Common charcoal is made from peat, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum. “Activated charcoal” is similar to common charcoal, but is made especially for use as a medicine. To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or “pores.” These pores help activated charcoal “trap” chemicals.

Activated charcoal is used to treat poisonings, reduce intestinal gas (flatulence), lower cholesterol levels, prevent hangover, and treat bile flow problems (cholestasis) during pregnancy.

Trapping chemicals to stop some types of poisoning when used as a part of standard treatment.

Lowering cholesterol levels. So far, research studies don’t agree about the effectiveness of taking activated charcoal by mouth to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

Decreasing gas (flatulence). Some studies show that activated charcoal is effective in reducing intestinal gas, but other studies don’t agree. It’s too early to come to a conclusion on this.

Treating reduced bile flow (cholestasis) during pregnancy. Taking activated charcoal by mouth seems to help treat cholestasis in pregnancy, according to some early research reports.

Preventing hangover. Activated charcoal is included in some hangover remedies, but some experts are skeptical about how well it might work. Activated charcoal doesn’t seem to trap alcohol well.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of activated charcoal for these uses.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETYActivated charcoal is safe for most adults when used short-term. Side effects of activated charcoal include constipation and black stools. More serious, but rare, side effects are a slowing or blockage of the intestinal tract, regurgitation into the lungs, and dehydration.Special Precautions & Warnings:Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Activated charcoal might be safe when used short-term if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, but consult with your healthcare professional before using if you are pregnant.

Gastrointestinal (GI) blockage or slow movement of food through the intestine: Don’t use activated charcoal if you have any kind of intestinal obstruction. Also, if you have a condition that slows the passage of food through your intestine (reduced peristalsis), don’t use activated charcoal, unless you are being monitored by your healthcare provider.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL INTERACTIONS 

Major Interaction Do not take this combination

Syrup of ipecac interacts with ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Activated charcoal can bind up syrup of ipecac in the stomach. This decreases the effectiveness of syrup of ipecac.

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

Alcohol interacts with ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Activated charcoal is sometimes used to prevent poisons from being absorbed into the body. Taking alcohol with activated charcoal might decrease how well activated charcoal works to prevent poison absorption.

Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs) interacts with ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Activated charcoal absorbs substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking activated charcoal along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction, take activated charcoal at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.

Charcoal is carbon. (See this Question of the Dayfor details on how charcoal is made.) Activated

charcoal is charcoal that has been treated withoxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the

carbon atoms. According to Encylopedia Britannica :

The use of special manufacturing techniques results in highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of

300-2,000 square metres per gram. These so-called active, or activated, charcoals are widely used to

adsorb odorous or coloured substances from gases or liquids.

The word adsorb is important here. When a material adsorbs something, it attaches to it by chemical

attraction. The huge surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless bonding sites. When certain

chemicals pass next to the carbon surface, they attach to the surface and are trapped.

Activated charcoal is good at trapping other carbon-based impurities ("organic" chemicals), as well as

things like chlorine. Many other chemicals are not attracted to carbon at all -- sodium, nitrates, etc. -- so

they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal filter will remove certain impurities while

ignoring others. It also means that, once all of the bonding sites are filled, an activated charcoal filter

stops working. At that point you must replace the filter.

What Is Activated Charcoal and How Does it Work?

Answer: Activated charcoal is used in water filters, medicines that selectively remove toxins, and

chemical purification processes. Activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated withoxygen. The

treatment results in a highly porous charcoal. These tiny holes give the charcoal a surface area of 300-

2,000 m2/g, allowing liquids or gases to pass through the charcoal and interact with the exposed

carbon. The carbon adsorbs a wide range of impurities and contaminants, including chlorine, odors,

and pigments. Other substances, like sodium, fluoride, and nitrates, are not as attracted to the carbon

and are not filtered out. Because adsorption works by chemically binding the impurities to the carbon,

the active sites in the charcoal eventually become filled. Activated charcoal filters become less

effective with use and have to be recharged or replaced.

Several factors influence the effectiveness of activated charcoal. The pore size and distribution varies

depending on the source of the carbon and the manufacturing process. Large organic molecules are

absorbed better than smaller ones. Adsorption tends to increase as pH and temperature decrease.

