 | Emu Oil Research |
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1. Arthritis - Fighting the Vicious Circle There are over a hundred different disorders that can affect the joint. The two most common are deteriorating joint disease, aka osteoarthritis , and inflamed joint disease, aka rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition wherein the cartilage lining a joint begins to deteriorate, allowing the bones to rub together. Movement becomes painful and restricted, which in turn can result in the gradual wasting away of unused muscles. Osteoarthritis usually affects the larger, weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and spine, but can occur in other joints as well. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system begins to attack the body, causing a chronic inflammation of the joints. In this disease, the thin membrane surrounding the joint becomes inflamed and swollen. This in turn leads to inflammation of other parts of the affected joint. Eventually the bones weaken and in severe cases the tissue may eventually be destroyed. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur in any joint, but is most common in the small joints of the hands and feet, such as fingers and toes. The most common treatments for these diseases are NSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAID's treat the symptoms, but do nothing to cure the disease. They are useful in relieving discomfort, but research done at Stanford University's Department of Medicine indicates they may have long-term, negative impact on the patient. The most frequent and severe side effect is the gastric problems in the stomach and digestive system. This results in more medication being used to relieve those symptoms. A vicious circle ensues of ingesting NSAID's and then more medicine to combat the side effects of the NSAID's. Is there a way to break out of this circle? Maybe. A growing number of North Americans, including professional sports teams, chiropractors and massage therapists, report excellent results from emu oil and emu oil based sports- /arthritis rubs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. While emu oil is currently being sold on anecdotal properties, there is clinical evidence that it contains a high level of linolenic acid, a substance known to temporarily ease the discomfort of muscle and joint pain. In 1995, Dr. Thom Leahey of the Arthritis Clinic in Ardmore, Oklahoma, did a 2 week study on hands afflicted with arthritis. The results indicated that emu oil may substantially reduce the pain caused by arthritis. Dr. Leahey theorizes that the oil may be more beneficial to those suffering from the early stages of the disease, before the cartilage is destroyed completely. Dr. Peter Ghosh, Director of Research, Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, relates that laboratory experiments have consistently confirmed the therapeutic value of emu oil for arthritis sufferers. "This is not witchcraft. These findings are supported by scientific evidence," Ghosh said."It offers the best relief ever for victims of this crippling disease." Another Australian, Dr. G. R. Hobday (Emu Oil - A Clinical Appraisal of this Natural and Long Used Product) culminates a 10 year clinical study by reporting that emu oil usage results in "reduced pain, swelling, and stiffness most evident where the joint is close to the skin surface, such as hands, feet, knees and elbows." The report goes on to say that there is "Significant benefit to recent bruising and muscle pain where injury is relatively superficial." It should be noted that pain levels vary from one person to another. Add this to the variation in emu oil absorption due to skin types, and determining dosage is not always easy. A general rule is that you should apply the oil three to four times a day for three months. If at the end of that time you feel it is not beneficial, discontinue use. Please remember that this information is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your physician, or another health care professional. Speak with your doctor if you have questions about primary care, or about any medical problem. Reprinted with permission from: emuszine.com |
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2. Making the Case for Emu Oil in the Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease The average adult male in the US eats about 140 g of fat per day and about 400 mg cholesterol The mixture of fats ingested usually contains about three times as much saturated fatty acids (mainly palmitic and stearic) as polyunsaturated fatty acids (mainly linoleic and linolenic. If a healthy young adult switches from this diet to one containing the same amount of total fat in which the ratio of polyunsaturates to saturates is closer to unity and the cholesterol content is less than 300 mg per day, the cholesterol concentration will usually drop by 10 - 15 percent within 2 weeks and remain depressed on continuation of the diet. Hamson's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th edition, 1991, pg 999, in Chapter 195 on "Atherosclerosis and other forms of atherosclerosis. Heart disease remains a major cause of premature death despite