The Apricot Seed Revolution: Dr. Richardson’s Legacy and the Revival of Vitamin B17
The Story They Tried to Bury
In the 1950s and 60s, whispers began to circulate through the natural health world about a curious compound found in apricot seeds. Known as Laetrile, or Vitamin B17, this molecule—extracted from the humble kernel inside an apricot pit—showed promise as a natural anti-cancer therapy. And at the center of its controversial rise was a California physician named Dr. John A. Richardson, MD.
Dr. Richardson’s journey began not in the pages of a medical journal, but with his own ailing cat. After experimenting with Laetrile, the tumor on the cat’s neck dramatically shrank. That personal experience launched what would become a full-blown crusade—for healing, for truth, and for medical freedom of choice.
From Cat Tumor to Cancer Clinic
Encouraged by his early experience, Dr. Richardson connected with Dr. Ernst T. Krebs, Jr., the biochemist whose family had pioneered research on Laetrile. But it wasn’t until his nurse, Charlotte Anderson, pleaded with him to treat her sister Mildred—diagnosed with advanced melanoma—that he crossed the line from cautious observer to active practitioner.
Mildred responded so well to the B17 treatment that her doctors were stunned. The cancer had disappeared. Yet, despite this apparent recovery, the hospital still recommended amputation—solely based on her past diagnosis. Mildred declined. Years later, she greeted Dr. Richardson at a wedding—with both arms. That moment confirmed for him what he already knew: the mainstream medical establishment had closed its eyes to promising alternatives.
The Price of Going Against the Grain
Once Dr. Richardson began openly using Laetrile in his practice, the backlash was swift and punishing.
- His office was raided.
- Patient files were confiscated.
- He and his nurses were jailed.
- He was slandered, sued, and eventually stripped of his medical license.
Despite these hardships, he continued treating thousands of patients—often those who had been given no hope by conventional medicine—with remarkable results. His work is chronicled in Laetrile Case Histories: The Richardson Cancer Clinic Experience, which documents successful case after case of metabolic therapy.
What Is the Richardson Protocol?
The Richardson Protocol is a holistic, non-toxic cancer support regimen that combines Laetrile with supportive metabolic therapies to strengthen the body’s defenses and detoxification systems.
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The Core Components of the 2024 Protocol:
- Vitamin B17 (Laetrile): 500 mg capsules, 1–6 per day
- Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid): 500 mg, 1–3 per day
- Vitamin C: 1,500–5,000 mg daily
- Vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol): 800–1,200 IU
- Pancreatic Enzymes: 1–6 capsules daily
- Plant-based diet: Raw or steamed vegetables, fresh fish, skinless poultry
- Strict avoidance of: Dairy, red meat, refined sugar, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and sedatives
- Lifestyle: Regular exercise, hydration, and deep rest
This updated protocol builds on the original 1977 version, which also included amino acids, chelated minerals, and predigested protein for those unable to tolerate conventional food protein.
Why B17? Why Apricot Seeds?
Laetrile contains amygdalin, a naturally occurring compound that, under certain enzymatic conditions, breaks down into hydrogen cyanide—believed by its proponents to selectively target cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. While this theory is still controversial and often dismissed by conventional oncology, tens of thousands of anecdotal cases and decades of clinical experience at the Richardson Clinic suggest otherwise.
Moreover, B17 is not patentable. It occurs in nature—in apricot kernels, bitter almonds, and other seeds—and that made it a threat to the multi-billion-dollar cancer industry. The FDA and AMA eventually banned Laetrile in the U.S., citing safety concerns and insufficient evidence of efficacy. But for Richardson and his patients, the results spoke for themselves.
The Fight for Medical Freedom
Dr. Richardson’s story is more than a tale of one man and a seed. It’s a powerful allegory about freedom of choice in healthcare. He risked everything to offer patients a gentler, natural path to healing—and paid dearly for it. He spent the last years of his life in courtrooms, not clinics, and ultimately died under suspicious circumstances during a “routine” surgery.
Yet his work lives on through the Richardson Nutritional Center (RNC), now operated by his son, John Richardson, Jr., and through books, protocols, and the countless lives that have been touched by his legacy.
References
- Certified Dr. Richardson Protocol - 2024 and 1977 Versions. Richardson Nutritional Center, 2024.
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Laetrile Case Histories: The Richardson Cancer Clinic Experience, John A. Richardson, MD & Patricia Irving Griffin, RN/BS, 1977 (updated 2005).