Contaminants are also removed more effectively if they are in contact with the activated charcoal for a

longer time, so flow rate through the charcoal affects filtration.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is type of carbon made from wood, vegetables and other materials. It looks like a fine black powder. Activated charcoal is believed to have a large adsorptive capacity, making it able to bind with unwanted substances and toxins in the gut. 

Activated charcoal may help to lower cholesterol by interfering with enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. It has been found to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Why Do People Use Activated Charcoal?

Detoxification

Bloating and gas

Malodorous gas

High cholesterol 

Poisoning / overdose – under medical supervision. If poisoning or overdose is suspected, go immediately to the emergency department of a hospital.

Activated charcoal is also used in air and water filters.

Dosage Information

Activated charcoal is available in liquid or powder form. It is a popular ingredient in colon cleanse products. 

Activated charcoal should be taken with plenty of water to avoid intestinal obstruction or constipation. 

Side Effects and Safety

Pregnant or nursing women and the elderly should avoid activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal should not used concomitantly with medication or nutritional supplements.

Activated charcoal can cause stools to appear black. Other side effects of activated charcoal include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or constipation. 

Although there haven't been adverse effects in amounts used in nutritional supplements, there are no studies on the long-term safety of activated charcoal in humans. 

What is a Toothache?

A toothache is any pain or soreness within or around a tooth or the jaw. The most common cause of toothache is dental cavities. Bacteria in the mouth can form plaques that stick to teeth and form acids that eat through tooth enamel, causing a cavity. This toothache pain is usually worse when you eat cold or hot food.

Other common causes of toothache are gum disease, tooth abscess, cracked tooth, irritated tooth root,

and a condition called temporomandibular joint, which affects the jaw.

Toothache can also be a sign of heart attack, ear infections, and sinusitis.

Toothache Remedies

Although there haven't been clinical trials on natural toothache remedies to date, the following two home toothache remedies have been used in folk medicine to reduce toothache.

1) Clove Oil Compress

Clove oil contains eugenol, a natural pain killer and antibacterial. Mix 2 to 3 drops of pure clove oil with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Saturate a cotton ball with the mixture and place the cotton ball beside the tooth. 

If the toothache involves a molar at the back of your mouth, you can bite down gently on the cotton ball to keep it in place. Leave it there for as long as possible (but don't go to sleep with it in your mouth.) Pain relief should begin quite rapidly. 

Side effectsUndiluted clove oil inside the mouth can causing burning, tissue or nerve damage, and pain. In large doses, clove oil taken orally can cause vomiting, sore throat, seizure, difficulty breathing, kidney failure, or liver damage. Clove oil shouldn't be applied to broken skin. 

Children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with diabetes, kidney or liver disease or bleeding disorders should avoid taking clove oil.

2) Activated Charcoal Compress

Activated charcoal is available at many drug stores and natural health food stores. 

Mix two teaspoons of activated charcoal powder with just enough water to make a paste. Apply it to a

piece of gauze and place the gauze on the tooth. Bite down. 

Antidote For Drugs, Chemicals and Poisons

Activated charcoal has the well-earned reputation of being a universal antidote. It can adsorb most

organic chemicals, many inorganic chemicals and countless poisonous substances before they can

cause harm. How well activated charcoal really works in practical situations depends on several

different factors:8

1. The type of toxicant (its chemical structure and physical properties)

2. The amount and type of charcoal ingested.

3. The length of time from toxin ingestion to activated charcoal ingestion.

4. The contents of your intestinal fluids and intestinal transport efficiency.

As a general rule, a single large dose of activated charcoal should be taken as soon as possible

after ingesting a poison. The amount of activated charcoal should exceed the toxic substance by a

factor of eight (a ratio of 8:1). In other words, if youre poisoned with 5 grams of a chemical, you need

to take at least 40 grams of activated charcoal. Other researchers recommend different dosages.

Some experts believe a 10 to 1 ratio is correct. Still other experts recommend a fixed amount of 50 to

100 grams. I recommend ingesting a minimum of 50 grams of activated charcoal as a counterpoison,

because ingesting large amounts of activated charcoal is harmless, and taking too little is ineffective.

