Homeopathic Influenza Remedy - Oscillococcinum

Influenza has a short incubation period which means that if you've contacted someone or been in an infected area a number of weeks ago there is no need to worry. To be sure check the flu symptoms and call your health care provider to see if you need to be under quarantine.

You are not protected against swine flu if you received a flu vaccine.

NOTE: Many of the deaths that occurred in the great 1918 Flu pandemic can be attributed to the use of aspirin which lowers fever and prevents the body's immune system to fight against the virus by raising the temperature of the body.

The World Health Organization said tests showed the virus in 12 of the Mexican patients had the same genetic structure as a new strain of swine flu, designated H1N1, seen in eight people in California and Texas.

If you typically use homeopathic remedies in your self-care protocol you might like to visit Homeopathy World Community and visit the Discussion Forum on Colds, Influenza & Epidemics.

Remember, the last swine flu episode was very short lived. Get plenty of sunshine, vitamin D and vitamin C.

Influenza comes on strong. One minute you're feeling fine and the next, bam! Suddenly, you are feeling weak, sweaty, chills, trembly, sneezing like mad, tummy aches and cramps, can't think straight, and you just want to go home to bed.

Tender Loving Care

Post this article on the fridge so you remember what to do. And if the flu hits before you take this preventative step, give yourself a break from work and obligations. Snuggle up in bed and get someone to take care of you.

Special InnerHealth Radio Show on Influenza and Health care

The President of the National Center for Homeopathy is guest speaker who talks about influenza and homeopathic care. Listen and learn from professionals.

There are a few homeopathic approaches for the onset of flu. As soon as I notice those body aches and pains and realize this isn't a regular cold, that's when I take a dose of Oscillococcinum.

How To Take The Remedy

• The package will recommend downing the entire tube of little pellets. This is totally unnecessary. You can place 3-4 pellets under your tongue, and repeat that a few times every hour to see if your symptoms lessen.

• If you prefer not to take the dry dose, or you are giving the Oscillococcinum to an infant or child, you can drop a few pellets into 4-6 ounces of water, stir the glass and give by teaspoonful or let the child sip the glass.

Pro-active Treatment

You can begin taking a dose of this homeopathic remedy as the winter flu season begins and repeat a dose each week or every other week to build your immune system.

This makes your purchase last a lot longer than one season.

1. Convenient - does not need refrigeration
2. Does not get outdated if properly kept in storage away from microwaves, damp areas, sunlight exposure
3. No side effects - no drowsiness or stimulation
4. Safe for workers operating vehicles and machinery
5. Natural ingredients [no preservatives or mercury]
6. Easy and pleasant to take
7. Safe for all ages
8. Safe for individuals with disease such as: cardiovascular disease, prostate disease, hypertension, glaucoma, thyroid disease, kidney or liver disorders or diabetes
9. Reduces flu symptoms within days
10. Reduces duration of illness
11. Build the immune system
12. Remember to take at first onset of fever, chills, body aches and pains

Where is oscillococcinum manufactured?

A French homeopathic pharmaceutical company, Boiron, produces it in Lyon, France fresh each year.

What is it made from?

Just one Muscovy duck is sacrificed to obtain an extract of its heart and liver, which contain the animal's natural flu resistant antibodies to make enough remedy for everyone. Influenza originates from a fowl virus. Maybe I should write a 'foul' virus.

However, since it is a 'homeopathic' remedy it goes through a dilution and succussion process that only retains the energetic characteristics of the original substance [fowl organ], which is placed upon a tiny sugar tablet. Through this process any original toxin or poison is nullified and it becomes a healing agent, based upon the fundamental principle of "likes cures likes."

If you think about it, we know that grandma's homemade 'chicken soup' with it's own natural penicillin properties helps improve our colds. Those lovely poultry come in handy for soothing upper respiratory illness, especially when we taste the warmed, salty broth that opens our sinuses and comforts our soul.

Popularity Increases

Boiron reports that sales have grown about 20 percent a year during the past few years, reaching about $200 million in 1995. You can find oscillo in grocery, pharmacy and health food stores around the world, in addition to all online stores.

Influenzinum can be given as pro-active treatment, the same as oscillococcinum.

It is just as safe, effective, and gentle with no side effects.

If you already have flu symptoms, it is best to take the oscillococcinum and to review the unique symptoms of the person so you can select a specific homeopathic remedy that matches the way the person's vital force deals with the illness.

Using common sense and basic care:

• 2000 units Vitamin D supplement ~ see Mercola Video Below
• Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen mucus, soothe your sore throat, and replace fluids lost because fever causes dehydration.
• Do not drink alcohol, it will dry the tissues in your throat
• Drink plenty of Vitamin C drinks, like orange juice if it doesn't irritate your stomach [ some say 1000 gm]
• Get plenty of rest
• Use sponge bath for fever
• Oreganol tincture drops in water or directly under tongue helps open sinus
• Stop smoking
• Drink ginger tea for upset stomach and nausea
• Chicken soup! with ginger, garlic, parsley astragalus root
• Salt water gargle - 1/4 teaspoon per 8 ounces water
• Zinc echinacea lozengers
• Vitamin E oil, olive oil or flaxseed oil applied to chapped lips

Another product that contains Influenzinum, Baccilinum, plus two flu remedies Nux vomica and Gelsemium all in one is called BaniFlu

A liquid formulation called L52 contains 10 homeopathic ingredients: Eupatorium perf., Aconite, Bryonia, Amica, Gelsemium, China, Belladonna, Drosera, Polygala and Eucalyptus .