a dramatic decline in many Western countries over the last 25 years. In addition to obesity and smoking, a number of risk factors have been linked to heart disease including - high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels - high triglyceride levels - high blood pressure - low high-density lipoproteins (HDL) - an increased clotting tendency Each of these metabolic risk factors can be regulated by dietary changes, particularly by alterations in dietary fat intake. The relationship between coronary heart disease and saturated fatty acid intake has been shown consistently in numerous studies. Results from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey show that the fatty acid intake in the adult US population is the following percentages of total energy intake: - Saturated fatty acids (SFA) 13.3$ - Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) 14.4% - Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) 7.2% The Seven Countries study was the first to report highly significant relationships between diet and both the incidence of coronary artery disease and the level of blood cholesterol. This study was in 12,000 men in Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the US and Yugoslavia. This study found that saturated fat intake was significantly related to the 5-year incidence of coronary artery disease and serum cholesterol levels. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, a population study of over 13,000 black and white men and women, higher intakes of saturated fats and cholesterol also were associated with a greater arterial wall thickness (a measure of coronary artery disease). Tests consistently show that saturated fats raise blood cholesterol levels twice as much as polyunsaturated fats lower them. Monounsaturated fats do not affect or mildly lower cholesterol. However, high blood cholesterol by itself is not a disease but rather, in most people, a sign of an inadequate diet. The body can make all the cholesterol it needs and therefore, avoiding cholesterol in the diet is appropriate, but not for the obvious reason. Foods that contain cholesterol are also likely to have high quantities of saturated fats, which are just excess calories. Excess calories from any source (protein, carbohydrates or fat) contribute to the buildup of body fat. The body keeps enough protein, carbohydrate, and fat. It is the type of fat we eat that is important. The real culprit in heart disease is creating enough essential fat. Essential fat is fat that the body cannot make on its own and must get from the diet. Just like Essential amino acids, there are essential amino acids; there are essential fats, which must come from the diet. Therefore low fat diets may mistakenly state that fats be avoided when we really should reduce calories and eat a balanced diet that produces more of the essential fats. When a balanced diet is augmented with exercise, heart disease can be held in check and even reduced or avoided. We are what we eat and we can eat a more healthy diet and become healthier. One approach to an appropriate diet is to focus on "culturally based" dietary patterns. A Mediterranean based diet, or other ancestral-based diets have recently been suggested. These dietary patterns are associated with the decreased incidence of many chronic diseases and the maintenance of long-term health. The type of fat in the diet influences many aspects of health. Saturated fats, whether obtained from animal or vegetable sources, are associated with increased risk for health disease and certain cancers. Monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, may decrease serum triglycerides and reduce the risk for breast cancer. Increased dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce cholesterol. In individuals with existing coronary artery disease aggressively changing cholesterol levels with diet or drugs regresses coronary artery disease. The level of polyunsaturated fats is the most important factor in atherosclerotic and coronary artery disease. HDL (the good cholesterol) increase and triglycerides decrease when dietary polyunsaturated fats increase. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels are regulated by essential fatty calorie, low-fat diets that are low in essential fatty acids, blood polyunsaturated fats are likely to decline and cholesterol may increase. What are the current recommendations? Recommendations for a reduced fat intake come from: - The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1 and Step II diets - The American heart Association's (AHA) Nutrition Committee - The National Cancer Institute - The American Cancer Society These institutions recommended that fat, as a calorie source, be limited to 30% of energy intake. They also recommend that the SFA's and MUFA's be reduced to 10% and the PUFA's be increased to 10% of total energy intake, compared to the current figures described above from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. The question remains, what is the right mix of fats in the diet? Very thin and very overweight people can have imbalances in their fats. The body needs and optimum dietary fat mixture. Emu Oil contains a fat mixture that is nearly