The Flu - Oscillococcinum/Homeopathic Remedy

December 16, 2003

http://www.homeoinfo.com/06_materia_medica/other/oscillococcinum.php

Oscillococcinum

Intro

Oscillococcinum is an anomaly in the homeopathic materia medica because it

is one of the relatively few proprietary preparations. The name is

registered by Boiron.

Scarcely known to the English-speaking world, it is one of the most widely

used and popular homeopathic medicines in France. But even in France it is

anomalous. It is the only homeopathic medicine authorized for routine

production in France in a dilution above the 30c, and by the Korsakovian

method.

All other homeopathic medicines in France are prepared by the Hahnemannian

method, in potencies not exceeding 30c, although higher dilutions may be

prepared on a named patient basis. The Korsakovian dilution method involves

repeated incomplete emptying and refilling of a single piece of glassware,

whereas the Hahnemannian demands fresh glassware for each dilution.

One medical review has only been able to say that the results look

promising without giving a recommendation to use it.

History

Oscillococcinum is a 200c potency of an autolysate of Barbary duck heart

and liver. It was introduced in the 1930’s by Dr ph Roy, who believed

that it contained a bacterium, Oscillococcus, which caused influenza. We

now know that this rationale was spurious, although it is not the first or

last instance of an effective medicine being introduced on the basis of a

theory subsequently shown to be incorrect. In a further twist, Roy’s theory

has been shown to be much closer to the mark than once supposed. Wild fowl

have been shown to be a major reservoir of human influenza viruses.

Certainly Oscillococcinum is popular with the French public, and it was

this popularity which made the legislature feel constrained to make it a

special case when regulating the production of homoeopathic medicines.

Study

The popular reputation of Oscillococcinum has now been vindicated by a

large scale, double-blind, placebo controlled trial published in the

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 487 patients were recruited by

149 general practitioners (mostly non-homoeopaths) in the Rhone-Alpes

region of France during the influenza epidemic of January-February 1987.

Entry criteria were: rectal temperature of 38oC or above, and at least two

of the following symptoms: headache, stiffness, lumbar or articular pain

and shivers. The first manifestations had to have occurred less than 24

hours before entry. Patients with immune deficiency, local infection, or

who had been immunized against influenza were excluded.

Diagnosis was purely clinical, although the A H1N1 influenza virus was

subsequently identified as being responsible for the epidemic. Patients

were randomly assigned to active Oscillococcinum (237 patients) or

identical placebo (241 patients), 5 doses at 12 hour intervals. Recovery

was defined as temperature less than 37.5oC, with complete resolution of

the 5 cardinal symptoms.

Results

After 48 hours, 17% of the active treatment group had fully recovered,

compared to 10% of the placebo group. This difference was statistically

significant (p=0.03, X2 test). Further analysis showed that the effect of

Oscillococcinum peaked at 36 hours, when 40% of recoveries were

attributable to the treatment. It was most effective in younger patients -

68% of recoveries within 48 hours in the under-30’s were due to treatment;

and when the illness was relatively mild - 52% of the recoveries from

illnesses classified mild or moderate were due to treatment. Patients on

active treatment used significantly less other treatment for pain and fever

(50% v 41%, p=0.04), they also judged the active treatment more efficacious

than placebo (61% v 49% p=0.02).

The Lancet commented favorably on the trial, remarking that the authors

were restrained in their discussion, and describing the difference between

placebo and active treatment as ‘respectable’. The Lancet’s report was

‘quadruple-blind’ mentioning only at the very end that the treatment was

homoeopathic.

References

Ferley JP, Zmirou D, D’Adhemar D, Balducci F. A controlled evaluation of a

homoeopathic preparation in influenza-like syndromes. Br J Clin Pharmac

(1989) 27, 329-335.

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http://www.ehealthland.com/Oscillococcinum.asp

Clinical Research:

Oscillococcinum has been shown to decrease symptoms of flu for a

significant number of patients.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 100 patients showed that,

when given at the onset of influenza-like symptoms, Oscillococcinum worked

better than the placebo in reducing the symptoms of chills (85.7% vs.

57.1%), stiffness (72.5% vs. 41.9%) and fever (79.1% vs. 40%). Also 80% of

patients given Oscillococcinum’ reported the treatment to be a success vs.

38% in the placebo group.’

