Oscillococcinum

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Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic medicine marketed to relieve influenza-like symptoms. Four clinical studies have shown Oscillo (for short) to reduce the duration and severity of fever, chills, and body aches and pains. It is one of the most popular of all homeopathic medicines, particularly in France. The name Oscillococcinum is owned by a French company, Boiron, its sole manufacturer.

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[edit] Origin and history

The word Oscillococcinum was coined in 1925 by the French physician Joseph Roy (1891-1978) who saw military duty during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1917.[1] Roy wrote that on examining the blood of flu victims, he had observed a vibrating bacterium which he named Oscillococcus. He believed that this bacterium was the causative agent of diseases as varied as eczema, rheumatism, tuberculosis, measles and cancer. Medical science has since challenged Roy's theory: rheumatism, for example, is not caused by bacteria, and measles is caused by a virus far too small for Roy to have observed in his optical microscope.[1]

Subsequent researchers have not presented a peer-reviewed report of an independent sighting of Oscillococcus. Nonetheless, Oscillococcinum is now used in more than 50 countries worldwide. In France, it has been in production for over 65 years and it has been the country's top-selling over-the-counter flu medicine.

[edit] Preparation

The ingredients of a 1 gram tube of Oscillococcinum are listed as:

  • Active ingredient: Anas Barbariae Hepatis et Cordis Extractum (extract of Muscovy duck liver and heart) 200CK HPUS 1x10-400g
  • Inactive ingredient: 0.85g Sucrose, 0.15g Lactose

The preparation of Oscillococcinum is carried out under strict conditions according to the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS), a manufacturing standard accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

[edit] The Efficacy of Oscillococcinum

[edit] See Also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Nienhuys, Jan Willem (2003-08-23). The True Story of Oscillococcinum. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  • Papp R., et al. Oscillococcinum in patients with influenza-like syndromes: a placebo-controlled, double-blind evaluation. Br Homeopath J. 1998;87:69-76.
  • Ferley JP., et al. A controlled evaluation of a homeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza-like symptoms. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1989;27:329-335.
  • Cassanova P., et al. The evaluation of 100 randomized observations of Oscillococcinum®/placebo in the influenza syndrome. Data on file, Boiron.
  • O.A. Julian. Treatise on dynamised micro-immunotherapy. Part II. B. Jain Publishers, LTD.
  • Vickers AJ, Smith C. Homeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Cochrane database Syst. Rev. 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD001957.
Topics in Homoeopathy
Philosophy: Organon - Homeopathic proving - Drug dynamization - Succussion - Nosode - Psora
Reference material: Homeopathic repertory - Materia Medica
Homoeopaths: List of homeopaths - Samuel Hahnemann - J.T. Kent - C. von Bönninghausen - J.H.Clarke - L De Schepper - R.Sankaran - R.Shah - G.Vithoulkas
Branches: Veterinary homeopathy
Related: Allopathy - Alternative medicine - Bach flower remedies - Jacques Benveniste - Isopathy
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