Herbert M. Shelton (1895-1985) was an American naturopath, alternative health pioneer, and the foundational figure of the 20th-century Natural Hygiene movement. An uncompromising advocate for the body's innate ability to heal itself through fasting, whole foods, and natural living, Shelton authored over forty books and directed a renowned health school in Texas. His rigorous, extensive writings on therapeutic fasting have profoundly influenced modern alternative medicine, holistic wellness, and contemporary fasting movements worldwide.