Dec 24

Dec 24 Samuel Thomsonian Medicine - The Botanicals Boom

Samuel Thomson was a controversial herbalist whose popularity led to the establishment of Botanical Medicine Movement.

Samuel Thomson

Samuel Thomson grew up in New Hampshire while the Revolutionary War was raging.

Despite being expected to spend his life working on the family farm, Thomson gained an understanding of herbal medicine from several experts in the area.

At a time where most physicians did not attend medical school, Samuel learned the trade from these ‘root doctors’.

After curing himself and several family members using alternative medicine, he began promoting his ideas as Thomsonian Medicine.

Controversy

Thomson’s system criticized much of the medical profession for using dangerous methods and tactics which could make the condition of patients worse instead of better.

Samuel, on the other hand, promoted medications which had a very low chance of adversely affecting the taker.

While his ideas won the support of a great deal of medical professionals, beginning what became known as the Botanicals Movement, even more were against him.

For the first time, States began passing laws which regulated who could and could not practice medicine. These laws were generally targeted specifically at Thomson and public reaction usually led to them being repealed quickly.

Imposters

Thomson also faced legal challenges from patients who accused him of being a quack.

Fortunately for Samuel, he won every challenge sent his way.

A greater concern of his was imposters.

Many people began practicing Thomsonian Medicine who were not properly trained and actually could hurt people. Samuel went to great lengths to keep his practices secret and to let the public know who was and who was not an official practitioner of his system.

Thomsonian Medicine

So, what was Thomsonian Medicine?

In short, Samuel attempted to clean out people’s systems.

He used local plants to induce vomiting and clear the bowels. After this, he would create a sauna to open up the pores and help people sweat.

The basic idea was to let the patient’s body heal itself by giving it a ‘reboot’ of sorts.

Although not completely practiced, certain aspects of Thomsonian Medicine have made their way into our modern view of health can still be found in many fitness/healing plans today.

Here is an article that goes into a bit more detail about Thomson’s actual medical style: CLICK HERE

And here are some other Founding Physicians:

David Ramsay - American History’s First American Historian

Thomas Young Distracts the Crowd…So His Friends Can Tea Party

Snake Oil and the Placebo Effect…Elisha Perkins’ Metallic Tractor

The field of medicine was quickly developing around this time.

Thomson’s place is important, and to learn more I recommend picking up a copy of ‘The People’s Doctor’.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).