Oscillococcinum

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.

[4] In France, the selling of all products manufactured according to the Korsakovian principle of dilution was forbidden until 1992, with the exception of Oscillo, thanks to a special measure made for it.

[9] As of 2000[update], Oscillococcinum was one of the top ten selling drugs in France, was publicised widely in the media, and was being prescribed for both flu and the common cold.

[11] In 2019, the McGill Office for Science and Society released a survey of 150 pharmacies in Montreal, Quebec, finding that two thirds of them carried Oscillococcinum.

[19] None of its active ingredient is present in a dose of the final product, nor is there any credible evidence that duck liver is effective in relieving (or causing) flu symptoms in the first place.

[11] A 2005 review of flu treatments (vaccine, medicine, homeopathy) concluded that the popularity of Oscillococcinum in France was unsupported by any evidence of efficacy.

"One petition complains that Boiron's packaging for Oscillococcinum lists the alleged active ingredient – duck liver and heart – in Latin only.

Ronald Lindsay, CFI and CSI president and chief executive officer, contended that, "If Boiron is going to sell snake oil, the least they can do is use English on their labels.

"[23] A class action lawsuit was filed against Boiron on behalf of "all California residents who purchased Oscillo at any time within the past four years".

The lawsuit also stated that the listed active ingredient in Oscillococcinum (Oscillo) "is actually Muscovy Duck Liver and Heart ... and has no known medicinal quality.