identical to the fat profile of the human body. It is a little higher in the essential fat portion, which is likely to be a benefit. Therefore, Emu Oil can be considered to be a balanced fat. Consumption of Emu Oil will help balance the excess quantities of saturated fat in most diets. Since the body's fat stores have accumulated over many years, it will take many months or years to correct these stores to their proper balance. Emu Oil and a proper weight control and exercise program are a prescription to better health. To summarize: Dietary fatty acids have pharmacological as well as physiologic actions. Low levels of PUFA and MUFA are strong biological markers that predict premature death from coronary artery disease and caner. Polyunsaturated fats and their elcosanoid metabolites are potent biological modifiers. The proper balance of fats in the diet, as found in Emu Oil, is critical to a healthy life. By Dr. Leigh Hopkins The information provided is strictly educational and not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, consult you physician. |
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3. Emu Cream Assists Lidocaine: Local Anesthetic Absorption Through Human Skin (Excerpts) 8th AOCS Meeting Ratite Oils: Processing and Applications Presented by Dr. William Code Lidocaine is probably the most commonly used local anesthetic. For those of you with an organic chemistry or biochemistry backgound, it's an amide. An amide local anesthetic is a much safer agent to use, as it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction to an amide local anesthetic. The other groups are the esters and are much more likely to give you a reaction because they contain para-amino-benzoid-acid (PABA) which a lot of us have been sensitized to in our sun-screens and other products. Lidocaine is also reasonable in cost and readily available. It's the most understood local anesthetic and a prototype in general. Most ideas aren't new ideas. The concept of emu oil as being useful for any number of things primarily originated from the people who have used it for many centuries. Actually, some of the oldest people on Earth, as far as the time that they've been here, are the Australoid race, or the Australian Aborigines. The problem I wanted to address as something to think about is the problem with punctures in the skin or planned -for-needle insertion. The obvious one that comes to mind to an anesthesiologist is to start an intravenous for administering drugs. We want to know in a few seconds whether the anesthetic is working or not. Vaccination is an interesting example. In the last few months, all of the post-secondary students in British Columbia were vaccinated for measles after an outbreak in Vancouver. It's a large group because the hepatitis B and the German measles vaccines, of course, are given to the early preteens and that's often a group that we recognize, certainly, as anesthesiologists it's young people, particularly in the preteen and early teen years, that can get very anxious and upset about an injection. If something were available to minimize that trauma, life could be a lot simpler for public health nurses and other personnel. Suturing of wounds is always a tough consideration - the decision is whether to put the local anesthetic in, and make two or three holes, or just go straight ahead and suture with a tiny needle. If you had a relatively sterile entity that could numb it either before the injection with the needle, or with regard to the wound itself, then you might be a lot further ahead. Laser therapy typically is done with injection and can be quite painful in some parts of the body, as most of you are aware, especially the palm of the hand or the base of the foot. What we need is something that works quickly, that's relatively hypo-allergenic, and it also has consistently good absorption. Of course, we need it to be nontoxic and it has to be reasonable in cost. That's why I tested lidocaine, and it's our impression that emu oil is relatively hypo-allergenic. The traditional over-the-counter preparation in both Canada and the U.S., is EMLA cream, which stands for eutectic mixture of local anesthetics. It has lidocaine in it and another agent called prilacaine. It doesn't work as well as I'd like it to. It has a relatively slow action, a minimum of 45 minutes, so that requires pre-planning. If you're going to see somebody in an operating room suite, it literally has to be put on by someone at your suggestion beforehand, or you have to get the parent to purchase it at home and put it on. Do they put it on the right place? Do they put it on in the right amount? How does in proceed from there? Unfortunately now, many pediatric institutions are withdrawing or reducing their use of the cream because it's been somewhat erratic as to whether it's actually served a purpose of not. It's often built up impressions and potential feelings, but sometimes those have been very disappointed in the actual use thereof. The emu substance used in this particular pilot study was what I call a cream, the thick version of the refined product versus the clear oil What did we test? We created two mixtures that looked, for all intents and purposes to people observing them, the same. Quite honestly, if they would have tasted them, they would have had a considerable difference because all of the local anesthetics are very bitter. