Emu oil is a natural ingredient derived from the fat of emu bird, a bird of the ratite species that's native to Australia. It is basically bird fat, with impurities eliminated and refined to its purest form. Emu oil was traditionally used by Australian aborigines to cure wounds and bruises. Today, it is used by many for skin related problems including eczema and is in line with other types of eczema oil such as fish oil and Evening Primrose oil. Emu oil may be the newest player in the line of eczema natural treatments but it proves to be effective in treating eczema, just like fish oil and Evening Primrose oil.
Fish oil shares a close resemblance to emu oil with the fact that it is also derived from fish fat. In particular, fish oil is extracted from fish which feed on microalgae like sardines or herring, or fish that feed on microalgae-eating fish. For some reason, these fish store the nutrients of microalgae in their fat right under their skin. Fish fat comes in the form of fish oil when gathered.
It is not mainly fish oil which helps in treating eczema but what it contains. Fish oil is rich with omega 3 fatty acids which are namely eicosapentaenioc acid or EPA and docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. These fatty acids are known for their natural action against inflammation and fish oil has already been proven by scientific research as effective in treating an eczema rash.
Another shared similarity between emu oil and fish oil is that emu oil also contains omega 3 fatty acids. However, the omega 3 fatty acid found in emu oil is different and is called linolenic acid. Only 2 percent of linolenic acid is found in fish oil.
Unlike fish oil and emu oil, Evening Primrose oil comes from a plant called Sundrop or Evening Primrose. Studies that have taken place over the past few years also prove this eczema oil to be effective in treating eczema. It also contains the same Omega 3 fatty acid as emu oil which is linolenic acid. Compared to fish oil however, Evening Primrose oil has the addition of omega 6 fatty acids called linoleic acid. Emu oil also has linoleic acid and makes up 20 percent of its composition. Clearly, emu oil shares the closest similarity to Evening Primrose oil because they both have the same combination of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
However, emu oil has many advantages over fish oil and Evening Primrose oil. First of all, emu oil has an additional component which these two don't have and that is an omega 9 fatty acid called oleic acid. 70 percent of emu oil is made up of oleic acid, making it the main component of emu oil. With its combination of three different omega fatty acids, it is a potent eczema natural treatment.
Another advantage of emu oil is that it can come in the form of an emu oil eczema ointment or a supplement. Evening Primrose oil and fish oil only come in supplemental forms. With emu oil, one can choose between an emu oil eczema ointment and a supplement, or both can be used alongside with each other.
Extensive research has already been made by Australian doctors on emu oil and based on their findings, it is also effective in reducing inflammation. Since there is skin inflammation occurring with an eczema rash, it can then be used to treat eczema rashes. Australian doctors also found that emu oil is a powerful natural ingredient that can help reduce one's sensation on the skin. Therefore, when it is applied topically on an eczema rash, a person will experience subsequent relief from the itching.
