Activated Charcoal

How to thrive after you survive using charcoal remedies

The big deal

Activated charcoal (AC) can absorb lead, strychnine, DDT, chlorine, mercury and many other poisons along with many drugs including; cocaine, radioactive iodine, penicillin, aspirin and phenobarbital.

Absorption ability is one of the major benefits of AC as it can literally absorb thousands of times its own weight in toxins. AC is an amazing substance that is routinely used in hospitals and by physicians for drug overdose and poison detoxification.

Over 4,000 chemicals, drugs, plant and microbial toxins, allergens, venom, and toxic wastes can be effectively neutralized by activated charcoal!

What is activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is the burned substance remaining from incinerated bone char, coconut shells, olive pits, white willow bark and/or sawdust. In order to activate charcoal products, charcoal is oxidized using high temperature steam or the charcoal is mixed with calcium chloride and then further processed. “Activation” serves to greatly increase the absorbability of regular charcoal. “Activation” causes the formation of a huge number of very small micro pores on the charcoal’s surface, which work as microscopic traps to gobble up compounds and particles.

Because of the unusual amount of micro pores in AC, a standard dose of 50g of AC equates to the absorptive surface area of 10 football fields! Not only that, AC is also negatively charged to magnetically attract the positive ionic charges common to toxins in poisons. After the AC absorbs all the nearby toxic chemicals from the digestive tract and bloodstream, the AC is not absorbed by the body but rather passes on through, carrying all the little nasties out with it*.

Caveat: Activated charcoal will interfere with absorption of prescription and over-the-counter medications into the body. AC should always be taken separately – (wait three to four hours in between using AC and taking medication).

Historical uses of charcoal

Ancient historical uses of charcoal date back thousands of years and has been used mostly for headache treatment, gastric upset remedies and poison remedy. Sea explorers actually scorched the inside of wooden water barrels to preserve drinking water during long voyages. The Greek physician Hippocrates used an activated form of charcoal to cure many different ailments including epilepsy and bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. In fact, AC back then was called “black magic” because of its color and unbelievable healing abilities.

There are also many recent historical uses for plain old charcoal powder. For instance, hospitals in the 1800s used plain powdered charcoal to stifle the stench of rotting flesh. The American Calvary used plain lump charcoal in the last compartment of a 3-compartment box water filtering system using gravel, then washed sand; then charcoal. This application successfully filters stagnant swamp water into potable drinking water.

Charcoal sprinkled in boots was used by some WW I soldiers to fight off the dreaded trench-foot.

One of the reasons that charcoal works so well on foot odors when applied to the feet, socks and shoes is that it binds to toxic heavy metals that naturally gravitate through the body and toward the feet. These toxic metals cause cellular damage that brings fungus and bacteria in that literally feeds off of the damaged cells.

Modern uses for activated charcoal

AC not only fights trench-foot, it helps eliminate funky foot odors. AC is well-known for removing many heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum and lead. AC is also an effective air freshener. In the digestive tract, AC reduces gas–especially after certain eating foods (such as beans) that generate excess intestinal gas. AC relieves upset stomachs and nausea. AC treats alcohol poisoning, reduces high cholesterol as much as prescription medications, kills and removes parasites and bacteria from the body (from bugs that cause everything from a stuffy nose to more invasive parasites). AC is also a critical component used in dialysis. AC relieves symptoms of nervous diarrhea and traveler’s diarrhea, calms a spastic colon, cools indigestion and helps peptic ulcers heal. Got a headache? Take some AC.

Try some AC on your next headache and let me know how well it works!

Natural teeth whitener

Activated charcoal helps to eliminate bad breath by cleansing the mouth and digestive tract. Not only does AC combat the halitosis that accompanies oral bacteria, nothing works better for maintaining your pearly whites than a gentle scrubbing with good old AC. In fact, nothing else removes acidic plaque from the teeth like charcoal does. If you like a little foam with your brushing, then use a toothbrush dipped in hydrogen peroxide with charcoal and baking soda mixed together and sprinkled on the wet brush.

Tooth wisdom: Bad teeth are a symptom of a lousy diet and nutrient deficiencies.

Stock up before you need it!

Buy your activated charcoal at your local drug store, health food store or online before you need it. I keep a bottle or two of activated charcoal in my kitchen cabinets–handy for any food-related stomach upset, nausea, flu symptoms or headaches.

Four capsules of AC will generally handle these little bumps in life. But, what I really like to do is take 1 heaping tablespoon of bulk AC and put it into a quart jar, fill the jar with filtered water, shake before use and take a big gulp of this concoction as-needed.

Activated charcoal is for OCCASIONAL USE only. Long-term daily use is NOT recommended as AC absorbs a small to moderate amount of healthy nutrients along with absorbing toxins.