The History of Medicine Part 5: Alternative Medicine in the 1800's

While we view traditional medical care as the norm, it was not always that way. Throughout most of the 1800's Americans chose alternative providers more frequently than orthodox doctors; their outcomes were better, their ideas based on common sense, their focus patient oriented, and even their fees lower. One of the primary goals of the AMA was to snuff out alternative philosophies, especially homeopathy. We will discuss these alternative ideas and how they impacted the medical landscape.