffeine And vitamin K, has proven to be effective in removing dark circles around the eyes.

5. Treatment of skin problems

Creams containing this oil help treat wounds, scars and sunburn, lighten dark areas of the skin and reduce itching, because it contains linoleic acid.

6. Reduce nipple sensitivity

Nursing mothers can use a cream containing this oil, which helps to moisturize the skin around the nipple and reduce the pain caused by feeding. The nipple must be cleaned of this cream before feeding to avoid any harm to the infant.

Benefits of emu oil for hair and nails

This oil may help the production of hair follicles, and it can be combined with drops of peppermint oil on the scalp and massage, which contributes to hair growth, and taking capsules of this oil orally helps in promoting healthy hair, increasing its density and strengthening nails.

How to use emu oil for hair and skin

There are some steps that can be easily applied to apply this oil to the skin and hair:

  • Put drops of oil at the end of the hair, then smooth the hair.
  • Spray this oil on the scalp.
  • Mix this oil with other oils and moisturizers.
  • Massage the body with oil after applying the moisturizing cream.

Emu oil side effects

The use of this oil is very safe, but there are some harms that may result from its use, including:

  • The use of this oil on the skin may cause an allergic reaction such as skin irritation, itching and redness, and to avoid this, a skin allergy test can be done by placing drops of it on an area of ​​the skin, and if any allergic reaction appears, its use must be stopped immediately.
  • There are not many scientific studies that prove the occurrence of serious side effects after taking this oil orally, so it is necessary not to overuse it, especially for some groups such as children and pregnant and lactating women.
  • When shopping online to buy this oil, it is necessary to make sure of the source of this product as much as possible, and it is possible to consult a nutritionist about the ingredients of the product.

After learning about the many health benefits of emu oil, care must be taken to choose the right place to buy this oil, and to avoid using it for children, pregnant and lactating women, and you should consult a doctor before using it if you suffer from a special health problem.

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