Alfredo Bowman

Alfredo Bowman (26 November 1933 – 6 August 2016), better known as Dr. Sebi, was a Honduran herbalist and self-proclaimed healer. Bowman claimed to cure all disease with herbs and a unique vegan diet based on various pseudoscience claims. His diet was based on the discredited alkaline diet. His beliefs on the origin of disease denied germ theory and teach that HIV is not the cause of AIDS, and factored in faux-Afrocentric claims about the unique genetic characteristics of Africans and its diaspora.

Early life

Bowman was born on 26 November 1933 in the village of Ilanga, Honduras. He was a self-educated man who reportedly learned about herbalism from his grandmother and a Mexican herbalist who he referred to as his master.

Career

Bowman began his career as a herbalist in New York City, providing natural remedies and treatments to a diverse population. He gained fame in the 1980s and became a controversial figure after he claimed to have found a natural cure for AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases. This led to a 1987 court case in which the New York Attorney General charged him with practicing medicine without a license. Bowman won the case by producing witnesses who testified that he had cured them of these diseases.

Controversies

Despite his court victory, Bowman's practices and proclaimed cures were often criticized by medical professionals for lack of scientific evidence. His treatments were based on the alkaline diet, which posits that disease is caused by an acidic diet and can be cured by consuming alkaline foods. This diet has been widely discredited by the medical community.

Death

Bowman died on 6 August 2016 in his native Honduras. He was arrested months prior on money laundering charges and was in custody at the time of his death.

Legacy

Despite the controversies surrounding his practices, Bowman has left a lasting impact on certain communities. His teachings continue to be promoted by several individuals, including some celebrities who claim to have been cured by his methods.