Besides, how often in the case of an emergency can you precisely determine the amount of the

poison?

The actual effectiveness of the activated charcoal will vary, so take more than you think you

require. Activated charcoal should be taken within 30 minutes of ingesting the poison. The longer the

delay, the less effective activated charcoal will be. On some poisons delaying more than 30 minutes

decreases the effectiveness of the activated charcoal as an antidote by up to 60%. The bottom line is

plain and simple. Keeping activated charcoal in your medicine cabinet and taking it if you are poisoned

could save your life and your money too. It has been estimated that use of activated charcoal for

treating poisonings could reduce the stay in intensive care from 3 or 4 days to one, saving over

$100,000,000 in health care costs and preventing unnecessary disability and death.11

Systemic Clearance of Drugs and Intoxicants

Nowadays, activated charcoal is often used to clear drugs and intoxicants that can enter the body

through the intestinal tract, and even by injection and other routes. The systemic clearance of toxic

substances or detoxification by activated charcoal is accomplished by taking multiple daily doses.

Activated charcoal detoxifies the body in several manners:4

1. Purifies the 6-8 liters of digestive fluids that are secreted daily which in turn helps remove

foreign substances from the blood.

2. Absorbs the intoxicant substance and its metabolites that are excreted into the small intestine

from the biliary (bile) tract, preventing their reabsorption.

3. Absorbs drugs that diffuse back into the stomach and intestines.

4. Decreases the detoxification work load of the liver.

Activated charcoal shortens the time it takes an intoxicant to leave the system and decreases the

duration and intensity of symptoms.15 People who take activated charcoal after drinking alcohol or

taking recreational drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines recover quicker. I recommend activated

charcoal as part of a drug recovery program to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug craving.

Other nutrients that help are the neurotransmitter precursors L-Tyrosine, L-Tryptophan, L-

Phenylalanine, Choline and DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol).

Even experts disagree on the best way of using multiple doses of activated charcoal to remove

intoxicants. Most protocols are based on experience with drug overdosages. In actual clinical

situations, the activated charcoal regimen is optimized to the patient. The doctor considers the type of

toxic substance, severity of intoxification, digestive functions and electrolyte balance. For mild

overdoses and intoxification, I suggest up to 80-100 grams divided into 4-6 daily doses of powdered

activated charcoal until the symptoms are eliminated. Consult an expert who can optimize your

regimen. For a dangerous overdosage call your physician or hospital immediately.

General Detoxification

Very few health practitioners realize that activated charcoal is the best single supplement for

enhancing detoxification. Detoxification is an on-going biological process that prevents toxins (from

infectious agents, food, air, water, and substances that contact the skin) from destroying health.

Chronic exposure to toxins produces cellular damage, diverse diseases, allergic like reactions,

compromised immunity and premature aging.14

To use activated charcoal in a detoxification plan, I recommend about 20 grams a day of powdered

activated charcoal be taken in divided daily doses for several months or the duration of the

detoxification program.

In addition to activated charcoal, the ideal detoxification prescription includes sauna baths,

exercise, a special diet, and supplements (unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin C, niacin, proteolytic

(protein digesting) enzymes, liver supportphytonutrients and a comprehensive multiple nutrient

formula.9

Anti-Aging and Life Extension

Dr. V. V. Frolkis, a famous Russian Gerontologist, and his colleagues have discovered that activated

charcoal is a potent life-extending agent. Activated charcoal has been found to increase the mean

lifespan of older test animals by approximately 40% and their maximum lifespan by approximately

34%.2

1. Activated charcoal decreases the age-related increase in the brain's sensitivity to drugs and

toxins.

2. Activated charcoal normalizes cholesterol and lipid metabolism.

3. The regular use of activated charcoal improves the adaptive functioning of essential organs

(the liver, kidneys, and adrenals). That translates into better defense mechanisms.

