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Given the heightened focus on flu this season, here’s a very pertinent encore presentation about the homeopathic remedy Oscillo.
Christophe Merville the national Pharmacy Development Manager for Boiron joins us to talk about homeopathy and share with us the benefits of Oscillo during the cold and flu season.
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I found this interesting and informative, I am very concerned about the coming cold and flu season
November 19th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Just the idea of my child liking the taste of Oscillo has sold me to try it out!
Thanks for another great podcast!
November 20th, 2007 at 10:30 am
hello and very interesting..
sounds good ,i do not like the flu,can take this at onset and be better quicker.safe for the whole family and as she stated above,good tasting.and it is a homeopathic medicine,i really like that..recommended by dr.s also…thanks for the info!just may try it out this year!
happy holidays
November 20th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I had never heard of this product. It sounds like it would be wonderful to use. I know I would love to shorten the duration of sickness.
Thank you for introducing me to a new product.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I love homeopathy and I love how he assured people of its safety.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
With the latest recalls on children’s cold medications it’s nice to have something that children can take that is natural and appeals to them (they’ll actually take it). I have never heard of this but I am a Whole Foods shopper and I will be looking for this next time I’m in the store.
November 20th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I have seen Oscillo at my local Whole Foods and I think I will pick some up next time for my grandkids with the cold season coming up! I really like these podcasts. Came here through Pinks & Blues.
November 21st, 2007 at 8:22 am
That was very interesting. Thanks!
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Thanks for the information in this podcast. Definitely will be stopping by Whole Foods to purchase some Oscillo.
November 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
wow I am a big believer in this its great to know more people putting a spot light on it!
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Thanks for the interesting info!
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I use some homeopathic products in our home, and I had heard of this product, but did not know the details. It is definitely a great idea for kids.
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
I agree with the rep from Oscillo. I have used this and other products from Boiron and they work very well. Oscillo is especially great if you take it right at the very first sign of a cold or flu.
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I already use this wonderful product
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I absoutely LOVE whole foods. I used to live across the street from your Minneapolis store and it was heaven.
November 23rd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
very informative
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
It sounds like a great product that I would like to try.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Although there is still debate about if–and how well-Oscillo works, the fact that it has been promoted among the French medical community for over ten years must mean something. For years the European medical community has relied on homeopathic treatments, and the US has lagged far behind in being receptive to alternative therapies. I found this pocast to be very informative.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:59 am
I am a Senior Citizen and I have always been told that I need a flu shot. However, I am really interested in holistic treatments and I am going to research this product further. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Great podcast
November 28th, 2007 at 1:58 am
My family has long been converted over to Homoepathy and we can vouch for the benefits of this unique medicine that can heal/cure with minimal to no side effects. What could be better?!
November 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
My mother is considered a respiratory high risk patient and must take flu shots each year. I am wondering if it wouldn’t be prudent for her to try Oscillo as well, since it is claimed to be safe even for those most at risk. I know that frequently, the flu shots being given each season are not actually effective against all strains. Oscillo might be a extra layer of prevention for my mom.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Wow, that was really interesting. It gives me a whole new perspective on things
November 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Very interesting!! Thanks!
November 30th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
great site.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:30 am
I have heard of it, but have not tried it. You have convinced me to get it. Thanks!
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:15 am
I highly recommend homeopathic treatments (and, especially Oscillo) for colds. They are definately not harsh on the body like conventional treatments. Also, look into Arnica for muscle pain and bruising… my family swears by it!
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
I really enjoyed this podcast. I’d never heard of Oscillo, but we’re big fans of homeopathy.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I really enjoyed this podcast. I’d never heard of Oscillo, but we’re big fans of homeopathy.
oops, I meant to leave “Pinks & Blues” in my website line above! Delete the above comment.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I try to use as many Homeopathy remedies as possible. I love these podcasts as they are helping me learn about even more ways to keep my family healthy. The thought that my kids moght like how it tastes … a definite plus.