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell when you've got one in your mouth. As any of you know who have ever had a local anesthetic sprayed in your mouth, for a sore throat, or whatever, almost all of them are very bitter. Anyway, our substance was emu cream and spearmint oil. We used the spearmint oil for two reasons, the relatively positive scent it imparts to most people and it has the advantage that it may enhance absorption as well. Our second preparation was emu cream of the same batch, Canadian emu oil and spearmint oil again, with lidocaine. Those were then applied to two sites on six people. The two sites were both chosen as the same and that's in the ventral distal forearm, that is on the part of your wrist which hardly ever has any hair on it. You can start intravenouses there. Usually, they're not large veins, but they work really well and they're exquisitely tender - therefore, a good site to test if you were able to use it. The mixture was applied on both forearms on a two-inch square sites, and then covered with something called Opsite, Tegaderm, or one of the other proprietary units which are a lot like Saran Wrap with a sticky surface around it. The function of this cover is twofold. First of all, you increase the warmth and moisture in that area and that might make a difference in penetration. Also, it usually permits an increase concentration crossing across the skin before it's rubbed off or taken away. After twenty minutes, that cover was removed and residual cream was wiped away. The amount of residual cream left is usually diminished over that time frame. We then did two major tests on the individuals. The common one we used initially was ice. That's because in my practice in the operating room, I found that if you can check with an ice cube where they can tolerate the ice cube, and not tell the difference whether it's warm or cold, even prior to cesarean section, you can invariably tell when they're going to have sharpness from the incision with the cold hard steel knife. Then, of course, we used pinpricks because most people were kind of intrigued with the idea that his actually made any difference. Because each individual had the substance A or B on the left or right side, they had some way of observing themselves and determining, on their own basis if they thought there was a difference from one side to the other. That's the outline of the methods that we did. Then, the observer who was applying the creams was blinded as to whether it was A or B in each instance and; correspondingly, the observer of the ice and pinpricks was also blinded. We got fairly simple results in that there was a reduced sensation noted in only one of the two arms, one skin site only. Also, fortunately, the one with the reduced sensation had been treated with mixture B, which was the emu cream, the spearmint and the lidocaine combination. That's something that might vary - a larger size might make a difference. You might get a difference, too. If you went on other areas which may have more thickened skin. In the discussion, this has to be done with so-called consistent, proven pain stimulus. The pain and temperature, just for those that aren't as comfortable with the psysiology, are virtually tested by the same thing. What I mean is, acute, sharp pain, and warm and cold sensations, tend to be affected and carried by the same fibers and the same components of the spinal cord. It's not the same as the burning or dull pain that starts after a few seconds. That is a different type of pain fiber again. When we're talking about the next step, the clinical trail, we'll need to start with adults. Where we want to use it is in children, but typically, you can't have much success with the groups within the hospitals discussing the study unless it's been proven on adults. Of course, the million dollar, multinational question is "Will emu oils work? "Which ones will work better?" "Is there a particular feature in emu oil that does work better?" I know that people have tried local anesthetics on their own, and local anesthetics in mineral oil. Whether they've tried it in pure oleic acid, I don't know. What's the potential use in animals? I feel certainly there is a good possibility in some of the thinner skinned animals. I think of horses, particularly, and probably dogs where you might be able to apply the cream, and not require near as much sedation or other entities. In general, we need more study with design and data acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Note: Dr. Code will be speaking at the AEA convention on the biomedical potential of emu oil. |
