'antiphysician' originates from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with the word 'physician', which comes via Old French 'fisicien' from Latin/Greek roots related to 'physis' meaning 'nature' (originally a practitioner concerned with natural philosophy and healing).

'physician' changed from Old French 'fisicien' (via Latin 'physicus', Greek 'physikos') into Middle English 'physicien' and eventually the modern English 'physician'; the modern compound 'antiphysician' was formed in Modern English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'physician' to denote opposition to physicians.

Originally, 'physician' referred broadly to a practitioner of natural philosophy or a healer tied to 'nature'; over time it narrowed to mean a medical doctor. 'Antiphysician' consequently came to mean specifically someone opposed to doctors or conventional medical practice.