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Very interesting. I was not familiar with Oscillo previously and am not intrigued by its possibilities. Thanks.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I meant to say that I am “NOW” intrigued by its possibilities!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Interesting podcast on Oscillo. I plan on trying it soon. Thanks!
December 4th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Thanks! Will check it out.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:52 am
I have used Oscillo frequently. It is great to ward of colds. You do have to use it the moment you feel something coming on. It says it is for symptoms of colds and flus though, personally, I haven’t had much luck with it once I was in the thick of a sickness. Thanks for the info. It was very interesting!
December 5th, 2007 at 10:19 am
…an interesting adjunct to conventional healing.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Excellent podcast!
December 5th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Wonderful podcast!
December 5th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Very interesting, thanks.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I got this podcast off of Mod Mom and I have found all 3 of these Wellness podcasts so informative. I have heard about Oscillo before, but I never knew really what it was for or how to use it. I love how Christophe explained that we often take OTC medications that simply mask the symptoms, not treat it. Oscillo sounds like it does a great job in reducing the duration of a cold and help with the symptoms as well. I also like that you can take it before you even get a really bad cold and that it doesn’t make you feel drowsy and disconnected like most medications. It also sounds really easy to take and to give to children. I’ll have to go check it out!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Referred by here by Mod*mom and can I just say if a medicine like Oscillo works AND tastes good, then sign me up!
December 14th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I would have loved to have this information on sunday when the flu hit me! I am going to get some for the house for next time that I start feeling run down
December 15th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Oscillo sounds like a great weapon for flu. Safe and effective if taken from the first tickle, before you are even sure it is the flu. Thanks for the podcast. I was referred by Mod Mom.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
I’ve listened to all three of your podcasts on staying well and I LOVE the information. Thank you.
Referred by modmom.blogspot.com
December 20th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Another very informative podcast. I have bookmarked your site. I thank Mod*Mom for sending me to these podcasts. I really like the idea that Oscillo is safe for my sons to take.
December 25th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I read about these on mod*mom. I am always interested in homeopathy and think that you shared some great information.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Wow! I’ll have pass this on to some of my friends with young children. Great info.
Thanks to Mod*Mom for referring to this podcast!
December 31st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Everyone, please do your research before running out and buying products of homeopathy. Mr. (Dr. ?) Merville, says himself that the basic principle of homeopathy is that “homeopathic medicines are made from minute doses of natural substances”. I think you should understand just how minute we’re talking here. Juices from that onion that Merville talks about are diluted in 100 parts water. Some of this is new liquid is taken out and diluted again in 100 parts water. This continues dozens of times. For the sake of easy math, lets say only 10 times this happens. This is a dilution of 1 part onion juice (which is mostly water to start with) to 10 to the power of 100 (yes, that’s a 1 with 100 zeros) parts water. Since there are about 10 to the 26th molecules (1 with 26 zeros) in a gallon of water, chances are the bottle of so called “homeopathic medicine” you are sold does not contain a single molecule of the original liquid. In other words, you just paid a lot of money for some very expensive water.
January 6th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I am a big fan of homeopathy and I had not really touched on the Oscillo prior to now. I am going to have the check into that one! Thanks for sharing.
