According to 2010 information from the Hair Loss Learning Center, roughly 35 million men are affected by hair loss in the United States. It's estimated that around 21 million women in the United States also suffer from hair loss. Hair loss is largely due to your genetic makeup, but can also occur for other medical reasons. There are many products on the market claiming to bring your hair back. Very few medical studies can back up all of their claims. Emu oil has received some attention for being able to help hair begin growing again.
History
Emu oil comes from the emu, a large and flightless bird. The Australian Aborigines are reported to have used emu oil for over forty thousand years. Emu oil has been used to treat aches and pains, heal wounds and protect skin.
Function
The Emu Oil Institute website states that emu oil provides essential fats our body needs for proper cellular function. Emu oil penetrates deeply and easily into your skin. It is designed to nourish the scalp and hair follicles and make the area healthier in order to begin re-growing hair.
Application
When treating hair loss, emu oil should be massaged directly into your scalp. Since it absorbs quickly, you only need to apply a few drops. Manufacturers of emu oil say you can re-apply during the day as needed to keep your scalp moisturized and prevent it from drying out
Benefits
The high presence of oleic acid in the emu oil may be one of the reasons that it is able to deeply penetrate the skin and at the same time carry active compounds through the skin where they can have an effect in the body. On the Emu Oil Institute website, Dr. G.R. Hobday of Australia reports on the clinical use of the oil by over 500 patients over 10 years, noting that emu oil does not clog pores, promotes healing and does not cause skin irritation.
The anti-aging factor of emu oil makes it a possible method for reversing hair loss. In a study done by Dr. Michael Holick, at the Boston University School of Medicine, it was noted that 80 percent of the hair follicles that were asleep had resumed growing hair again after using emu oil on the scalp.
Warnings
There is not enough evidence to support the many claims of emu oil. Further medical studies need to be conducted before emu oil can be proven to cure hair loss. A biochemist at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Robert Nicolosi, warns that people who have a health condition should not rely on emu oil too heavily and not to ignore the other products available for hair loss that have a proven efficacy.
Side Effects
Robert Nicolosi also indicates that while there aren't many laboratory studies finalized on the use of emu oil, there are also no known side effects.
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