Erich Kurt Ledermann
Source: Peter Lurie

Erich Kurt Ledermann M.D. M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P. FFHom (16 May 1908 – 7 May 2005) was a German-born homeopath who fled from Nazi Germany in 1932, to become a House Physician at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, Honorary Consultant at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, and a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Marlborough Day Hospital.

Ledermann embraced a holistic approach to healing and added acupuncture to his repertoire, becoming a specialist in Chinese medicine. He was a longstanding advocate of “nature cure” and joined Nina Hosali‘s Nature Cure Clinic in 1936, where he practiced for over fifty years.

Erich Ledermann was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopaths.

Erich Kurt Ledermann was a friend of Marjorie Golomb, Sir John Weir, and many others.

Erich Kurt Ledermann taught Brian Kaplan, who interviewed Dr. Ledermann, and wrote his Obituary.

Erich Kurt Ledermann was born in Berlin, Germany, on 16 May 1908, the eldest son of German-Jewish doctor William Israel Ledermann (1871 – 1949) and Charlotte Lotte Apt (1883 – 1980).

Ledermann decided to follow his father in pursuing medicine and conducted his training at University of Freiburg, qualifying M.D. in 1932. After graduation Ledermann worked as a pediatrician, until the appearance of the Nazis convinced him to flee for Britain.

Erich Kurt Ledermann re-qualified in 1934 with his Bachelors in Medicine and Surgery from University of Glasgow, and with Licences from the Edinburgh Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons.

In June 1943, Ledermann married Marjorie Alice Smith. They had two children, David and Elizabeth.

Erich Kurt Ledermann was an opponent of vaccination, and became a member of the National Anti Vaccination League and the earlier London Society for the Abolition of Compulsory Vaccination in 1952, alongside Henry Tudor Edmunds, Henry Valentine Knaggs, Dorothy Shepherd and Harold Fergie Woods.

Erich Kurt Ledermann practiced at 121 Harley Street, 97 Harley Street, and 13 Ardwick Street in London.

Erich Kurt Ledermann taught Brian Kaplan and Robin Shohet.

After leaving Nazi Germany in 1933, Eric Ledermann requalified in Edinburgh. He was appointed to the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital as a house physician, and then came to London in 1936 to begin his own practice, combining this with work at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital.

He joined the Nature Cure Clinic in 1936 and practised there for over 50 years.

He published several books on good health through natural therapy. Ledermann’s interest in philosophy led him to develop a form of psychotherapy he termed “true self psychotherapy,” which aimed to make “the unconscious conscience conscious.” He was the author of Philosophy and Medicine (1970) and Existential Neurosis (1972).

Predeceased by his wife, Marjorie, he leaves two children and five grandchildren.

Erich Kurt Ledermann died in Camden from coronary heart disease on 7 May 2005, aged 97.

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