Dr. Stephen Kaufman
Denver, CO.
(303) 756-9567 e-mail:kaufmansteve@qwest.net
Vitamin C: Bowel Tolerance Dose
note: this information is only to be used by my patients whom I have specifically recommended it to. It is not suggested to do this unless you have checked with your doctor first. Do not use if any signs of abdominal or stomach distress are present, if diarrhea is present to begin with, if the patient has a history of kidney stones ,or any allergy or sensitivity to vitamin C or corn. Always check with your physician!
This will often cure a cold or flu, especially if it's the first day or two, according to Robert Cathcart, M.D., the world's foremost authority on medical usage of vitamin C.
Take vitamin C powder , preferably in the form of sodium ascorbate. This is available at Whole Foods Market in Denver and possibly other stores. Ascorbic acid is also available but may irritate the stomach at this dosage. Do not use tablets or capsules. An adult needs to take almost the dose that starts to cause diarrhea. In most cases this will be between 30-70 grams a day (30,000- 70,000 mgs.), sometimes higher. There are 4 grams in a teaspoon, so that's between 8 and 18 teaspoons in a day. I'd suggest starting at a teaspoon in 4-8 ounces of room temperature water every hour, and increasing to 2 tsps. an hour if diarrhea doesn't begin in 4 or 5 hours, for a total of 8-18 tsps. a day. Some people get gas and bloating at lower doses but this actually goes away once the diarrhea starts. If stomach pain is too uncomfortable, discontinue this . Do not do this if stomach or abdominal pain is present, as this may indicate appendicitis. Only use under the guidance of your doctor.
Once the diarrhea starts, reduce the dose slightly so that the stools are loose but not liquid. Continue this dose for two or three days and then taper off as the cold leaves. The key is to get just about to the level that causes diarrhea. Lower doses usually don't help much! The cold will often miraculously start to disappear in a few hours.
If you're not willing to deal with diarrhea and prefer a gentler approach (understandable, but who wants to have a cold for two weeks?), see "colds and sinus problems" for other very effective approaches.
e-mail:kaufmansteve@qwest.net