Are emu based creams effective?

Factual Questions
21

I am a firm believer in the placebo effect. Why, the other evening I had a headache and downed a couple of paracetamol. I felt better immediately. I know the stuff takes at least 20 minutes to metabolise. That didn’t stop me feeling better. In fact, I would estimate that more than half the benefit I get from headache pills is the placebo effect.

And that is why proper medical research with large sample sized and rigorous statistical analysis is so essential. A placebo just aint gonna cut it when something is seriously amiss and real treatment is needed.

22

The people that invested heavily in raising emus and got caught holding the bag when the pyramid came crashing down.

They’re still trying to invent a market for emu products.

23

Save some money–rub some Chicken Fat onto your achy parts.

24

Ain’t that the truth.
For nearly 40,000 year the Australian aboriginal’s domestic economy was heavily reliant on a thriving export trade for rendered emu products marketed direct to SE Asia and Oceania. For the NE Asian markets, due to cultural sensitivities, they used commission agents.

For the local market, goanna oil was the medication of choice.

25

I assumed the hed was about the “large flightless Australian bird.”*

I opened it to find out for what it may be effective. Now I’m disappointed.

*This is the clue Aunt Dahlia is always stumped on doing the crossword puzzle and must ask Jeeves about.

26

As indeed it is.

I had similar misgivings when I first saw the marmot ointment in the Alps. “Ha, what do they do, squeeeeze the fuzzy little bastards until the cream oozes out? :p. Or render them down in a big… uh, what? They do? Oh.”

27

If emu creams are effective, I’ve certainly been burying my head in the sand about it.

(Or is it ostriches who don’t actually do that? Where is Rod Hull when we need him?)

28

Where can I buy some of this snake oil…?

29

First you get a snake…

30

Sheesh. Marmot fat. I wonder how that stacks up next to lard, butter, suet, and duck fat for health and taste?

From the same site, which also offers “Eagle Ointment,” the welcome (?) note:

By the way: The eagle ointment is NOT made from eagles, but rather from various herbs.

Well, hell. Forget it then.

31

Sounds pretty squirrely to me.

32

The marmot ointment is actually pretty nice. It’s not a wonder drug or anything, but I’ve used it after skiing and it really helps with the aches and pains. Although how much of that is down to the marmot essence and how much is down to the herbs I couldn’t say - it creates a sort of tingly menthol/camphor effect, sort of like Deep Heat but much milder and more pleasant smelling.