Beginning in the 1940s, visionary leaders of the Natural Hygiene Movement founded Hygienic Institutes—pioneering centers for health and wellness that welcomed thousands seeking to restore or enhance their well-being. These institutes became sanctuaries for those drawn to a holistic, natural approach to healing, with water fasting serving as a foundational element of the Natural Hygiene Health Program.
Rooted in the belief that the body possesses an innate ability to heal itself, water fasting was offered as a core therapeutic practice. Proponents of Natural Hygiene taught that abstaining from food for a designated period allowed the body to undergo deep detoxification—eliminating accumulated waste, repairing damaged tissues, and restoring physiological balance. Far from being viewed as merely a method for weight loss, fasting was embraced as a powerful tool for addressing chronic conditions and awakening the body’s natural vitality.
The Hygienic Institutes were more than just places to fast—they were immersive environments dedicated to natural living. Visitors were encouraged to eliminate processed foods, synthetic chemicals, and other modern toxins, while embracing a lifestyle grounded in whole plant foods, rest, movement, and mindfulness. Under careful professional supervision, participants followed fasting protocols accompanied by education on nutrition, physical activity, and sustainable lifestyle habits. The goal was not just short-term relief, but a re-education—empowering individuals to live in harmony with their bodies and make long-term changes that support optimal health.
The impact of the Natural Hygiene Movement in the mid-20th century was transformative. It helped shift public consciousness toward the concept of self-healing through natural means, and laid the groundwork for what would become the modern wellness movement. Many who attended the Hygienic Institutes reported profound improvements in their health—from reduced symptoms of chronic illness to a renewed sense of energy and vitality—reinforcing the movement’s core message: that true health begins with supporting the body’s inherent wisdom.
Among the leading institutes were:
In the US
- Dr. Herbert Shelton: Dr. Shelton’s Health School in San Antonio, TX
- Dr. Gerald Benesh: Dr. Benesh’s Health Ranch, Lake Wohlford, CA
- Dr. William Esser: Esser’s Health Ranch, Lake Worth, FL
- Dr. Robert Gross: Pawling Health Manor, Hyde Park, NY
- Dr. John Brosius: Bay & Gulf Health Center, St. Petersburg, FL
- Dr. D. J. Scott: Scott’s Natural Health Institute, Strongsville, OH
Outside the US
- Dr. Alec Burton: Arcadia Health Centre, Australia
- Dr. Keki Sidhwa: Shalimar, England
Dr. Gross has been a dedicated professional hygienist since 1957. In 1959, he and his wife, Joy, co-founded the widely acclaimed Pawling Health Manor, a hygienic retreat located in Hyde Park, New York. Their pioneering work and the Manor have been featured extensively across various media, including radio and television programs, books, and magazines. Joy is also the author of several influential books on Hygienic living.Dr. Gross previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Natural Hygiene Society and was president of the Society’s New York Chapter.
Quote
In Natural Hygiene we have no diets; we have a living regimen to overcome disease and fat acculumation.”
Dr. Robert Gross – From Health Science – Jan 1980
Dr. Brosious was a respected elder statesman of the American Natural Hygiene Society (ANHS) and a founding member of the International Association of Hygienic Physicians. He and his wife, Dorothy—who formerly served as Treasurer of the ANHS—both served on the Board of Directors of the American Natural Hygiene Association (ANHA). In addition, Dr. Brosious was an active board member of the Pinellas County Chiropractic Association and the Florida Chiropractic Association.
Together, he and Dorothy operated the Bay N’ Gulf Hygienic Home in St. Petersburg, where many individuals underwent supervised fasting and experienced significant health restoration under his care. Dr. Brosious devoted his life to improving the well-being of others, and through his work as both a physician and educator, he left a meaningful and lasting legacy.
Quote
“If everyone were a Natual Hygienist, there would be no drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.”–Dr. John Brosius
Dr. Scott specialized in fasting and hygienic care for many years, guiding numerous patients through supervised fasts at Scott’s Health Institute alongside his wife, Thelma. He holds degrees in both Chiropractic and Naturopathy and has pursued extensive studies in the field of nutrition. Dr. Scott served for several years on the National Health Association (NHA/ANHS) board of directors and was a founding president of the International Association of Hygienic Physicians (IAHP). He has lectured widely at ANHS chapters throughout the Midwest and has been a featured speaker at multiple NHA/ANHS annual conventions. Dr. Scott embodies character, emotional balance, and insight, making him a distinguished teacher of the “Art of Intelligent Living.”
Quote
“Revitalization means turning the declining health pattern in the direction of restored vital action or function.”
D.J. Scott – Health Science Magazine May 1978
As the founder and director of Shalimar Health Home, he helped more than 25,000 people overcome various ailments through supervised fasting and a Hygienic lifestyle, long before the center’s closure in 2004. He was also the co-founder and former president of the British National Hygiene Society, as well as a former president of the International Association of Professional Natural Hygienists. A passionate advocate for natural living, he served as editor of The Hygienist—then the longest-running publication of its kind—and lectured extensively across Europe, India, America, and his adopted home of Great Britain, where he had lived since 1948. Throughout his career, he authored six books, including “The Quintessence of Natural Living for Health and Happiness,” which offers a rich collection of his lectures, essays, and poems spanning over fifty years.
Quote:
“Sickness is a crime, particularly when it results from poor lifestyle choices rather than external accidents or unavoidable environmental factors.”
–Keki Sidhwa
Dr. Burton was the founder of the Arcadia Health Centre, a world-renowned residential clinic established in 1961. For over half a century, Arcadia has been at the forefront of health reform, operating continuously as a pioneering institution in holistic healthcare. The centre is dedicated to rational, science-informed approaches to fasting, recovery, prevention, education, and lifestyle transformation.
Alec was a distinguished intellectual—an accomplished scholar, writer, and researcher—whose brilliant mind was matched by his visionary spirit. He was a world-renowned practitioner and educator, admired not only for his groundbreaking contributions but also for his captivating presence, sharp wit, gentleness, and deep kindness. Alec’s passion for excellence spanned scientific inquiry, philosophical exploration, and the full spectrum of life.
Quote:
Ignorance is the greatest threat to the health of people around the world.– Alec Burton
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