Microscopic tissue analysis shows that activated charcoal prevents many cellular changes

associated with aging-decreased protein synthesis, lower RNA activity, arteriosclerosis, and organ

fibrosis. So the cumulative effects from activated charcoal are longer life and improved overall

health.19

A recommended protocol for anti-aging and life extension benefits is as follows: On two consecutive

days each week, take about 30 grams each day of powdered activated charcoal in divided daily doses.

Take charcoal in the morning, at midday and before bed on an empty stomach. Avoid excessive

calories or unhealthy foods on those days.

Reducing Cholesterol and Coronary Artery Disease

You can help your heart and circulatory system by taking activated charcoal. Activated charcoal

lowers the concentration of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood serum, liver, heart

and brain. In one study that was reported in the British journal, Lancet, on patients with high

cholesterol, 8 gm of activated charcoal taken three times a day lowered total cholesterol 25%, lowered

LDL cholesterol 41% and doubled their HDL/LDL (high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein)

cholesterol ratio. Microscopic tissue examination studies have shown that a daily dose of activated

charcoal may prevent sclerotic changes in the heart and coronary blood vessels. To help your heart

and blood vessels, I suggest the following: 12-17 grams of activated charcoal twice a day for one

month under the guidance of a physician who can measure cardiovascular improvements and

cholesterol levels.5,15

Counteracting Pathogens

Activated charcoal reduces the activity of some viruses. So if you catch a cold or the flu, try

activated charcoal. You may suffer less and heal faster. Activated charcoal also prevents the poisonous

activity of many harmful bacteria in the human body by adsorbing the toxins and enzymes that they

generate. Studies have shown that activated charcoal is an effective treatment for dysentery, cholera,

and many infectious conditions of the digestive tract.16,17

Systemic Candidiasis

Activated charcoal can be an effective adjunct to any regimen for the treatment of systemic

Candida albicans infections. Activated charcoal adsorbs much of the toxins that Candida produces that

otherwise would be absorbed by the blood and carried throughout the body. These toxins produce

pathological changes in tissues and organs and interfere with proper immune function. Candida toxins

cause allergic reactions and are responsible for the debilitating symptoms of Candidiasis.

Activated charcoal also suppresses the growth of intestinal-based yeasts.3 Activated charcoal

counteracts the Herxheimer reaction—a severe, short-term exacerbation of Candida symptoms caused

by the copious amount of toxins produced by dying yeast cells. The Herxheimer reaction is often so

unpleasant that patients abandon treatment before completion. Activated charcoal is one method for

alleviating the symptoms of yeast die-off so people can continue their treatment and not suffer.

I suggest 20-30 grams of powdered activated charcoal a day in divided dosages on an empty

stomach until the problem is eliminated. The larger amount is taken for more severe situations. Again,

a reminder: do not take required medications within 2 hours of taking activated charcoal.

Intestinal Complaints

Activated charcoal has been used by physicians since the last century to treat various intestinal

complaints. Abdominal distension (bloating) and flatulence respond favorably to treatment with

activated charcoal. Diarrhea caused by food poisoning, bacteria, nervousness and other factors is

usually alleviated by taking activated charcoal.10 Some physicians have used activated charcoal to stop

bleeding from ulcerative colitis and calm spastic colons.12 Activated charcoal is the best intestinal

deodorant available. Taking activated charcoal counteracts decomposition products from food (such as

beans) that cause flatulence and diarrhea. Individuals with malodorous stools should reach for

activated charcoal. Travelers to foreign countries would be wise to pack activated charcoal. In my

opinion, activated charcoal is the most practical way to effectively counteract food poisoning. To

alleviate intestinal disorders with activated charcoal, I recommend the following. As an antidote for

food poisoning, take 20 grams of activated charcoal two to three times daily. For other intestinal

complaints, 5 to 10 grams of powdered activated charcoal twice daily.

