Homeopathy and natural medicines were used during the American Civil War

Homeopathy and natural medicines were used during the American Civil War (1861-1865). During this time in history,  there were at least two competing camps of medical education: homeopathic and allopathic. Some also include the eclectics in this comparison, who later became known as naturopaths. The articles below will help give you an overview of homeopathy’s role in medicine and healing during the Civil War period in the United States.

By James Wharton, M.C. Although it seems like the current surge in interest in alternative medicine is a modern trend, in fact, alternative practioners like homeopaths and naturopaths have been active in America–and battling with conventional doctors–for over 150 years. Medical historian James Whorton traces the history of alternative medicine in America, and explores the evergreen appeal of holistic approaches to healing. So explosive has been the growth of interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) over the last decade, one could easily draw the conclusion that unconventional approaches to healing must be a new phenomenon…

From: seattlehomeopathy.com Homeopathic SupporterDana Ullman, owner of Homeopathic Education Services, is a prolific writer on the homeopathic subject.  His latest article in the December 23, 2012 edition of the Huffington Post titled “Lincoln and his Team of Homeopaths” is another timely look at past accomplishes of homeopathy.  The 1800’s were a high time in homeopathy.  It had numerous accomplishments and many people in Europe and the Eastern United States sought homeopaths for medical care as Ullman shows in his article.  He states that Lincoln surrounded himself with homeopathic supporters.  Many prominent citizens…

By Boericke & Tafel, Presented by Sylvain Cazalet In 1835, Andrew Jackson was President of the United States. We lit our homes with whale oil lamps traveled from city to city by stage coach, and cooked our meals in Open fire places Life expectancy was approximately 40 years for women and 38 years for men. In 1835, Constantine Hering, the Father of American Homeopathy, was in practice in Philadelphia and Hans Burch Gram in New York. Dr. Hering was one of the founders of America’s first homeopathic medical college where lessons were taught in German. That same year, William Radde, Senior in Philadelphia and Junior in NY were managers of…

From: homeoinfo.com The same sorts of medical systems that haunted Hahnemann with bad dreams were at work with some differences in the New World. The nineteenth century found chiropractic, osteopathy and naturopathy gaining popularity. Opium, liquors, hot baths, garlic, mercury, and wine were used by the gallon as stimulants for phlegmatic ailments. Fads which oversimplified the practice of medicine led to a reduction in recognized diseases and a corresponding reduction of medicines. Benjamin Rush, the most respected American physician was a strong advocate of mercury and bloodletting. Calomel, mercurous chloride, was a stimulant for treating…

By Dana Ullman, Evidence Based Homeopath, 2-22-13 There is a wide body of evidence that Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) maintained a special interest in and appreciation for homeopathic medicine. It is therefore not surprising that many of Lincoln’s advisors were users of and advocates for homeopathy. Before Lincoln was elected president, in 1854 he was retained as a lawyer to prepare a state legislative proposal to charter a homeopathic medical college in Chicago.[15] Chicago was the home of the American Medical Association, which had been founded in 1847 in part to stop the growth of homeopathy, and therefore, Lincoln’s job was no simple effort. Yet…

by Lia Bello RN, FNP, CCH Homeopathic nursing is the nursing that takes place with patients who are being treated homeopathically or in a homeopathic hospital or homeopathic doctor’s office.   I include the work of a nurse who educates her patients in the basics of homeopathy and uses homeopathic remedies in their healthcare. The story begins hand in hand with the history of nursing–which closely follows that of women’s’ rights in America and England. The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital was founded in 1850 in Golden Square in London by Dr. Quinn–who was then King Leopold’s physician. Before that time nurses were not paid or trained…

From: mnwelldir.org The Constitution of this Republic should make special provision for medical freedom. To restrict the art of healing to one class will constitute the Bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic. . . . Unless we put medical freedom into the constitution the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship and force people who wish doctors and treatment of their own choice to submit to only what the dictating outfit offers. [Dr Benjamin Rush, at the Constitutional Convention] In 1800, all forms of medicine were practiced together. It wasn’t long before medical societies…