A French physician discovered oscillococcinum while investigating the Spanish flu in 1917. But he was mistaken that his “oscillococci” were the cause of the flu.
Practitioners of homeopathy believe that more dilute preparations are more potent. Many homeopathic preparations are so diluted that they contain little or no active ingredient. Therefore, most homeopathic products are not expected to act like drugs, or have drug interactions or other harmful effects. Any beneficial effects are controversial and cannot be explained by current scientific methods.
Dilutions of 1 to 10 are designated by an “X.” So a 1X dilution = 1:10 or 1 part of an active ingredient in 10 parts of water; 3X = 1:1000; 6X = 1:1,000,000. Dilutions of 1 to 100 are designated by a “C.” So a 1C dilution = 1:100; 3C = 1:1,000,000. Dilutions of 24X or 12C or more contain zero molecules of the original active ingredient. Oscillococcinum is diluted to 200C.
Effectiveness
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
The effectiveness ratings for OSCILLOCOCCINUM are as follows:
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…
- Flu (influenza). There is no reliable evidence that taking oscillococcinum can prevent the flu. However, in people with flu symptoms, there is some evidence that oscillococcinum might help people get over the flu faster, but only by 6 or 7 hours. This may not be of much importance. The reliability of this finding is also questionable due to flaws in the study design and bias related to the company that makes the product.
- Common cold.
- H1N1 (swine) flu.
More evidence is needed to rate oscillococcinum for these uses.
Dose
Safety Concerns
Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: This product has not been studied in women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, it is a homeopathic product and contains no measurable amount of active ingredient. Therefore this product is not expected to cause any beneficial or harmful effect.
Interaction with medication
- It is not known if this product interacts with any medicines.
Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
