Framed Letter from Bill W. to Sybil - Vitamin B3 package - 1965
Sale
Original price
$6,500
Original price
$6,500
-
Original price
$6,500
Original price
$6,500
Current price
$5,000
$5,000
-
$5,000
Current price
$5,000
Bill Wilson's Vitamin B3 correspondence with Sybil January 6, 1966
Package Includes
----Framed Original letter from Bill Wilson to Sybil (Willis)
----Original booklet "A Communication to A.A. Physicians" from Bill W. dated December 1965
----Photocopy of follow-up letter from Bill W.
The Letter
In a letter dated January 6, 1966, Bill Wilson writes to Sybil Willis (while questioning if he's used the correct last name following her separation from Jim Willis) concerning his findings regarding Vitamin B3 as a treatment for depression and schizophrenia. He indicates he's enclosed a couple of copies of his presentation to A.A doctors (one of Sybil's copies included with this package). Stating the benefits he has found in his study, he expresses his belief that many AA's are afflicted with such mental health issues and could well benefit from the use of this vitamin. He goes on to state that many are already benefitting and many more similarly could. Being aware of the "grumblings" and talk of his violating traditions that some are talking about, Bill asks if she's heard of these benefits and if she'd know anyone in the fellowship that might find this useful....
B-3 Booklet
Titled "A Communication to A.A.'s Physicians" "The Vitamin B-3 Therapy: A Promising Treatment for Schizophrenia and its high relevance to the field of alcoholism," this booklet is labeled not for public quotation or use. Referring to Dr. Abram Hoffer and Dr. Humphry Osmond's research, and including some non-scientific observations of his own, Bill makes the case for Vitamin B-3 therapy in the alcoholic.
Bill Wilson dedicated much of his time and effort in the 1960’s to the research of Vitamin B-3/Niacin Therapy as a treatment for Schizophrenia and Alcoholism.
Dr. Abram Hoffer was a doctor that had helped Bill Wilson with his research into Vitamin B-3 Therapy. He studied megavitamin therapy and other nutritional interventions as potentially effective treatments for schizophrenia and other diseases. Hoffer was also involved in studies of LSD as an experimental therapy for alcoholism and the discovery that high-dose niacin can be used to treat schizophrenia and depression with alcoholics. Hoffer's ideas about megavitamin therapy to treat mental illness were not accepted by the medical community.
The Follow-up Letter
While there was obviously communication between Sybil and Bill during the intervening period, Bill writes on July 9, 1966, and asks for the addresses of Jack Seeley and Bob Corwin (later to become Sybil's 5th and last husband) so that he may follow up on their "case histories" and experience before and after using Vitamin B-3. Bill was about to present to a group of International doctors on his findings!!!!! At the bottom of the letter Sybil writes "answered 7/13/66."