Charcoal Is Safe

Toxicology studies have proven that activated charcoal is basically harmless. Ingesting high

dosages does not interfere with sleep, appetite or well being—or cause major problems. There are

several undesirable effects of using activated charcoal that can be avoided by complying with the

following directions. Activated charcoal is highly adsorbent; when it is ingested at the same time as

medication, supplements and foods it may decrease their absorption and utilization. Therefore, always

allow 2 hours before and wait 2 hours after using activated charcoal to eat, take supplements or

swallow medication. Activated charcoal has a natural tendency to cause constipation. That can be

counteracted by taking a mild herbal laxative with the activated charcoal. Finally activated charcoal

harmlessly blackens your stools. Although black-gray stools look strange, they can be used to calculate

your bowel transit time. Just measure the length of time from taking activated charcoal to the

appearance of darkened stools.

Not All Charcoal is Alike

Numerous companies manufacture activated charcoals, each of which can have different

adsorptive capacities. Different source materials and manufacturing procedures give each brand of

activated charcoal its own pore diameters and internal volume that determine its adsorption capacity.

The U.S.P. (United States Pharmacopoeia) standard for activated charcoal specifies an internal surface

area of 1000 m2/g (square meters per gram). Recently, several companies have begun manufacturing

Super activated charcoals, with up to 3 times the internal surface area per gram and far greater

adsorption power than standard activated charcoal.3

Powders, Capsules, or Tablets?

Because of the large volume of charcoal that is needed, it is easiest to take liquid preparation of

charcoal powder. For example, to take 30 grams of charcoal a day in capsules would require that you

swallow about 60 capsules. Furthermore, activated charcoal tablets are not effective. They take too

long to disintegrate and release the activated charcoal.

Ideal Charcoal Preparation

Unfortunately, a simple water and charcoal mixture is unpalatable and messy. It tastes like a

charcoal briquette, and blackens your teeth, gums and tongue. These problems can be avoided by

ingesting a powdered activated charcoal complex that contains a thickening agent like bentonite, with

added flavors and mild sweeteners.

Research studies showed that that the addition of bentonite significantly improved the palatability

of an activated charcoal and water slurry. Bentonite acts as thickening agent that reduces powdery

mouth-feel and improves the taste without reducing the efficacy of activated charcoal. In fact,

bentonite is an enterosorption agent and a poison antidote in its own right. For example, bentonite has

been shown to bind and reduce the poison paraquat. The addition of chocolate further enhances the

palatability of activated charcoal in research studies and practical experience.12,13

Reprinted with permission of Journal Of The Megahealth Society, Vol. 5, No. 3, Issue #23 ISSN 0891-

5334. Copyright 1989 by MegaHealth Society, now Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute (CERI),

publishers of Smart Life News. CERI explores the latest research and treatment for Alzheimerss,

Parkinsons, Downs syndrome and age-associated mental impairment in normal, healthy adults.

References

1. D.O. Cooney, Activated Charcoal Antidotal and other Medical Uses. Marcel Dekker, New York

and Basel, 1983.

2. V. Frolkis, et al., Enterosorption in prolonging old animal life. Exp. Gerontol. 19; 217-25, 1984.

3. E.P. Krenzelok and M. B. Heller, In vivo comparative effectiveness of five commercial activated

charcoal products. Vet. Hum. Toxicol, 28; 498, 1986.

4. K. Kulig, et al., Management of acutely poisoned patients without gastric emptying. Ann.

Emerg. Med. 114:562-67, 1985.

5. P. Kuusisto, et al., Effect of activated charcoal on hypercholesterolemia. Lancet 16: 366-67,

August 1986.

6. J. Mattson and H. J. Mark, Activated Carbon. Marcel Dekker, New York and Basel, 1971.

7. G. Park, et al., Expanded role of charcoal in the poisoned and overdosed patient. Arch. Int.

Med. 146: 969-73, 1986.

8. Reduction of Human Organchalide Burdens, Foundation for Advancements in Science and

Education, Los Angeles, California, 1983.

9. J. A. Riese and F. Damrac, Use of activated charcoal in gastroenterology: value for flatulence

and nervous diarrhea. J. Am. Ger. Soc. 12: 500, 1964.

10. W. Watson, Factors influencing the clinical efficacy of activated charcoal. Drug Intelligence and

Clinical Pharmacy 21: 160-66, 1987.

11. Navarro RP; Navarro KR; Krenzelok EP Relative efficacy and palatability of three activated

charcoal mixtures. Vet Hum Toxicol, 19(8):6-9 1980 Feb.

