Henry Lindlahr


Henry Lindlahr was the author of one of the cornerstone texts of American naturopathic medicine, Nature Cure, which includes topics about disease suppression versus elimination, hydrotherapy, and the importance of fresh air and sun bathing.

Career

Lindlahr was born March 1, 1862 in Cologne, Germany. He devoted himself to healing after being helped by Father Sebastian Kneipp, in Europe. Lindlahr was also influenced by the ideas of Bernarr Macfadden. He graduated from the National Medical University in Illinois. In 1902, he opened his practice in Chicago. In 1914, he founded the Lindlahr Sanitarium, in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Lindlahr and his institute were criticized by medical health experts for peddling quackery. For example, Lindlahr was advocate of "Iridiagnosis", a method alleged to diagnosis any disease by examining the eye alone. He also claimed that vaccination was worthless against smallpox and was the cause of cancer, tuberculosis and insanity.
Physician Morris Fishbein noted that "the methods of diagnosis used in the Lindlahr institution were preposterous, the methods of treatment varied and ridiculous." These included dubious treatments such as chiropractic, homeopathy, osteopathy and "strange" diets. He died in Chicago on March 26, 1924.

Publications