Natural remedy for arthritis

Wed. Jan. 8, 2014 by Karen Sanders, staff writer 

(NaturalHealth365) According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 50 million people are affected by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. And now, much to the surprise of conventional medicine – there is a natural cure for arthritis coming from emu oil.

Harvested from the subcutaneous fat deposits of the emu, emu oil – scientifically known as Dromaius Novaehollandiae – has been used for hundreds of years by Aboriginal people as a remedy for skin and joint problems, including arthritis. Now, medical researchers report that emu oil reduces inflammation and helps to alleviate the pain, swelling and stiffness of this chronic joint condition.

How does emu oil outperform big pharma drugs?

Emu oil has been found in animal studies to have anti-inflammatory effects that are comparable to that of the pharmaceutical drug ibuprofen – sold under the trade name Motrin. In a 1998 study, published in Inflammopharmacology, topical applications of emu oil dramatically reduced swelling in the paws of rats with clinically-induced arthritis, in some cases by as much as 84 percent. Researchers noted that emu oil’s efficacy was comparable to that of ibuprofen administered orally at a rate of 40 mgs per kg.

Even more impressive, no adverse effects were reported from using emu oil. This is in stark contrast to ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are known to have side effects that include stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Another study – conducted at The Arthritis Clinic in Ardmore, OK – supported emu oil’s ability to alleviate arthritis symptoms, with 58 percent of the patients treated with emu oil reporting significant relief of pain, swelling and stiffness upon arising. An unpublished clinical 2004 study at Victoria University tested patients’ grip strength and severity of symptoms in osteoarthritis of the hands with weekly analogue scale measures of pain. Researchers concluded that emu oil could be useful in management of arthritis pain, but noted that it might take up to three weeks for noticeable improvement.

Yet another study, conducted at The Center for Health and Disease Research at the University of Massachusetts and published in Lipids, concluded that emu oil significantly reduced levels of the pro-inflammatory protein interleukin in the body.

What gives emu oil its therapeutic properties?

According to International Emu Oil Standards, emu oil is rich in essential fatty acids. stearic, linoleic and linolenic acids are all present, as well as oleic acid – a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance found in olives.

However, emu oil’s therapeutic effect is not fully explained by the presence of essential fatty acids. Emu oil contains less of these beneficial nutrients than olive oil, flaxseed oil and fish oil, yet outperformed all three in several anti-inflammatory studies. This suggests that another mechanism may be at work as well; more study is needed.

How should I use emu oil?

In addition to its oil form, emu products are available as ointments, lotions and creams. Some emu experts suggest choosing emu oil that has been physically – rather than molecularly – refined. Physical refinement, which uses filtration and deodorization techniques, ensures that the oil is free of bacteria and organic detritus. Researchers discovered substantial variability in the potency of various emu products; so, make sure you obtain yours from a reputable supplier.

To use emu oil, simply apply it 2 to 3 times daily to affected areas. Naturally, consult your doctor before using this oil, and don’t use it to treat arthritis unless you are supervised by a medical doctor. No adverse effects have been reported from the use of topical emu oil, but pregnant or breastfeeding women should not apply it, as its use has not been well studied.

Safe and natural emu oil may very well emerge as the gold standard for drug-free treatment of painful arthritis symptoms.

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References:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11745-003-1104-y#page-2
http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/arthritis
http://www.uniquelyemu.com/emu-oil-standards.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17638122
http://emuoilminnesota.com/emu-oil-and-arthritis.html

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