Success story for kidney stone patient Nothing succeeds like success (mixed with a little magnesium). In the e-Alert "Easy Pass" (7/28/08) I shared a message from an HSI member named John who successfully managed kidney stones for many years with a simple, non-drug treatment. Now I've heard from another member, also named John, who has a similar story. John: "Adelle Davis many years ago advised taking Magnesium Oxide (500 mg); B6 - 50 mg; and Ascorbic Acid - 1 gram daily for a week, then once a week thereafter. From personal experience it works - have not had one in 36 years." This "recipe" seems sound to me, with the possible exception of one gram of vitamin C per week - only because the body eliminates C so quickly. So I checked in with HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., for his take on John's regimen. Dr. Spreen: "Actually, I'm pretty good to go with it. You don't want too much vitamin C (they say) because it can lower the excretion of citric acid in the urine. However, I normally say no more than 1000 mg twice/day and I never go below 1000 mg/day for anyone (at least, no exceptions so far). I'd never drop down to 1000/week. "The avoidance of sugar and caffeine are pretty important, in my book, at least until you know your tolerance. Some people say a low-protein diet, also, but I'm not that careful in that area - if there were some question I'd be adding digestive enzymes and not worrying so much about lowering the protein. "B-6 could go to 100 mg, but 50 isn't bad. "The composition of the stone (oxalate, urate, etc.) can make some difference in fine tuning." Talk to your doctor before addressing kidney stones with dietary supplements. | 