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4. Essential Fatty Acids Lubricate Skin, Prevent Pressure Sores By Liza G. Ovington, Ph.D. CWS President, Ovington & Associates Dania, Florida, USA This article was originally published in the Wound Care newsletter, September 1998 Reprinted with permission of American Health Consultants, P.O. Box 74005C, Atlanta, GA 30374 U.S.A. Telephone: 800-688-2421 "Prevention is better than cure" - Desiderius Erasmus Physical forces contributing to pressure ulcer formation include unrelieved pressure, friction and shear. Dry skin is thought to contribute to frictional forces, and consequently to the development of pressure ulcers. Skin lubrication is one method of reducing frictional forces recommended by the 1992 Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Pressure Ulcer Prevention Guidelines. Maintaining skin with adequate hydration and elasticity is vital to prevent loss of skin integrity. Essential fatty acids (EFA's), specifically linoleic and linolenic acids, have been shown to play an important role in maintaining the moisture barrier function of the skin (e.g. preventing water loss and skin dehydration). Studies of cutaneous biology have shown that a diet deficient in essential fatty acids (EFAs) can lead to characteristic scaly skin disorders. It has been observed that in patients receiving parenteral nutrition, there is a concomitant depletion of stores of essential fatty acids. It is further known that such a depletion of essential fatty acids leaks to skin conditions such as scaling and dermatitis. Patients receiving parenteral nutrition may be at high risk for pressure ulcer formation, not only from the direct effects of inadequate nutrition, but from secondary effects on their skin condition. The body uses these fatty acids to maintain healthy cell membranes and also as starting materials for building other fatty acids. Research in both human and animal models has shown that oral administration of essential fatty acids can reverse dietary depletion and results in a transient increase in skin cell proliferative activity and amelioration of scaling (even in the absence of depletion). A similar increase in proliferative activity was later achieved in animal models by a topical application of the essential fatty acid in a cream base. Topical application allows the essential fatty acids to penetrate the epidermal layers down to the basal layer, where it enhances proliferation in specific areas, such as those at risk for breakdown. The use of topical essential fatty acids as a skin lubricant in at-risk patients recently has been shown to be effective in preventing ulcer formation. A randomized controlled blinded study in 86 patients compared the effects of lubrication of the skin every eight hours with two different topical solutions. One topical solution contained essential fatty acids combined with vitamins a and E (to prevent oxidation of the oils). The other topical solution contained mineral oil combined with vitamins A and E. All of the patients were rated high-risk (using the Norton Scale for risk assessment) and most were severely malnourished and receiving parenteral nutrition. All patients received preventive interventions as described by guidelines from the AHCPR in addition to skin lubrication the test solutions. Evaluation of skin integrity after 21 days of treatment revealed tat of the 43 patients treated with the EFA solution, two developed Stage 1 pressure ulcers and none developed Stage II ulcers. Of the 43 patients treated with the mineral oil solution, 12 (27%) developed Stage II pressure ulcers. It has been suggested that hyper-oxygenation of the fatty acid esters contained in the product provides the benefit of increasing local blood flow in the area of application. Subjective rating of skin hydration and elasticity differed for the two treatment groups as well. Of the 43 patients treated with the essential fatty acid solution, 42 maintained skin hydration and 32 maintained skin elasticity. Of the 43 patients treated with the mineral oil solution, only nine maintained skin hydration while 34 showed evidence of deep dehydration and scaly skin. Ten of the mineral oil patients maintained skin elasticity and 33 exhibited a loss of skin elasticity. Based on this research, the use of topical essential fatty acids to promote skin integrity and prevent ulcer formation looks promising. It has been suggested that hyper-oxygenation of the fatty acid esters provides the benefit of increasing local blood flow in the area of application as measure by transcutaneous oximetry. Because pressure ulceration results from local ischemia, and increase in local blood flow could be a preventive benefit. Based on the various studies on the effects of topical essential fatty acids on skin (and perhaps on microcirculation) they may provide a valuable and multifunctional tool in pressure ulcer prevention. Suggested Reading: 1. Declair V. The usefulness of topical application of essential fatty acids (EFA) to prevent pressure ulcers. Ostomy Wound Mgmt 1997; 43; 48-52, 54 2. Colin D. Chomard D. Bois C. et al. An evaluation of Hyper-oxygenated fatty acid esters in pressure sore management. Wound Care 1998; 7; 71-71 3. Jeppeson PB. Hoy CE, Mortensen PB. Essential fatty acid deficiency in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68;126-133 4. Abushufa R. Reed P. Weinkove C. et al. Essential fatty acid status in patients on long-term home parenteral nutrition. J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1995; 19;286-290
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