Dr. Sebi was born Alfredo Darrington Bowman in Honduras. He was raised by his grandmother in an environment focused on love & nurture. As a boy, he never attended school, and was shown a natural way of living and a different way of thinking. This allowed Dr. Sebi to observe & understand nature more freely.

"All of my influences are Mama Hay... Mama Hay had love. Mama Hay had compassion. Mama Hay was sweet." —Dr. Sebi

In his 20s, Dr. Sebi became a merchant seaman, which allowed him to travel around the world, meet new people, experience new foods, and interact with various cultures. Opening his eyes to all the diets & foods in different regions, religious influences, and meeting people with different backgrounds as him.

"I met many people and I learned the value of interacting with different ethnic groups and nationalities." —Dr. Sebi

Dr. Sebi makes his way to the U.S., making New Orleans his new home. He experienced a culturally rich city with new foods, new friends, and a new way of living. New Orleans allowed Dr. Sebi to meet musicians, civil rights leaders, religious leaders, and people he would call family.

"When I left Honduras and I went to New Orleans, it was a quality of love that was being afforded and expressed in New Orleans." —Dr. Sebi

Dr. Sebi experienced various health issues throughout his lifetime, including obesity, asthma, and impotence. It affected both his physical and mental health. His healing journey begins in Mexico, as he meets a medicine man who changes his way of living, eating, and thinking. Reminding Dr. Sebi of his African roots, of his ancestry, and the importance of aligning his diet with that of his genetic makeup. Through fasting, cleansing, and herbal remedies, Dr. Sebi reverses every condition he once suffered from, giving way to a new life.

"...I got a call from a friend of mine in New Orleans about an herbalist in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He immediately placed me on an herbal diet along with juice and water for 94 days." —Dr. Sebi

Inspired by his healing, Dr. Sebi continues to research traditional medicine. As a steam engineer, Dr. Sebi made the connection between Alkalinity and nature. The more he experimented, the more clearer the message became, leading him to discovering the African Bio-Mineral Balance.

"I was a steam engineer, and I learned from the pH balance of things how to maintain the water. I concluded that if life manifests at 450°F and a pH of 7.1, which is alkaline, then the herbs I said that should heal has to be on the alkaline side of the pH scale." —Dr. Sebi

Dr. Sebi begins to experiment with different herb combinations and compounds. People begin to heal and tell their friends. He heals his first AIDS patient, leading him to place an ad in the paper stating he can cure HIV, diabetes, and other diseases, leading to charges of practicing medicine without a license.

"The judge asked me, 'What is the African Bio-Mineral Balance?' It is a therapeutical approach that cure disease on two levels. An intra-cellular chelation, or cleansing. Meaning we are not gonna cleanse the organs, we're gonna cleanse the very cell that makes up the organ. The next step, is nourishing the body back to health. Cleansing and rebuilding. That is the African Bio-Mineral Balance." -Dr. Sebi

In 1988, Dr. Sebi achieved a groundbreaking legal victory in New York City. After being charged with practicing medicine without a license, he successfully defended himself by providing evidence — including witness testimony and documented recoveries — that his natural remedies had healed individuals from a range of diseases. The court ruled in his favor, marking a pivotal moment that not only legitimized his work but also solidified his place as a revolutionary voice in natural medicine and holistic health.

"Your honor, there is only one disease. [Mucus.]" -Dr. Sebi

Throughout the 1990s, Dr. Sebi’s work captured the attention of a growing list of celebrities seeking natural paths to health. Among his most devoted supporters was Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the group TLC, who became one of his most vocal advocates. His teachings also reached entertainers, athletes, and public figures drawn to his philosophy of natural living and disease reversal. As his message spread across popular culture, Dr. Sebi’s influence deepened, inspiring a new generation to look beyond conventional medicine and return to nature for true healing.

"Lisa was balanced. Lisa had strength that I haven't seen in brothers who are males. Lisa knew that she was sick and that she wanted to be healed..." -Dr. Sebi

They say every healer must, at some point, swallow his own bitter medicine.

For Dr. Sebi, that moment came the day he discovered the company he’d nursed from kitchen-table tinctures into a global beacon for botanical health had been signed away behind closed doors. One morning he awoke no longer the steward of his life’s work. Betrayal might have broken another man, but not Dr. Sebi.

Together with his long-time friend and disciple, Pablo Medina, he took a monumental step toward sharing his vision of natural healing with the world by founding Dr. Sebi’s Cell Food. Side by side, they refined his herbal compounds, carving a path for future generations to access true, nature-based healing. Their collaboration ensured that the philosophy of alkaline living, cellular regeneration, and self-healing would not only survive but thrive, inspiring millions.



"I work with a young man named Pablo, Pablo Medina... You're going to be the recipient now of some new medicine that Pablo put together... So yes, you're gonna get the best compound I've ever made in my life!" - Dr. Sebi

During the last years of his life, Dr. Sebi dedicated his heart and soul to traveling the country, giving lectures, and sharing his timeless message of natural healing. Wherever he went, he ignited hope, inspired transformation, and reminded countless people that the power to heal lies within. His voice became a beacon for those seeking truth, vitality, and a return to nature.

"I love you very much, and I have delivered the message for you that is gonna help you, and we wanna further help you some more, by coming together..."

On August 6, 2016, Dr. Sebi passed away at the age of 82 while in custody in Honduras. He was reportedly arrested for carrying a large amount of cash and detained in jail, where he fell ill and ultimately died from complications believed to be related to pneumonia.

His unexpected death sparked widespread grief and reflection among his followers. Though his life ended, Dr. Sebi's message of natural healing, cellular regeneration, and an alkaline lifestyle continues to thrive, inspiring countless individuals worldwide.

"I love you now, I loved you then, and I will love you forever." —Dr. Sebi