Abraham Lincoln and Homeopathy: A President’s Quiet Support - Body of Harmony

Abraham Lincoln and Homeopathy: A President’s Quiet Support

by: Payam Hakimi
September 2025
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Lincoln’s Era and the Rise of Homeopathy

In the mid-19th century, medicine in the United States was in a state of upheaval. Conventional “heroic” medicine often relied on harsh measures like bloodletting, calomel (mercury), and high-dose purgatives. Against this backdrop, homeopathy offered a gentler, more humane alternative, quickly gaining popularity among the American public. By the 1850s and 1860s, homeopathic hospitals, pharmacies, and medical schools were flourishing.

One of the most notable figures who took notice of this movement was none other than President Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln’s Personal Connection to Homeopathy

Abraham Lincoln was not a homeopath himself, but he had personal exposure to the practice:

Several of Lincoln’s close friends and political allies in Springfield, Illinois, were strong advocates of homeopathy.
He reportedly sought advice from Dr. Henry Fishback, a well-known homeopathic physician in Illinois, and even recommended homeopathic care to friends.
Lincoln’s law partner, William Herndon, confirmed that Lincoln respected homeopathy’s principles, especially compared to the aggressive treatments of conventional medicine at the time.

This sympathy toward homeopathy influenced how Lincoln responded to its growth in American medical education.

Lincoln and the Homeopathic Medical College

In 1863, during his presidency, Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional charter for the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania (today part of Drexel University College of Medicine). This was a pivotal moment:

The charter made the institution one of the first medical colleges in the U.S. to receive federal recognition.
It gave legitimacy to homeopathic education at a national level.
At a time when the American Medical Association (AMA) was aggressively opposing homeopathy, Lincoln’s approval signaled tolerance, even support, from the highest office.

This act by Lincoln not only strengthened homeopathy’s institutional footing but also validated it as part of the larger medical landscape of 19th-century America.

Lincoln’s Legacy and Homeopathy’s Place in America

Lincoln’s role was subtle but powerful. By granting legitimacy to a homeopathic medical college, he helped protect the movement during its peak years of influence. His openness reflected his pragmatic approach: he valued freedom of choice in medicine, just as he did in other realms of life.

Though the Flexner Report of 1910 later led to the closure of nearly all homeopathic medical schools in the U.S., Lincoln’s era represented a golden age when homeopathy was flourishing — embraced by everyday citizens and quietly supported by a president who believed in giving people access to gentle, humane care.

Abraham Lincoln’s view of homeopathy reveals a leader who understood the importance of diversity in medicine. While not a homeopath himself, his respect for the discipline, friendships with its practitioners, and his decision to sign a federal charter for a homeopathic medical college, all played a role in expanding homeopathy’s reach in the United States.

Today, Lincoln’s legacy reminds us that true leadership often means creating space for innovation and allowing new ideas to grow — especially when they promise healing and compassion.

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