January 8th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
THank you so much for the great explanation on Oscillo. You answered a very important question i think alot of us always have. if there is such minute amounts of the natural substances in the product how does it help… You answered us with the statement… “it helps to reduce duration and severity”. That works for me! ALso you emphasized that it doesnt interfere with other medications. We know how important that is aos. thanks again for a wonderful podcast and to http://ModMom.blogspot.com for linking to the podcasts.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Homeopathic products are simply WATER! The majority of these products are so highly diluted that they do not contain a single molecule of the original substance. In fact, they can not be considered homeopathic if they contain measurable amounts of the substance. Please do not waste your time and money on these pseudoscience snake-oil cures. Water does not have “memory,” and if it did, it would “remember” the thousands of different molecules it has come into contact with, including fish poop.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
This is misleading. Oscillo is not made from onion, it is produced from duck heart and duck liver and is not vegan-friendly.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
We appreciate all your comments. Yes, homeopathic medicines are made from mineral, botanical, and biological substances (plant and animal) which are diluted again and again. The body responds to these medicines, even though the exact mechanism is difficult to understand. Research confirms this: “An increasing number of scientific studies on homeopathy are being conducted and, in recent years, more than 150 of these studies have been published in medical journals. Clinical research is providing evidence of the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, and basic laboratory research is confirming the biological activity of highly diluted substances and helping the scientific community better understand their mechanism of action.” (www.boironusa.com FAQs)
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I have to ask, which journals? and how large were these 150 studies? how many of them had significant positive results? was there a control group that was given a placebo?
Personally, I feel the claims made about homeopathic remedies can be obtained by a mixture of the placebo effect, and human psychology that causes us to remember the hits and forget the misses.
Consumers are told to take Oscillo, at the 1st sign of the flu. This is convenient for a number of reasons: 1) people take more, you sell more 2) most of the time, a sneeze, cough, or stomach ache does not turn into the flu, with or without oscillo 3) if someone does actually does contract the flu while taking Oscillo, the product’s failure can be blamed on the fact that the consumer did not take it soon enough.
Also, I need to comment on the statement “The body responds to these medicines, even though the exact mechanism is difficult to understand”.
EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
When do I take Oscillo? Is it better to take it with food? Do I drink water after taking it?
January 24th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Christie raises very good questions. Homeopathy is considered pseudoscientific quackery by a majority of scientists. This in and of itself does not mean that homeopathy is bunk, but it does have the side effect that homeopathy studies are not conducted by leaders in the scientific community. Perhaps because of this, they tend not to be methodologically rigorous. There are VERY few randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials (the “gold standard” of efficacy research), and most of these have very small sample sizes.
In response to Christie’s question, the truth is that no one understands the “mechanism of action” because the underlying theory is nonsense and defies a basic understanding of chemistry and physics. Consider the following:
1) Homeopathy rests on the “law of similars,” the idea that something that causes a symptom can cure the same symptom when taken in highly diluted form. I might actually believe this if I lived in the 1800s, but as a general principle, it sounds silly to me.
2) Many homeopathic substances are so highly diluted that they do not contain a single molecule of the “active” substance. So how, then, can it do anything at all? Classical homeopathy argues that shaking the mixture releases some sort of mystical healing energy which remains even in the absense of a single molecule of the original substance. Supposedly this “vital energy” (which is invisible and unmeasurable) reacts with an individual’s “vital spirit” to cure their symptoms. To me, this sounds absolutely insane. Also notice that this “mechanism” is untestable, since “vital energy” is impossible to observe or measure. Some scientists have argued that because of this, homeopathy is not a scientific theory but a metaphysical doctrine. If this mechanism cannot be observed, then it cannot be examined scientifically.
3) Classical homeopathy argues that these remedies become MORE potent each time they are diluted. Let me say that again, to emphasize how utterly insane it is–adding water, and thus decreasing the amount of the active ingredient supposedly makes it stronger. Is there ANYTHING in your daily life that works like this? If you water down your coffee, it gets weaker. If you take 1 aspirin instead of 2, it doesn’t work as well. This idea goes completely against conventional medical evidence, which consistently shows “dose-response” curves such that higher concentrations of an active ingredient correspond to stronger effects. Homeopathy claims that lower concentrations correspond to stronger effects, because this mystical energy somehow grows stronger by shaking it. Really????