A recent FDA recommendation no longer recommends giving over-the-counter cold and cough medication to children under the age of six.

There is concern over the safety and effectiveness of antihistamines, decongestants, anti-tussins and expectorants because these drugs have only been tested on adults.

There have been a number of side effects and deaths attributed to the use of these medications.

There are natural alternatives, in addition to riding out the illness.

• Moisturizing the air with a cool steam vaporizer
• Use saline nose drops or spray for a runny stuffy nose
• Using a rubber nose bulb for infant or netti pot to clear congestion
• Grandma's chicken soup
• Use herbal teas [see list below]

Listen to the radio show with National Experts explaining these remedies:

• Nux vomica
• Arsenicum album
• Eupatorium
• Gelsemium

Check Out Hubpage on Influenza with a list of remedies.

Teas, Oils, Capsules with Healing Properties 

• Andrographis
• Eleutherococcus
• Echinacea
• Wild Indigo
• White Pine
• Essential Oil Monoterpenes
• Garlic
• Panax ginseng
• Probiotics
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Arginine
• Ashwagandha
• Astragalus
• Chlorella
• Colostrum
• Horseradish
• Nasturtium
• Elderberry
• Ginger
• Glutamine
• Green Tea Extract
• Hyssop
• Ivy Leaf
• Kelp
• Kudzu
• Linden
• Maitake
• Marshmallow
• Mistletoe,
• Mullein
• Oregano,
• Osha
• Pelargonium sidoides
• Peppermint
• Propolis
• Reishi
• Thymus Extract
• Sage
• Suma
• Yarrow

There are over 200 viruses that irritate your throat and sinuses causing coughs and colds symptoms. Once you catch a cold from a specific virus, you gain immunity to it by producing antibodies. However, that doesn't mean that you become immune to another of the viruses that can cause a cold. This is why you can get many colds during your lifetime.

The Cochrane Collaboration

Influenza (the flu) is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by viruses. Other than treatments for complications (such as pneumonia) conventional medical treatment is bed rest. Homeopathy is a system based on 'curing like with like', often using highly diluted substances. Oscillococcinum is a homoeopathic preparation manufactured from wild duck heart and liver (common sources of influenza). It is claimed that Oscillococcinum (or similar homeopathic medicines) can be taken either regularly over the winter months to prevent influenza or as a treatment. Trials do not show that homoeopathic Oscillococcinum can prevent influenza. However, taking homoeopathic Oscillococcinum once you have influenza might shorten the illness, but more research is needed.

From Study of the Month at Homeonet

Dr. Donald Miller, a cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington, recommends avoiding the flu shot and taking vitamin D instead. According to Dr. Miller, “Seventy percent of doctors do not get a flu shot.”

Health officials say that every winter 36,000 people will die from it. But the National Vital Statistics Reports compiled by the CDC show that only 1,138 deaths a year occur due to influenza alone -- more than34,000 of the “36,000″ flu deaths are actually pneumonic and cardiovascular deaths.

There is also a lack of evidence that young children benefit from flu shots. In fact, a systematic review of 51 studies involving 260,000 children age 6 to 23 months found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo. But there is also a risk of harm from the flu vaccine itself, particularly from the mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde it contains.

A randomized trial found that the incidence of influenza in infants whose mothers had a flu shot during their pregnancy was 4%. The incidence of flu in infants whose mothers did not have a flu shot was 10%. (NEJM 2008;359:) In the study, flu shots reduced the relative risk of influenza illness in infants by a seemingly impressive 63%, yet only 6 out of 100 infants actually benefited from the shot. The other 94 received no benefit – 4 got influenza anyway – and all are at risk from being harmed by the vaccine, particularly from the mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde in it. - Donald Miller, MD

• Mercury: Two-thirds of the vaccines made for the 2008–09 flu season contain full-dose thimerosal, an organomercury compound, 49% mercury by weight. It is used to disinfect the vaccine. Each of these flu shots contain 25 micrograms of mercury, a mercury content of 50,000 part per billion, 250 times more than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit. Mercury is a neurotoxin, with a toxicity level 1,000 times that of lead.
• Formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agentis used to inactivate the virus.
• Aluminum, added to promote an antibody response,is a neurotoxin that may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.
• Other additives in the flu vaccine include:
  • Triton X-100 (a detergent)
  • Polysorbate 80
  • carbolic acid
  • ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
  • gelatin
  • various antibiotics such as neomycin, streptomycin, and gentamicin that can cause allergic reactions

Sources: Eco Child's Play

Debby Bruck, CHOM is a student of Kabbalah and Homeopath. She teaches qigong, healing movement, guided imagery, and meditation. Debby believes that homeopathy is the wave of the future and provides hope and healing to those who have tried every other approach. Follow Debby on Twitter.