Quick question about oscillo...

[carfreemama]

We are all taking this once a week as flu prevention, as per our naturopath.

It's supposed to go under the tongue until it dissolves. For some reason, dd can't manage that. She ends up chewing it. Will this ruin the effectiveness?

On a related note...does anyone know anything about colostrum? It's something else we're taking, but apparently it has to be on an empty stomach. This is tough, since dd is a snacker. Supposedly it's okay mixed with a bit of juice, so I can get it into her. But is there a brand that can be taken with/near food? It's hard to get the dosing/timing right for all this stuff; but so far, so good, so I want to stick with it. Thanks!

[Cristiaz]

I can't answer the colostrum question because I've never taken it myself...but my DD (3) always chews homeopathics and my NMD said it doesn't matter.

Another good way to keep the flu away is vit D3. I put 1000 IU every day in DD's water along with vit C and trace mineral drops. That seems to working wonders this flu season for her. The vit C has electrolytes too.

[es1967]

Originally Posted by carfreemama

We are all taking this once a week as flu prevention, as per our naturopath.

It's supposed to go under the tongue until it dissolves. For some reason, dd can't manage that. She ends up chewing it. Will this ruin the effectiveness?

On a related note...does anyone know anything about colostrum? It's something else we're taking, but apparently it has to be on an empty stomach. This is tough, since dd is a snacker. Supposedly it's okay mixed with a bit of juice, so I can get it into her. But is there a brand that can be taken with/near food? It's hard to get the dosing/timing right for all this stuff; but so far, so good, so I want to stick with it. Thanks!

Are you just taking one capsule -once per weeK? Interested in this too.

[Panserbjorne]

It's perfectly fine to chew the oscillo. I prefer to put it in a bit of water and have them sip it, but that's just me. Both methods are fine.

[carfreemama]

Thanks, everyone. Good to know about being okay to chew. We're taking 1 vial of oscillo per week as prevention, with dd (who is 5) taking half a vial. We'll follow the usual dose schedule if there's any sign of flu.

For the colostrum, I empty 2 capsules into a little raw cider every day for dd. Dh and I try to take 4 daily.

And for vitamin D3, we're taking bio-D-mulsion. Dd takes 3000 IU (3 drops) and dh and I take 8000 IU.

Dd is also on Udo's Choice Child-Specific probiotics, 2 capsules and EFA Berry-Plus, 2 teaspoons daily. I empty 2 capsules probiotics, put in the EFAs and 3 drops vitamin D in with a little apple cider or pomegranate juice and stir it up.

It's a lot of supplements and it's getting expensive; but even skeptical dh has called her "Teflon coated." All the kids she hangs out with in her class have at least been sick a couple of days each, but she hasn't had even a sniffle (touch wood).

[AprilM]

That's interesting that you are taking the oscillo once a week. I never knew it could be used like this. I am wondering if this would be a safe thing to do for my 16 month old.....

[carfreemama]

AprilM, that's the thing with naturopathy. Who really knows if Oscillo CAN be taken once a week as a preventative...or should be? There's even debate among my friends who practice more classical homeopathy about whether oscillo even qualifies AS homeopathy...My naturopath does teach classes in an accredited homeopathic school and is well regarded here, so I try to put some faith in her, but it's hard to get any standard answers on this stuff. I'm just taking her word for it, I guess. I personally think it would be perfectly safe for your 16 month old. The naturopath suggested a half-dose for dd, who is 5 years and about 40 pounds. She said a full dose won't hurt her, but that the half dose would save us money. FWIW, we've all been doing really well so far this fall; no idea whether that's luck or has something to do with all these supplements!

[Panserbjorne]

I'm confused by your friends...why wouldn't it be considered homeopathy? It's a remedy included in the pharmacopeia. Has been for some time. Boiron just packaged and renamed it. You can get it much cheaper without the "brand" name.

And for what it's worth...a half dose would save you all money. It's a remedy like any other homeopathic. There's no reason to take more than 3-5 pellets. That's a dose. And IMO like any other remedy a child's dose is the same as an adult dose. You can also just put some pellets in water and administer that way. There's no reason (other than marketing) that one package of oscillo couldn't last you a lifetime. Anyway, just my two cents.

I wouldn't take it preventatively like that (once a week or month) because *I* think it's a waste of money....but I do administer if there has been an exposure. I gave it to my kids and husband when *I* got the flu and they never did.

[carfreemama]

Thanks, Panserbjorne! I must ask my friends. Maybe that's the confusion...the brand thing. I think our naturopath prescribed it preventatively because there's so much H1N1 in dd's school and at dh's work in the hospital. She's working on the assumption we're pretty much exposed every day right now.

Dd really likes the oscillo, so now I won't worry about trying to teach her about the under-the-tongue thing.

[Panserbjorne]

I was thinking about this....maybe it's the classical thing. IN classical homeopathy you prescribe for the way the individual experiences the illness. Their problem probably isn't with the brand, it's the idea that one remedy at the onset of illness will apply to that many people.

