Oscillococcinum

Oscillococcinum (or Oscillo) is a homeopathic preparation marketed to relieve flu-like symptoms, although it does not provide any benefit beyond that of a placebo. Oscillococcinum is promoted according to the homeopathic principle that "like cures like", and that a disease can be cured by small amounts of the substance that cause similar symptoms. Boiron is its sole manufacturer. Oscillococcinum is used in more than 50 countries, being particularly popular in France, and has been in production for over 65 years. Oscillococcinum was originally proposed by the French physician Joseph Roy (1891–1978), on the basis of his misidentification of a supposed oscillating bacterium he named oscillococcus in victims of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1917–1918. Roy said he had seen the same bacterium in cancer sufferers, and proposed a homeopathic preparation (which he claimed to have isolated in a duck) as a remedy for the Spanish flu. The microbes Roy said he saw have never been independently observed by any other researcher. In addition, it is now known that influenza is caused by a virus and not a bacterium. The preparation is derived from duck liver and heart, diluted to 200C—a ratio of one part duck offal to 10400 parts water. Homeopaths claim that the molecules leave an "imprint" in the dilution that causes a healing effect on the body. There is no evidence that supports this mechanism or efficacy beyond placebo.