Herbert Shelton

Herbert McGolfin Shelton (1895-1985) was one of the most experienced fasting therapists of all time. He supervised more than 30,000 fasts, and as evidenced by his extensive body of work, he delved into the practice of fasting more than anyone else. Herbert Shelton studied the work of all the earlier hygienist doctors of his era. His role models included doctors such as Isaac Jennings (1788-1874), William Alcott (1798-1859), James C. Jackson (1811-1895), Russell T. Trall (1812-1877), Thomas Low Nichols (1815-1901), George H. Taylor (1821-1896), Edward H. Dewey (1837-1904), Charles E. Page (1840-1925), Robert Walter (1841-1921), Felix Oswald (1845-1906), John Tilden (1851-1940), among others. Shelton attended Bernarr Macfadden's College, the Lindlahr College of Natural Therapeutics, the American School of Naturopathy of Benedict Lust, and the American School of Chiropractic. His field of expertise was exceptionally broad, and he can rightfully be considered one of the main founders of Natural Hygiene. He took on the responsibility of carrying forward the entire preceding tradition of Natural Hygiene, aiming to "rescue" it by reviving, systematizing, and disseminating it to as many people as possible.