Emu oil is known for being rich in Omega fatty acids. These are essential for combating inflammation. However, while there is a lot of talk regarding the health benefits of emu oil, does it offer help for osteoarthritis? The purpose of this post is to answer this question.
To better understand if emu oils do offer help for osteoarthritis, it is good to start by learning more about arthritis. As you may already know, arthritis is a general term that is used to describe diseases that are characterized by joint pain and inflammation. The condition is quite painful and if not treated, it can damage the body over time. Each type of arthritis affects the body in different ways. There are many types of arthritis including osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joint cartilage and is often caused by wear and tear. This leads to stiffness and pain in the joints. It is more common in the hips, thumbs and knees. Traditionally, this disease has been treated using cortisone shots, pain relief therapies and a range of medications. The symptoms do not target the underlying issue but rather focus on pain management.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This is a chronic inflammatory disorder that damages a range of body systems including the skin, eyes, heart, blood vessels and lungs. This type of arthritis affects the lining of joints which leads to swelling and the eventual erosion of the bone. This leads to joint deformity. Common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Joint stiffness that is worse after inactivity
- fever
- tender, warm, swollen joints
Early rheumatoid arthritis affects the smaller joints in the toes and fingers. As it progresses, the disease spreads to the knees, wrists, elbows, ankles, shoulders and hips. In many cases, the symptoms are experienced in the same joints on either side of the body. Severe rheumatoid arthritis causes physical disabilities.
Psoriatic arthritis
This can develop in persons with psoriasis, a skin condition. The disease is associated with small red patches on the skin, topped with silver scales. Joint pain and swelling might flare up and subside especially in the morning.
Fighting Arthritis with Emu Oil
While medication for treating arthritis has improved over the years, the focus is on managing the pain. The reason emu oil is able to offer help for osteoarthritis is because in managing arthritis, you need to consume more anti-inflammatory foods. Emu oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which have been studied and conformed to offer remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. Taking pure emu oils thus helps supplement the anti-inflammatory effects of medication and reduces pain.