5 Awesome And Healthy Uses for Activated Charcoal

Using activated charcoal dates back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians discovered its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. But the first recorded use of charcoal for medicinal purposes was in 1500 B.C. It was used to absorb the odor from wounds and from inside of the intestinal tracts.

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) categorized charcoal as “safe and effective” for cases of acute poisoning. In order to make charcoal more marketable, health manufacturers introduced activated charcoal.

Is there a difference in its effect?  The answer is none. The basic charcoal becomes activated charcoal when subjected to high temperatures. It then combines with gas or activating agents to increase its surface area. Charcoal, active carbon and activated charcoal are used interchangeably.

Nowadays, activated charcoal comes in charcoal powder, tablets and capsules, and beauty products.

The reason for the popularity of activated charcoal is because of its adsorptive ability. Adsorption is defined as the “adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface.” This is exactly how activated charcoal works!

Have you experienced sharp pain in your stomach after a meal? That’s commonly caused by gas that is trapped in your intestines.

A study conducted of male patients with excessive gas bloating problems together with healthy males confirms how activated charcoal can relieve stomach gas & bloating. The participants were given 6 capsules of AC or a 1560 mg of AC in total. There was reduced H2 gas produced when participants took AC with lactulose. This finding was published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Activated charcoal has the ability to bind gas-producing by-products in the food you eat and flush the toxins out of your body. So if you have a buffet to attend, it is wise to take 500 mg of AC beforehand, preferably an hour and a half before the meal. Take the pill with full glass of water.

Emergency units use activated charcoal because of its potent effect. It adsorbs the toxins and helps to flush them out of the body.

AC pills or powder can be taken internally in cases of ingested toxins, chemicals or drugs. It works by absorbing the toxins in the intestinal tract. Then it releases them in the bowel movement or defecation.

 It is always recommended to have activated charcoal on your travels. When traveling, you will be tempted to try the food and this can cause problems like diarrhea.

So keep some AC pills in your pocket and take a pill 90 minutes before you indulge yourself. It will cleanse your intestine from all the chemicals and toxins that are not beneficial to your health. Not to mention, it also removes bacteria that can develop even on cooked food.

Drink it with a lot of water or else you’ll have constipation.

Cholesterol buildup can be very risky especially if you have history of cardiovascular disease. Bad cholesterol or LDL can result to blood clotting, hypertension, cardiac arrest and stroke. You can lower it by taking activated charcoal.

Neuvonen, et al conducted a further study on 10 patients diagnosed severe hypercholesterolaemia. They ingested activated charcoal 16 g, cholestyramine 16 g, combination of activated charcoal 8 g + cholestyramine 8 g, or bran for 3 weeks. The result showed that the LDL-cholesterol decreased by 29% with activated charcoal.

Oral ingestion of AC can lower cholesterol and high bile acid level.  By taking AC pills, you can have normal cholesterol level.

Mold is a health hazard. Are you aware how it can affect your condition in many ways? There are mold growing in your home and workplace. In fact, mold exposure is dangerous to your health. Toxic molds or mycotoxins cause depression, poor memory function, headaches, respiratory diseases, vomiting, joint pains or eye irritation.

To cleanse your home or office, you can use AC air purifier.

Aside from efforts to get rid of the molds in your surroundings, what can you do to get rid of the mold that has unknowingly entered your bodies?

You can take activated charcoal to detox or cleanse your system. Take AC as a supplement. Follow the dosage on the bottle. Similarly, you can use beauty products such as AC soap face products to detox.