January 24th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Thank you for all of your comments. Homeopathy has been a topic of debate since it was developed in the late 1700s. It’s true that even the experts are not able to scientifically explain how homeopathy works. Like acupuncture, homeopathy recognizes and affects the body’s vital energy, and supports the body’s own healing systems. Please refer to references below for a few attempts at explaining the mechanism of healing and the history. (1-3)
At the center of debate are the reasons stated in this discussion: 1) homeopathic medicines are made from substances diluted beyond current capacity of scientific measurement, 2) and the medicines are more powerful when more diluted. These two facts are true, however they are not proof that this system of healing is ineffective. Rather they highlight that scientific methods cannot explain all of the complexities of the human body or its systems.
A growing body of research supports the efficacy of these remedies (due to space limitations, please again see reference links below (4-6).) In fact, homeopathy has been shown to work on babies, children, unconscious patients, and even animals; all examples of something more going on than the placebo effect.
Homeopathy has provided relief from chronic pain, allergy symptoms, depression, insomnia, and more for millions of people. In Europe it is often prescribed before pharmaceuticals. The debate will no doubt continue; but the fact remains that homeopathy is an affordable healing system with no side effects and the potential to help the body heal itself in many ways.
1) National Center for Homeopathy (NCH) “Homeopathy” (reprinted from Arthritis Today) http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/articles/view,37
2) http://www.tldp.com/issue/11_00/208_11_00/How_Does_Homeopathy_Work.htm by Allen M. Kratz, PharmD.
3) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/096_home.html
4) European Council for Classical Homeopathy http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org/
Search “ENHR (European Network of Homeopathy Researchers) – An Overview of Positive Homeopathy Research and Surveys” 3/07.
5) American Institute of Homeopathy http://homeopathyusa.org/faq.html
6) http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/articles/research.jsp Research (including peer- reviewed journals)
January 29th, 2008 at 9:54 am
In response to Celine’s questions, most practitioners do recommend avoiding strong flavors including coffee, mint, and camphor when using homeopathy. Oscillo should be taken at the first sign of flu symptoms, anytime of day. Homeopathic medicines should be taken separate from food, although water is fine. See http://abchomeopathy.com for more information!
January 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am
First let me say that I am enjoying this exchange, and I hope you do not interpret my responses as hostile. That said…..
You cite several references that discuss the history of homeopathy. I think it will help clarify things to give a little history of Oscillococcinum in particular. In the early 1900s, a French physician named Joseph Roy claimed to have found a universal bacterium that (supposedly) appeared in patients with everything from cancer to syphilis and chickenpox. He named this mysterius germ “oscillococci” and claimed that it was the root cause of all these diseases. Roy further claimed that a prime source of oscillococci was the muscovy duck, which is why this “remedy” is made from duck heart and liver.
Now, here is the kicker–since Roy’s “discovery,” no microbiologist has ever reported seeing this so-called oscillococci. If you go to your nearest University library and search the archives of scientific journals, you will find nothing supporting the existence of this microorganism (there are clinical trials of Oscillococcinum, meaning the highly diluted duck liver preparations sold by Boiron, but no evidence of Roy’s bacterium). Further, we now know that many of the conditions that Roy traced back to it (like cancer) are not even caused by bacteria, nor even by anything that Roy could have possibly seen with his microscope.
The bottom line is that Oscillococcinum (and homeopothy in general) does NOT have a solid theoretical underpinning. In fact, homeopathy makes outrageous claims which run counter to contemporary scientific understanding.
I agree that the fact that homeopathy lacks a clear theoretical underpinning and posits odd and unmeasurable mechanisms is not positive evidence of its inefficacy. However, people claiming its efficacy (and charging consumers for it) should bear the brunt of scientific evidence supporting their claims, particularly in light of the illogical and dubious nature of these claims.
