Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, stated that homeopathy is based on the idea that “like heals like.” That is, if a substance causes symptoms in a healthy person, giving that person a small amount of the same substance diluted in water “can cure the disease.” We’re talking about a “treatment” that, according to science, has “little support” to this day, but which nonetheless positions itself in the health business, with millions of dollars in profits treating countless illnesses, such as the flu.
When flu season arrives, some people choose the vaccine as a method of prevention, while others, skeptical of the science, choose other methods, such as Homeopathy and its famous medicines derived from ducks It is called “Oscillococcinum”.
and some current promoters of homeopathy to demonstrate ‘real’ or supposed effectiveness’Oscillating coccisuggesting that wild ducks “carry influenza viruses.”
In this way, if we use “like cures like” as a reference to understand that avian influenza comes from birds, we will ask ourselves: Can it really be found? Prevent bird flu In the liver of a bird?
What does science say?
According to publications in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Oscillococcinum is a patented homeopathic preparation derived from a 1% solution of mallard heart and liver extract. Dilute 200 times with water and alcohol in turn. This preparation is made by diluting duck liver and duck heart at 200°C, that is, one part offal for every 10,400 parts water (one 1 followed by four hundred 0s).This solubility is so high that the final product contains barely a single molecule of the original organ “For sure, it’s 100 percent sugar.” It is also known by names such as “Anas barbariae” or “Cordis extractum” and is used to treat influenza.
With this information, the study concluded that there was not good enough evidence to draw “reliable conclusions” about Oscillator’s role in preventing or treating influenza and influenza-like illness. “Our findings do not rule out the possibility that Oscillococcinum may have clinically useful therapeutic effects, however, given the low quality of the qualifying studies, The evidence is not convincing,” The report states.
The arrival of the duck homeopathy
“Oscillococcinum” was created by a French doctor Joseph Roy, The 1917 Spanish Flu pandemic swept the world.Roy examined the blood of flu victims and discovered a strange microorganism, a A hypothetical bacterium he called “Oscillococcinum.”
Roy later determined that the so-called bacterium was “directly related” to cases of influenza and found it in human, animal and plant tissue. However, what he saw was neither the cause of these diseases nor bacteria.Today, there is irrefutable evidence that Roy’s statement is wrongBecause eczema and rheumatism are not caused by bacteria, mumps is caused by a virus that is too small to be seen under a light microscope.
But the French doctor continued to think that it could be applied to the homeopathic hypothesis to fight the flu, and that’s when the ducks in a row appeared.
“20 million ducks”
Doctors decided to use ducks to prepare “Octococcus oscillator” even though this bacterium had never existed. British scientist, author of Trick or Treat? The author of the book stated, Simon Singernoted, “Roy only used parts of the duck’s heart and liver for his research. So by using just one part of the duck, enough dilution could be made to make a profit of $20 million a year.” With this move, he spawned a A multi-million dollar industry based on "“The $20 Million Duck” Singer’s “legacy” is continued by entities such as Boiron Laboratories.
Homeopathy in Spain
Although there is no “convincing” scientific evidence for such “drugs” to this day, they continue to spread among the population. Without further explanation, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) It has a list of over 1,000 authorized homeopathic medicines.
However, the consumption of such alternative medicines is not as important in Spain as in countries such as Germany, Switzerland or France.At its best, in our country it reaches 100 million eurosAccording to data from “The Nation”, based on 2018 data, revenue is limited to less than 40 million.