Claim: Dr. Alfredo.Sebi Bowman murdered for challenging Western medicine
The May 19 Facebook video (direct link, archived link) begins with an image of Alfredo “Dr. Sebi” Bowman next to an image of Burdock.
“Burdock contains over 92 of the 102 minerals your body needs,” reads the video's on-screen text. “Dr. Sebi tried to show it to the world, but they threw him in jail and he died (sic).”
The additional text on the screen will look like this: They killed him for revealing the truth. ”
The video was shared more than 20,000 times in one week.
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Our rating: False
Bowman died of complications from pneumonia while in police custody on suspicion of money laundering. He said there was no credible evidence of criminal activity and his family did not believe he was murdered.
Claims linking death and promotion of herbal medicine
Bowman, a self-proclaimed healer with a long list of celebrity clients, tried to enter Honduras at Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport in May 2016 with $37,000 in cash, only to find that he didn't know what to do. He was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. He was initially released with a court date, but was rearrested a few days later and remained in jail after developing pneumonia. He died of the illness on August 6, 2016, according to the Associated Press.
His death sparked conspiracy theories that he was murdered for challenging Western medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. The allegations also extended to the murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was working on a documentary about Bowman.
However, there is no reliable evidence that his death was the result of a conspiracy.
Three years after his death, his son Alfred “Asami” Bowman Jr., daughter Kelly Bowman, and grandson Isea Bowman spoke out about the allegations in an interview on the morning radio show “The Breakfast Club.”
“It wasn't government involvement, it wasn't government wrongdoing,” Isaiah Bowman said. If he watches TV, he too could die. ”
Isea Bowman said her uncle almost died in the same prison in Honduras.
Fact check: Post falsely links goldfish snacks to herbicides
A Facebook video links Alfred Bowman's death to support for burdock, the plant depicted in the video. The root has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and is known to be rich in antioxidants and fiber, as well as acting as an anti-diarrheal agent.
The self-proclaimed healer, who had no formal medical training, claimed that an alkaline diet and numerous natural herbal remedies and supplements could improve health and cure conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cancer. His celebrity clients reportedly included actors Eddie Murphy and Steven Seagal, and musicians Michael Jackson and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez.He is considered a key figure in the growth of holistic medicine in the United States
But he faced legal challenges to his work, including skepticism from medical professionals and a lawsuit in New York that required him to stop making disease-specific claims about his treatment after being sued by the state for consumer fraud. It also faced objections.
USA TODAY previously debunked Alfred Bowman's claim that drinking urine can help treat blindness. Medical experts said the idea was unfounded and posed a real health risk.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the allegations for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
PolitiFact also debunked this claim.
Our fact-checking sources:
Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (YouTube), August 9, 2019, Dr. Sebi's family talks about his influence on herbal medicine and passing on his legacy The Telegraph, August 24, 2016, Alfredo Bowman, Renowned Herbalist – Obituary McGill University, April 12, 2019, “Dr. Sebi: What do we say about this non-physician?” USA TODAY, March 29, 2019, Fact Check: Drinking Urine Can Cause Medical Problems , vision does not improve” Source, August 7, 2016, Dr. Sebi dies in Honduran police custody Los Angeles Times, August 5, 2022, Dr. Sebi found alive in LA Associated Press , April 2, 2019, the social media detective takes on the mysterious herbalist Dr. Sebi.Sevier Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, accessed May 26, Burdock Information
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