12. Gwilt PR; Perrier D Influence of thickening agents on the antidotal efficacy of activated

charcoal. Clin Toxicol, 19(8):89-92 1976.

13. Topuzov EG; Beliakov NA; Malachev MM; Umerov AK; Solomennikov AV; Gritsenko IV; Kokaia

AA Use of enterosorption in biliary tract cancers complicated with mechanical jaundice. Vopr

Onkol, 42(2):100-3 1996.

14. Beloshitski(r)i VV A clinico-biochemical basis for the use of enterosorption in severe

craniocerebral trauma Lik Sprava, 42(5):145-8 1997 Sep-Oct.

15. Krylov AA; Beliakov NA; Sapego AV; Stolov SV Enterosorption in ulcerative lesions of the

gastrointestinal tract with concomitant intestinal dysbacteriosis Ter Arkh, 68(2):24-7 1996.

16. Riechkina OO A clinical assessment of the detoxifying effect of enterosorption in treating

tuberculosis of the respiratory organs in children Lik Sprava, 5(5):62-4 1998 Aug.

17. Andreichyn MA; Lutsuk OS; Andreichyn SM; Kopcha VS [The enterosorption treatment of

patients with acute intestinal infections and chronic colitis with diarrhea Lik Sprava, EA-(7-9):147-

51 1996 Jul-Sep.

18. Andreichyn MA; Lutsuk OS; Andreichyn SM; Kopcha VS Enterosorption as a method for

prolonging life. Fiziol Cheloveka, 22(7-9):131-5 1996 May-Jun.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is commonly used in alternative and mainstream medicine. Activated charcoal absorbs a large amount of toxins and contaminants within the body. It's given as a treatment to children and animals

that accidentally poison themselves drinking household products. Activated charcoal is not the same as regular barbecue charcoal. Activated charcoal is very porous and absorbs toxins quickly. The charcoal is made from carbon and ground into very fine granules, about the size of a dust speck of dust, which work like sponges. Then the material is activated through different processes.

Activating the Charcoal

Activating the charcoal allows it to absorb anything it comes in contact with. Eating a spoonful of activated charcoal is like swallowing millions of tiny sponges. Each pore within the charcoal grain soaks up anything harmful and eliminates it through the digestive tract. The material traps and holds organic chemicals, nitrates and toxins.

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Carbonization Manufacturing Process

Carbonization is the first process and it involves activating the charcoal with gasses to open up the pores. The charcoal is then placed in a tank where it is treated with at 600 to 900 degrees C without any air, and then it is infused with nitrogen and argon. The material is then exposed to steam and oxygen at temperatures that range from 650 to 1200 degrees C.

Chemical Manufacturing Process

Another method to create activated charcoal is through a chemical activation process. Chemicals such as phosphoric acid, sodium hydroxide, zinc chloride, and potassium hydroxide are used to open up the pores of the material. The charcoal is then treated without oxygen at temperatures that range from 450 to 900 degrees C. Chemical activation is a much shorter process, however this method can sometimes leave behind traces of certain chemicals in small amounts.

Various forms

Activated charcoal can be made in powdered or granule form. Smaller particles are preferred, but powdered activated charcoal is slightly more expensive because the smaller pieces are more effective. The theory is that the smaller pieces travel more effectively through the digestive system.

Read more: How Is Activated Charcoal Made? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5028426_activated-charcoal-made.html#ixzz1ynb3hUOl

TOTAL HEALTH Newsletter  July 1998 Vol. I No. 5ACTIVATED CHARCOAL - Uses In Modern Natural Healing

Anonymous (Revised 3/8/08)

A NEW LOOK AT AN OLD REMEDY-CHARCOALHere is modern medical proof that the old natural remedy, Charcoal, is truly a very safe and highly efficient Natural Healing Agent. Presented here for your interest and examination are a few of the many articles and scientific papers that tell of charcoal research and its uses in modern natural healing.