What classical homeopaths like to do is wait for symptoms to appear and prescribe on them. This takes away that process by stopping the flu in it's tracks so there is no progression of illness, and therefore no need to treat.

I disagree because in epidemics (or pandemics ) like this if you talk to people they generally DO experience it the same way. This particular flu presents in almost the same way in most cases. Oscillo does seem to work for this set of symptoms.

My training is classical, though I don't tend to practice that way. I forget that there are those who would rather go the strict repertorization route (especially since Hahnemann himself used GE's once they were identified. This is kind of the same thing.) I say if it works, it works. If it doesn't then I will rep it.

As for the frequency-she's likely right and that's what I was getting at earlier. Exposure. If you know you are being actively exposed then taking it is a good idea. I just wouldn't take it *because* it's flu season, if that makes sense. Being in school almost guarantees exposure so that's a totally sound schedule in that instance. I'm not doing that currently, but given the fact that my kid's school looks like it's being shut down as of tomorrow because of the flu-who knows. I may change my mind. As it stands I would ABSOLUTELY give it at the onset of any symptom, however mild.

[carfreemama]

Thanks, Panserbjorne. The mamas at dd's school had me panicky today (not that I need any help)! I'm feeling more confident in our approach again. Are there a lot of kids out at your lo's school, or is this more precautionary? It seems like here in Nova Scotia, the idea is to keep the schools open almost at all costs.

[Panserbjorne]

they are in a small private school and over 30% were out yesterday. IF the number is the same or higher today they are shutting it down.

I totally understand the panic. However we have always had homeopathy work so darned well for us that I have no worries. I didn't miss a beat when I had it, but I did feel crummy when I needed to be dosed again. I felt like I got hit by a truck. However within about 15 minutes of taking the remedy I was fine-though fatigued. I missed a dose one night and realized just how awful it did feel. Didn't make that mistake again! If I didn't have homeopathy it would have been a nightmare, I'm quite sure.

[carfreemama]

Do you see a practitioner, Panserbjorne? I'm wondering if it's time to take that next step, or we can do what we need to do ourselves. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be covered by our extended health insurance (we're in Canada, so allopathic medicine is covered). We work for the hospital and have extended coverage that includes naturopathy and acupuncture, but I don't think homeopathy. Glad you're better!

[Panserbjorne]

Well, I'm a homeopath so I tend to take care of it on my own. However there are two naturopaths in my office, both of whom are heavily into homeopathy. When I need an outside perspective I do have them. This flu though, was pretty straightforward.

[es1967]

Originally Posted by Panserbjørne

As it stands I would ABSOLUTELY give it at the onset of any symptom, however mild.

This is where I am unsure. Hope you do not mind me asking this question.
Its seems that when my DS gets sick its pretty fast. The last time I gave him oscillio he started getting a fever so I gave him 1/2 a dose. I only gave him that dose b/c thought well he's already sick so it won't help to continue. By midnight his fever was way up 104 . When you say "however mild"- at what point do you start giving it to your kids and how long do you continue giving it to them? How many days?

[CookiePie]

I'm the only one in my house who has not had the flu the rest of the family is feeling better now. This morning I awoke with a sore achy neck, back & hips, should I run out & get this remedy & begin taking it? This is how it started with them...

[es1967]

Originally Posted by CookiePie

I'm the only one in my house who has not had the flu the rest of the family is feeling better now. This morning I awoke with a sore achy neck, back & hips, should I run out & get this remedy & begin taking it? This is how it started with them...

I'd say get it asap!!

[Panserbjorne]

if my kids had symptoms that seemed like they would be helped by oscillo I'd give it as needed. By that I mean that when a remedy works you see an improvement. I would give it again when we started to lose ground. So for me (just because I just had this) I took it when I realized the massive headache was, in fact the onset of the flu. Then I took it again whenever I started to feel symptoms again. They changed (hence the name!) and sometimes it was body aches, headache, sinus pressure, sore throat, cough etc. Whenever I started feeling anything I took it.

Now, if I gave say 3 doses to a kidlet and nothing changed I'd move on and select a different remedy. I never give more than 3-5 pellets unless I slip and pour out too much. However since it was clear I needed it several times a day I put 10ish pellets in a dropper bottle and just took the doses from that. A dropperful as needed.

So in the case of your kiddo (you could also look at aconite which is excellent for anything with a rapid onset) I would have given it maybe every half hour for three doses. Then I would have dosed anytime he started complaining again, or seemed miserable. If it didn't improve his experience, I'd move on. The biggest thing to remember is that homeopathy isn't meant to take away illness. It's meant to support the body and lessen both the extremity of the illness as well as the duration. I don't look for fever to go down, I look for kids to feel okay despite the fever.

I give it for as long as it's needed. I needed it for almost a week, all told. I had a day and a half in the middle where I didn't. However once I started feeling off again I started up. Does that help?

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by CookiePie

I'm the only one in my house who has not had the flu the rest of the family is feeling better now. This morning I awoke with a sore achy neck, back & hips, should I run out & get this remedy & begin taking it? This is how it started with them...

I'd get it!

[CookiePie]

DH is at the store getting it now, thanks!