AEA EMU OIL
Burn Study Results

 

The American Emu Association (A.E.A.) collaborated with Dr. J. Griswold, Director of Timothy J. Harnar Burn Center (affiliated with the Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, USA), during the spring of 1995. We agreed to a intensive (four to six month) study to analyze the potentially effective involvement of emu oil in the process of healing burn wounds.

Burn wounds are painful and pose many obstacles for the burned patients recovery. Impediments to daily activities and therapy can be:

• Inflammation
• lack of moisture
• wound sensitivity

Currently available emollients vary in their ability to penetrate skin and decrease associated pain and sensitivity. By providing moisture in areas where sebaceous glands are depleted or currently dysfunctional, adequate lubrication aids the healing process.

The normal response to healing of a burn wound is inflammation, which causes scar tissue to form. Approximately two and a half million people seek medical attention of burn injuries each year. During their recovery, almost all require some type of lubricant application. There is a large segment of the population with potential need for an effective emu oil product.

In a letter received by the American Emu Association from Dr. Griswold in January, 1997, he said:

   "We now have 10 patients with appropriate wounds who have completed at least initial evaluation of approximately nine months that could be compared in a treatment/control fashion in the same patient. This required wounds that were completely separate in opposite sides of the body, yet in areas that would heal similarly in order to appropriately compare the emu oil versus a placebo. Two important results from evaluation of this data are:

1. Comments from patients almost unanimously favored emu oil as an end result and during application.

2. There was a unanimous difference noted in photographs taken of the wounds as far as reduction in scarring and inflammation done by three blinded observers as to which was emu, and which was a control wound area. This difference was statistically significant.

We are in the process of providing you more in-depth details as to the complete study, patient demographics and results."

During the American Burn Association meeting, March 18 - 21 in 1998, apresentation poster  was made on the completed study. The presentation was entitled: Evaluation of Emu Oil in Lubrication and Treatment of Healed Burn Wounds. Accredited authors were J. Griswold, MD, RD; S. O’Banion, RPh; and M. Pentur, PhD..

The complete and full abstract presented to the American Burn Association reads,

   "Emu Oil has been reported to have significant anti-inflammatory effects, and has been used both in cosmetics and therapeutic vehicles. This experiment was conducted to evaluate emu oil as a lubricant and an aid in reducing scar formation in healed burned wounds. Ten patients were evaluated in a randomized double blind study for a minimum of 6 months. Patients served as their own control by utilizing bilateral wound areas for application of emu oil. (New Discoveries, Inc., Florence, MS), and the placebo lubricant on independent sites respectively. Patients were instructed to apply both lotions daily on an as-needed basis. During scheduled out-patient clinic visits, patients’ wounds were evaluated by the Vancouver Scar Assessment Scale. Photos were taken on each clinic visit. Treatment ranged from 195 to 385 days before discontinuation. All of the patients were men, ranging in age from 24 - 62 years. Per scar assessment, significant differences were noted in pigmentation and pliability (p<0.02). There were not differences noted in vascularity and height of the healed wound, (p=0.08). Pictures were scored by a four person blinded panel on pigmentation, scar maturation and general health of the skin. Emu treated areas healed significantly better (p<0.02) than control in photo analysis.

Statistics were calculated by analysis of variance, means were separated with the F-protected predicted difference test. The results of this pilot study are promising, however additional research is needed to further elucidate the therapeutic qualities of this oil."

Now that the study has been presented in a peer-reviewed context, the abstract can be cited in research studies. Proper citation is: "Evaluation of Emu Oil in Lubrication and Treatment of Healed Burn Wounds," S. O’Banion, J. Griswold, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. American Burn Association, March 18, 1998, Chicago, Illinois.

   In closing, because at the time the study was thought to be ground-breaking, our expectations were high. In comparison to current experiences of the benefits of emu oil in wound healing, this study now pales.

By Margaret Pounder, AEA President 1998, reprinted from Summer 1998 EMU UPDATE Newsletter