Alfredo Darrington Bowman, also known as Dr. Sebi, became dissatisfied with Western medical practices in his early years. His dissatisfaction stemmed from treatments he received for his conditions such as asthma, diabetes, visual impairment, and impotency. Frustrated with less than successful results, he visited an herbalist in Mexico. Soon after finding an appropriate treatment for his ailments, he began his own healing practice in Honduras.

Dr. Sebi was a herbalist and self-proclaimed healer. He also practiced in the United States in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He began a treatment approach called ‘African Bioelectric Cell Food Therapy,’ a natural vegetation cell food compound geared for inter-cellular cleansing, and the revitalization of all the cells comprising the human body. He claimed it could cure diseases such as cancer, AIDS, a variety of chronic conditions, and mental illnesses. Dr. Sebi’s fame continued to increase after advising Hollywood celebrities, such as Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Steven Seagal, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, and Michael Jackson. Dr. Sebi believed disease is a result of mucus build-up in a particular area of the body. For example, a buildup of mucus in the lungs is pneumonia, while excess mucus in the pancreas is diabetes. Dr. Sebi’s argument was that diseases cannot survive in an alkaline environment.

According to Dr. Sebi, “Fasting will heal every part of your body that needs to be healed. Fasting cleanses the arteries and eyes. It enhances the nerves, the cognitive state, and the continence of temperament.

Fasting means to willfully stop eating. Fasting dates back centuries and is a big part of many cultures and religions. There are many types of voluntary abstinence or reduction from some or all food and/or drink, for a period of time. An absolute fast, or dry fasting, means abstaining from all food and liquid. However, other types of fasts involve consuming water, liquids, or even specific foods. Dr. Sebi used to have his agua de tamarindo (tamarind water) fast. Since he did not ingest food, he also consumed certain products like his compounds, to nourish his body. He claimed his compounds amplified the blood-purifier and cleansing effects of fasting, while he believed that this would also strengthen and improve the respiratory, digestive, immune, and nervous systems.