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EMU OIL
"THE OIL THAT HEALS"TM
Healing burn wounds is a painful
process and poses many difficulties for the recovery of a burned patient. Inflammation, lack of moisture, and
wound sensitivity are often cited as impediments to daily activities and therapy. Current emollients vary in
their ability to penetrate the skin and decrease sensitivity and associated pain. Adequate lubrication aids
the healing process by providing moisture in areas where sebaceous glands are depleted or currently dysfunctional.
Inflammation is the normal response
to healing of a burn wound. This inflammation also causes scar tissue to form. Approximately 2.5 million people
seek medical attention to burn injuries each year. Virtually all require some type of lubricant application
during their recovery.
Dr. John Griswold, Director of the
Timothy J. Harnar Burn Center (affiliated with Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock) began working
with emu oil during the first quarter of 1995. He agreed to do a 4-6 month study to analyze potentially effective
involvement of emu oil in the healing process of burn wounds.
In a letter receive from Dr. Griswold
by the American Emu Association in January 1997, he said:
"We now have 10 patients with appropriate
wounds who have completed at least initial evaluation of approximately 9 months that could be compared in a
treatment/control fashion in the same patient. This required wounds that were completely separate on opposite
sides of the body yet in areas that would heal similarly in order to appropriately compare the emu oil versus
the placebo. 2 important results from evaluation of this data are:"
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"Comments from patients was unanimous as an end result and during application."
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"There was a unanimous difference noted in photographs taken of the wounds as far as reduction in scarring and inflammation
done by 4 blinded observers as to which was emu oil and which was a control wound area. The difference was statistically significant."
During the American Burn Association meeting on
MArch 18-21, 1998, a poster presentation 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 M. Penturf, PhD., RD;
S O'Banion PhD.; and J. Griswold, MD.
The full and complete abstract presented
to the ABA reads:
"Emu Oil has been reported to have
significant anti-inflammatory effects and has been used in both cosmetics and therapeutic vehicles. This experiment
was conducted to evaluate emu oil as a lubricant and an aid in reducing scar formation in healed burn wounds.
10 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 of age. Per scar
assessment, significant differences were noted in pigmentation and pliability (p<0.02). There were no differences
noted in vascularity and height of the healed wound (p-0.08). Pictures were scored by a 4 person blinded panel
on pigmentation, scar maturation and general health of the skin. Emu oil treated areas healed significantly
better (p<0.02) the control in photo analysis."
"Statistics were calculated by analysis
of variance, means were separated with an 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."
"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.
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