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FAQs about emu oil & our products

Emu oil comes from the adipose tissue (fat) of the emu - a large flightless bird native to Australia. The fat is extracted and rendered to produce a nutrient-dense oil highly prized for its use in cosmetics, dietary supplements and therapeutic goods.

Emu oil is used for numerous health, wellbeing and cosmetic purposes. Some of the most common reasons people use emu oil are to treat skin problems like eczema, psoriasis & dermatitis, for arthritis, muscle & joint pain, hair & scalp issues such as dandruff, helping heal wounds & burns, and as a general moisturiser for dry & damaged skin. It is quite incredible really how many things emu oil can significantly assist.

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Emu oil is naturally high (at least 70%) in omegas 3, 6, 9 (essential fatty acids) as well as vitamins A, D, E, F & K2, antioxidants, carotenoids, flavones, polyphenols, and phospholipids. Try saying all that 3 times in a row! Basically these all provide emu oil with its powerful moisturising, anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic properties that make it a go-to for the many skin, hair and inflammation-related issues people use it for.

No, emu oil is definitely not vegan. Emus are ethically raised and harvested to extract the fat and render the oil. The farm we use respects the animal by utilising at least 95% of the bird with almost no wastage.

Yes, emus are ethically harvested to make the oil. Unlike other farms, the farm we use utilises not just the oil, but also the meat, skin, eggs, feathers and even the cartilage. We feel this is more respectful to the animal that nothing is wasted. 95% of the bird is used to be exact.

After the emu has reached maturity, a large sac-like structure on the back of the bird where the fat is stored, is removed during harvesting. This is then rendered down to produce a pure oil free from contaminants that is rich in nutrients.

Generally yes, but this all comes down to the individual farm and their practices. Unfortunately some emu farms are better than others in this regard. The farm we exclusively source our oil from employs highly sustainable, ethical and cruelty-free practices. This ensures the wellbeing of both the birds and the land on which they are farmed. Broadly speaking, farming emus is much more eco-friendly and sustainable than other commercial animals such as cattle and sheep, especially when farmed in their native environment.

Yes. The birds are left to freely roam the farm, similarly to how they would in their natural environment. At no stage are they restricted to any type of cage or confined space. The paddocks they roam feature native flora and fauna which mimic the bird's natural habitat. They have feeding stations and shelter to sleep under (if they wish) scattered sparsely across the farm.

No, the birds are not given antibiotics unless under veterinarian advice because the health and wellbeing of the bird is in danger. They are raised in a natural environment which contains healthy natural alternatives for this, so it is very rare for artificial antibiotics to be needed.

The birds are fed a special diet which is free from added chemicals, hormones, GMO ingredients and antibiotics. They add to this by naturally foraging the various native plants and insects on the farm like they would be in the wild. All of this results in a far superior nutrient-rich oil.

A lot! Long story cut short, emus are native to Australia and the genealogy, conditions, farming practices and processing methods are far superior to American and other overseas oil producers. You get what you pay for.

Emus were originally exported to the United States between 1930-1950 as exotic zoo animals. During the 1960's, the Australian government banned the export of live emus overseas completely. This meant existing American emu farms use descendants of these original low-fat exported zoo stock.

The American emu industry has been known to use molecular distillation to process their emu oil. This method leads to a highly processed end-result, stripping many of the biologically active components that make emu oil so effective. There have also been reports that as emu oil prices have increased, some producers have added soybean and canola oil to their pure emu oil stocks to increase revenue.

Emu oil has a shelf life of approximately 2-3 years. Pure emu oil is naturally bacteriostatic and anti-microbial so it does not need any added preservatives. All OzWellness emu oil products have an expiry date sticker on the packaging.

Not really. Emu oil is surprisingly lightweight and non-greasy, especially compared to other heavier oils. It is transdermal and quickly absorbs into the skin so it won't leave it feeling greasy and heavy. We have pictures of the oil's consistency on our shop page here.

No. Emu oil can be safely stored in a dry area away from direct sunlight. It is still perfectly fine to refrigerate the oil, just be aware it may become slightly solidified at colder temperatures. If this happens, simply gently warm the oil until it returns to a liquid state, and shake well before use.

Sometimes the oil will become slightly cloudy with little white specks if not used for long periods of time. This is completely normal and is just the saturated fat granules which generally sink to the bottom of the oil, leaving the upper half slightly clearer. Because of this we do recommend shaking the bottle well before each use to ensure an even distribution and consistency.

Emu oil has a slightly thick white cloudy appearance with little to no smell. The appearance and consistency of the oil is not meant to be clear and super runny. If it is, that’s a sign it has been overly processed or cut with lower grade oils and is not good quality oil. We have pictures of the oil's consistency on our shop page here.

Once the fat is extracted from the bird it is then rendered. This the process by which the fat is gently heated to separate and filter out any impurities leaving a lovely pure liquid oil. The farm we use does this onsite in their government approved facility using a special low heat process. This unique rendering method preserves more of the oil's nutrients, molecular structure and overall biological activeness. This results in a better quality oil whilst still removing any potential contaminants present in the raw unrefined oil.

We only use the highest class pharmaceutical grade Australian emu oil. This is certified and a much higher quality than the cosmetic-grade oil commonly used in other products. This is the same grade oil used in capsules designed for internal consumption, so you know its the best.

Single source (also known as 'single origin') is where the emu oil has been sourced from a single location or farm. This means that all of the birds are raised in the same environment, with the same diet, in the same conditions and rendered using the same process. This ensures a consistently high quality across all our products, especially compared to other alternatives containing emu oil sourced from multiple farms which may differ in quality.

No. The Australian emu industry poses no risk to the wild emu population, as only existing captive stock can be farmed. It is illegal to source emus or emu eggs from the wild.

Emu oil can be used topically and orally for the relief of numerous types of pain stemming from inflammation including arthritis and joint/muscle pain. By soothing the skin and reducing inflammation it can also assist with pain deriving from eczema, psoriasis, rashes, bed sores, ulcers, plus dry and itchy skin.