In a double-blind, clinical trial of 300 patients with influenza-like

symptoms, 55% of the patients taking Oscillococcinum’ reported no chills

after four days, compared with 27% of the placebo- controlled group. More

patients in the Oscillo’ group also reported no aches after four days-70%

were ache-free compared with 48% in the placebo group. Fever in the

Oscillococcinum’ group was significantly lower starting on the I second day

of the treatment, compared to the placebo group.’

In a double-blind, clinical trial of 478 patients published in The British

Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 1989, researchers studied

Oscillococcinum’s effect on nine influenza-like symptoms-fever, headaches,

stiffness, lumbar and particular pain, shivers, cough, coryza and fatigue -

versus a placebo. The proportion of patients who recovered within 48 hours

of treatment was significantly superior among the Oscillo group than the

placebo group.

A recent double-blind, clinical trial of 372 patients performed by f

researchers at a German University and published in April 1998 yielded

results similar to those published in the British Journal of Clinical

Pharmacology (above). The complete disappearance of symptoms after 48 hours

was significantly superior among the Oscillo group than among the placebo

group. This clinical trial also showed that treatment of influenza-like

symptoms with Oscillococcinum’ has positive effect on the decline of

symptoms and on the duration of the disease.

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http://www.update-software.com/abstracts/ab001957.htm

>From The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2002. Prepared and published by Update

Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and

influenza-like syndromes (Cochrane Review)

Vickers AJ, C

ABSTRACT

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A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 07

September 1999. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if

necessary.

Background: Influenza is a highly infectious viral disease that is

particularly common in the winter months. Conventional management options

are limited to bed rest and treatment of complications such as secondary

bacterial infections. Oscillococcinum is a patented, commercially available

homoeopathic medicine. The rationale for its use in influenza comes from

the homoeopathic principle of 'let like be cured by like'. The medicine is

manufactured from wild duck heart and liver, a well-known reservoir for

influenza viruses.

Objectives: To determine whether homoeopathic Oscillococcinum or similar

medicines are more effective than placebo in the prevention and treatment

of influenza and influenza-like syndromes.

Search strategy: The registry of randomised trials for the Cochrane

Complementary Medicine Field was searched in February 2001, using the term

" homeopathy " with " influenza " , " respiratory tract " , " infection " , " cough " ,

" virus " and " fever " . The manufacturers of Oscillococcinum were contacted

for information about other trials. The Cochrane Acute Respiratory

Infections Group's Register of Trials was also searched in March 2001, and

no new trials were found.

Selection criteria: Placebo-controlled trials of Oscillococcinum or

homeopathically-prepared influenza virus, influenza vaccine or avian liver

in the prevention and treatment of influenza and influenza-like syndromes.

Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers extracted data and assessed

methodological quality independently.

Main results: Seven studies were included in the review, three prevention

trials (n=2265) and four treatment trials (n=1194). Only for two studies

was there sufficient information to complete data extraction fully. There

was no evidence that homoeopathic treatment can prevent influenza-like

syndrome (relative risk 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 1.43).

Oscillococcinum treatment reduced length of influenza illness by 0.28 days

(95% confidence interval 0.50 to 0.06). Oscillococcinum also increased the

chance of a patient considering treatment effective (relative risk 1.08;

95% CI 1.17, 1).

Reviewers' conclusions: Oscillococcinum probably reduces the duration of

illness in patients presenting with influenza symptoms. Though promising,

the data are not strong enough to make a general recommendation to use

Oscillococcinum for first-line treatment of influenza and influenza-like

syndrome. Further research is warranted but required sample sizes are

large. Current evidence does not support a preventative effect of

homeopathy in influenza and influenza-like syndromes.

Citation: Vickers AJ, C. Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing

and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes (Cochrane Review). In:

The Cochrane Library, 1, 2002. Oxford: Update Software.

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This is an abstract of a regularly updated, systematic review prepared and

maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is

available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).

The Cochrane Library is prepared and published by Update Software Ltd. All

rights reserved.

See www.update-software.com or contact Update Software, info@...,

for information on subscribing to The Cochrane Library in your area.

Update Software Ltd, Summertown Pavilion, Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LG, UK

(Tel:+44 1865 513902; Fax:+44 1865 516918)

File Reference: ab001957-20021

September 18, 2009

Reminder as we hit flu season. Buy a box and keep it on hand

Nita (crew chief) and the crew: 16, Jon 14, 12, 10,

7, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 3 and Isaac, 1

http://momof6.dotphoto.com for not necessarily current pictures

http://nitasspot.blogspot.com

Learn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enough

to make them all yourself.