The "Nature Doctors" were alternative health practitioners of the 19th century who carved a path of natural health treatments that have helped define naturopathy today. Naturopathy is a suite of health-inducing modalities whose common thread is a "back to nature" approach to living and health."
Allison did a really good job on this article and is worth the read. If you don't get N Magazine you can find it in some book stores and of course you can order a copy online.