So what is the state of scientific evidence bearing on the efficacy of Oscillococcinum? Malia has already cited statements from Boiron (the producer of Oscillococcinum), and several organizations that work to promote homeopathy. Do these summaries support the efficacy of homeopathy? That really depends on what you consider adequate proof. Yes, there are a number of studies, but as I have said, many of these studies include severe methodological flaws that seriously limit their validity. In an efficacy study, this includes randomization to conditions and adequate comparison conditions (preferably a placebo control), which are not included in many of these studies. Another problem is that many of these reports are biased in favor of positive results. For instance, an author may measure ten outcomes and only find positive results on one or two–if the author only reports those two outcomes, this introduces a bias in that there is a greater chance that those results were due to random chance rather than real effects.
My own search of the research databases at my library uncovered a few recent, systematic reviews examining the clinical trials of Oscillococcinum.
Vickers and Smith (2006) conducted a systematic review of studies examining Oscillococcinum in particular. They conclude that the available evidence does NOT support the claim that Oscillococcinum prevents influenza. They do acknowledge a small, barely significant overall effect on reducing length of illness by a few hours, but this is suspect given the small number of methodologically sound studies and the reporting bias previously mentioned.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16855981
Guo, Pittler, and Ernst (2007) conducted a systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving Oscillococcinum and other alternative treatments for influenza. They conclude that the available studies are plagued by methodological flaws and small sample sizes, and that these treatments are not supported beyond reasonable doubt. Even among studies showing positive effects, the size of the effects are so small as to be insignificant in a clinical sense.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17976414
Here is another article that discusses various reviews of studies:
http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.632/healthissue_detail.asp
A few more quibbles: you say “homeopathic medicines are made from substances diluted beyond current capacity of scientific measurement.” This is misleading. The problem is not that science is not advanced enough to measure miniscule dilutions–the problem is that chemically, with these sort of dilutions, it is unlikely that a single molecule of the original ingredient exists. It is not a matter of the sensitivity of measurements–we can measure substances at a molecular level. Search for “homeopathy and Avogadro’s constant” for more on this.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The debate on homeopathy will no doubt outlive us! As is often the case, there is research to support various arguments, and many studies end in the well-known “more research is needed.” Luckily, these days we have access to information to educate ourselves and make the best personal decision.
Homeopathy’s healing is counterintuitive to reasoning. The physical matter of the original substances in the medicines cannot be measured because homeopathy is based on energy. Yet homeopathy provides relief from acute and chronic conditions to many people around the world every day.
At this point, I think the best direction is to say thank you for all the time and thought that has gone into this discussion. Thank you!
I would also like to provide the Whole Foods Market position on Homeopathy:
We offer homeopathic remedies at Whole Foods Market as a resource to customers who wish to use them. Homeopathic remedies are safe and not harmful, and we only sell homeopathic remedies manufactured and labeled according to the standards for strength, purity and quality set by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, as recognized by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic act and regulated by the FDA.
We acknowledge that there is disagreement in the scientific community about the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. A growing body of research supports the efficacy of these remedies, and recent meta-analyses of earlier research suggest that homeopathy can be significantly more effective than placebo. Other studies have cast doubt on the efficacy of these remedies. There is a clear need for further research in this area. We are unaware of any studies which have suggested that homeopathic remedies are harmful or dangerous.
Homeopathy is a system of healing which has attracted many avowed followers in its 200+ year history. Because homeopathic remedies are safe and believed by many to be effective, we will continue to carry them in our stores.
For more information:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/096_home.html
Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G, et al. Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet 1997;250:834–43
Kleijnen J, Knipschild P, ter Riet G. Clinical trials of homeopathy. Br Med J 1991;302:316–23
February 1st, 2008 at 9:53 am
I think it’s great. I have been using it for three years with my family and highly recommend it…
February 19th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
This was a great podcast, if anyone is interested in learning more about Natural Body Lotions they can visit VillageGreenMarket.com
March 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Oscillo sounds like a very “easy to take” natural product! I would use it for me and for my son!
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
I found this very informative. I wasn’t aware of the homeopathic preventions for cold and flu…I feel like I’m better prepared.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
This product sounds fantastic!
October 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pm