Beverly Oliver
“I cured AIDS then. I cure AIDS now. And for as long as I live, I will be able to cure AIDS.”
Dr. Sebi, November 2005
His claims raised more than a few eyebrows in the New York Attorney General’s office. Nonetheless, in 1987, Dr. Sebi stood by them and advertised his services in New York City publications New York Amsterdam News and the Village Voice.
Words in the advertisements included: “Dr. Sebi’s Usha Herbal Research Institute African Herbal Bio-Mineral Balance System. Through this process the institute has successfully cured pathologies such as arthritis, asthma, blindness, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, female problems, heart dysfunctions, herpes, leukemia, mental illness, sickle cell anemia, impotency, high blood pressure, etc.”
In a separate ad, the text says “AIDS Has Been Cured by the Usha Institute . . . using the African Bio Mineral Balance.”
Despite Dr. Sebi’s and the Usha Herbal Research Institute’s success, Attorney General Robert Abram deemed the claims fraudulent and ordered Dr. Sebi to remove his ads. When Dr. Sebi refused, he was arrested and put on trial.
Text from the trial’s Permanent Injunction stated,
It is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that respondents are permanently enjoined from engaging in any fraudulent, deceptive or illegal acts of practices, including, but not limited to:
· Claiming, orally or in writing, directly or by implication, that respondents, their services or their products can cure, mitigate, or in any way relieve or alter the course of AIDS, herpes, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, lupus or any other human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition.
· Distributing or publishing any advertisement, brochures or other printed matter or broadcasting any advertisement which claims directly or by implication, that respondents, their services or their products, can cure, mitigate or in any way relieve or alter the course of AIDS, herpes, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, lupus or any other human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition.
Dr. Sebi and his company never wavered in their claims to cure the diseases mentioned in the ads. Lancaster Laboratories helped them maintain that steadfast position in court. According to Dr. Sebi, representatives from Lancaster attended his trial and testified that Fig Tree products were tested, verified and deemed organic natural vegetation cell food.
Lancaster Laboratories is now Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environmental, a division owned by Eurofins. Both are major laboratories “With a broad range of laboratory testing methods from germination testing to plant disease diagnosis to a wide variety of seed health testing options.” Eurofins Lancaster has a global reach, providing clients in multiple industries with analytical testing services. One of the company’s mission statements is “We feel that every sample that we receive from a customer is an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to accuracy, timeliness, and understanding.” This is the kind of analytical expertise Dr. Sebi sought for his products, a decision that served him well in court.
When the trial ended in his favor—several of Dr. Sebi’s clients were witnesses— Dr. Sebi and the Usha Herbal Research Institute recategorized and repackaged their products, using language from Lancaster Laboratories on the new labels: These products are made of natural vegetation cell food.
Collectively, they represent the alkaline herbal healing method Dr. Sebi created more than 40 years ago, the African Bio Mineral Balance.
