Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsHealth BenefitsSide EffectsDosageWhere to Find It
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Health Benefits
Side Effects
Dosage
Where to Find It
Oscillococcinumis a brand-namehomeopathic remedyused totreat influenza (flu). Taken at the first signs of infection, Oscillococcinum is said to ease symptoms and shorten the duration of the flu. To date, there is little evidence to support the claim.
This article discusses what Oscillococcinum is, how it is thought to work, and how to use it. It also describes the possible side effects and risks associated with Oscillococcinum.
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What Is Oscillococcinum?
Ocillococcinum (also known asAnas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum 200K) is probably the most well-known homeopathic remedy, having been in production for over 65 years in more than 50 countries.
Homeopathy is an alternative practice of medicine that started during the 19th century. It is based on the principle of “like cures like” in which a substance that causes symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people.
Oscillococcinum is made from a diluted extract of wild duck heart and liver. The remedy is believed to work because ducks and other waterfowl are reservoir hosts for certaintypes of influenza(namely,“bird flu”).By exposing someone to a vastly diluted extract of these organs, homeopaths contend that it can stimulate the body’s innate ability to heal itself from flu.
How Ocillococcinum Is Made
Heath Benefits of Ocillococcium
Oscillococcinum is said to reduce the duration and severity of flu if taken at the first signs of illness. According to the manufacturer, it temporarily relieves flu-like symptoms, including headaches, body aches, chills, fever, and fatigue. Studies to date have been sparse.
However, a 2018 Italian study that followed children and adult patients suffering from respiratory diseases between 2002 to 2011, concluded that the frequency of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) remained consistently lower in patients treated with Oscillococcinum.In this study, RTIs refer to ear, airways, throat or lung infections, sore throat, tonsillitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, cough, and cold.
Possible Side Effects of Oscillococcinum
Oscillococcinum typically does not cause side effects because it is made almost entirely of sugar. In 2015, there was one report of a person experiencing severetongue swellingand slurring, which the researchers attributed to Oscillococcinum. No rash or other remarkable symptoms were noted.
Despite the seemingly low risk of side effects, it is important to exercise caution when using Oscillococcinum. As a largely unregulatedsupplement, Oscillococcinum does not need to undergo the stringent testing or safety trials that pharmaceutical drugs do.
There are no known interactions between Oscillococcinum and other medications. Even so, people withdiabetesshould note that each dose contains 1 gram of sugar.
Despite containing lactose, the amount contained in each dose (0.15 grams) is unlikely to pose any harm to people who arelactose intolerant.
Dosage and Preparation
Oscillococcinum is sold as a single-dose tube containing 0.04 ounces of quick-dissolving pellets. The pellets are placed under the tongue and allowed to melt.
According to the manufacturer’s directions, dissolve the entire contents of one tube every six hours, up to three times a day to treat the flu. Ocillococcinum is said to start working within 24 hours.If symptoms persist beyond three days or worsen, discontinue using Oscillococcinum and consult your healthcare provider.
Prices can vary, but a 30-count box of Ocillococcinum costs around $30, or roughly $1 per dose.
Summary
Ocillococcinum is a commercial homeopathy remedy made of a vastly diluted extract of duck heart and liver that is sprayed onto sugar pellets. Homeopaths contend that it can lessen the severity and duration of the flu if taken at the first sign of infection.
Although no significant harms were found, the low number of quality research studies means that while Oscillococcinum might have some potential benefits, the evidence supporting this claim is inconclusive.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McGill University.The Curious “Science” of Oscillococcinum.Grams N.Homeopathy—where is the science? A current inventory on a pre‐scientific artifact.EMBO Rep.2019 Mar;20(3):e47761. doi:10.15252/embr.201947761Scientific American.Influenza’s Wild Origins in the Animals around Us.Mathie RT, Frye J, Fisher P.Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD001957. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub6.Colombo GL, Di Matteo S, Martinotti C, Oselin M, Bruno GM, Beghi GM.The preventive effect on respiratory tract infections of Oscillococcinum®. A cost-effectiveness analysis.Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2018;10:75-82. Published 2018 Jan 23. doi:10.2147/CEOR.S144300Azmi Y, Rao M, Verma I, Agrawal A.Oscillococcinum leading to angioedema, a rare adverse event.BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210410.Boiron USA.Oscillococcinum.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McGill University.The Curious “Science” of Oscillococcinum.Grams N.Homeopathy—where is the science? A current inventory on a pre‐scientific artifact.EMBO Rep.2019 Mar;20(3):e47761. doi:10.15252/embr.201947761Scientific American.Influenza’s Wild Origins in the Animals around Us.Mathie RT, Frye J, Fisher P.Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD001957. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub6.Colombo GL, Di Matteo S, Martinotti C, Oselin M, Bruno GM, Beghi GM.The preventive effect on respiratory tract infections of Oscillococcinum®. A cost-effectiveness analysis.Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2018;10:75-82. Published 2018 Jan 23. doi:10.2147/CEOR.S144300Azmi Y, Rao M, Verma I, Agrawal A.Oscillococcinum leading to angioedema, a rare adverse event.BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210410.Boiron USA.Oscillococcinum.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
McGill University.The Curious “Science” of Oscillococcinum.Grams N.Homeopathy—where is the science? A current inventory on a pre‐scientific artifact.EMBO Rep.2019 Mar;20(3):e47761. doi:10.15252/embr.201947761Scientific American.Influenza’s Wild Origins in the Animals around Us.Mathie RT, Frye J, Fisher P.Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD001957. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub6.Colombo GL, Di Matteo S, Martinotti C, Oselin M, Bruno GM, Beghi GM.The preventive effect on respiratory tract infections of Oscillococcinum®. A cost-effectiveness analysis.Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2018;10:75-82. Published 2018 Jan 23. doi:10.2147/CEOR.S144300Azmi Y, Rao M, Verma I, Agrawal A.Oscillococcinum leading to angioedema, a rare adverse event.BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210410.Boiron USA.Oscillococcinum.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance.
McGill University.The Curious “Science” of Oscillococcinum.
Grams N.Homeopathy—where is the science? A current inventory on a pre‐scientific artifact.EMBO Rep.2019 Mar;20(3):e47761. doi:10.15252/embr.201947761
Scientific American.Influenza’s Wild Origins in the Animals around Us.
Mathie RT, Frye J, Fisher P.Homeopathic Oscillococcinum® for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like illness.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD001957. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub6.
Colombo GL, Di Matteo S, Martinotti C, Oselin M, Bruno GM, Beghi GM.The preventive effect on respiratory tract infections of Oscillococcinum®. A cost-effectiveness analysis.Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2018;10:75-82. Published 2018 Jan 23. doi:10.2147/CEOR.S144300
Azmi Y, Rao M, Verma I, Agrawal A.Oscillococcinum leading to angioedema, a rare adverse event.BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210410.
Boiron USA.Oscillococcinum.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance.
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