GENERAL INFORMATIONActivated Charcoal has been used effectively in the healing arts for centuries. Doctors still use it today as a healing agent, an antidote for poisons, and an effective treatment for indigestion and gas. Modern Industry also relies on Charcoal to deodorize, decolorize and purity solutions. Charcoal can do these varied tasks because of its amazing ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called adsorption. Charcoal can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.The form of Charcoal used in modern medical science is Activated Charcoal U.S.P., a pure naturally produced, wood charcoal carbon that has no carcinogenic properties. Activated Charcoal is an odorless, tasteless powder. One teaspoonful of it has a surface area of more than 10,000 square feet. This unique feature allows it to adsorb large amounts of chemicals or poisons. The powder must be stored in a tightly sealed container, as it readily adsorbs impurities from the atmosphere. Charcoal from burnt toast is not effective, and Charcoal briquettes can be dangerous because they contain fillers and petrochemicals to help them ignite.Studies show that Activated Charcoal is harmless when ingested or inhaled, or when it comes in contact with the skin. In rare cases, charcoal may mildly irritate the bowel in sensitive persons, but no allergies or side effects have been recorded. Ingested Charcoal may linger in the colon, but this is not harmful. Many pediatricians and pediatric handbooks recommend that Activated Charcoal be kept on hand as an antidote in the family medicine chest, especially in households that include small children (5, 10, 38, 41, 53, 64).Scientific experiments over many years attest to the effectiveness of charcoal as an antidote. In one experiment, 100 times the lethal does of Cobra venom was mixed with charcoal and injected into a laboratory animal. The animal was not harmed (15). In other experiments, arsenic and strychnine were mixed with charcoal and ingested by humans under laboratory conditions. The subjects survived even though the poison dosages were 5 to 10 times the lethal dose (1, 3, 14, 16, 17, 38).

HOW MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS USE CHARCOALToday doctors, paramedics and medical centers use Activated Charcoal in a number of different ways:1. to eliminate toxic by-products that cause anemia in cancer patients (33, 50, 54).2. to disinfect and deodorize wounds (48, 50, 58, 59).3. to filter toxins from the blood in liver and kidney diseases (31, 48, 65).4. to purify blood in transfusions (48, 60, 65).5. to cut down on odors for ileostomy and colostomy patients (20, 22, 48).6. to treat poisonings and overdoses of aspirin, Tylenol and other drugs (10, 30, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 62, 63).7. to treat some forms of dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and "foot and mouth" disease (20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 37, 38 & 48).8. to treat poisonous snake, spider and insect bites (38.).Activated Charcoal is REQUIRED by law to be part of the standard equipment on many ambulances, for use in poisonings. Mushroom poisoning, brown recluse spider bites, and snake bites can all be treated with Activated Charcoal. Doctors also use Activated Charcoal to prevent and treat intestinal infections, and as a cleansing and healing agents. Jaundice of the newborn, bee stings, poison ivy reactions, and many other illnesses can be helped with Activated Charcoal.

SUBSTANCES ADSORBED BY CHARCOALAcetaminophenAconitineAmitriptyline HydrochlorideAmphetamineAntimonyAntipyrineArsenicAspirinAtropineBarbital BarbituratesBen-GayBenzodiazepinesCantharidesCamphorChlordaneChloroquineChlorpheniramineChlorpromazineCocaineColchicineCongesprin

ErgotamineEthchlorvynolGasolineGlutethimideGolden ChainHemlockHexachloropheneImipramineIodineIpecacIsoniazidKeroseneLead AcetateMalathionMefenamic AcidMeprobamateMercuric chlorideMercuryMethylene BlueMethyl SalicylateMiltownMorphine

PhenobarbitalPhenolphthaleinPhenolPhenolthiazinesPhenylpropanolaminePlacidylPotassium PermanganatePrimaquinePropanthelinePropoxypheneQuinacrineQuinidineQuinineRadioactive SubstancesSalicylamideSalicylatesSecobarbitalSeleniumSeraxSilverSinequanSodium Salicylate

ContacDalmaneDarvonDelphinium2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic AcidDigitalis or FoxgloveDilantinDiphenylhydantoinDiphenoxylatesDoridenDoxepinElaterinElavilEquanil

Multivitamins with MineralsMuscarinNarcoticsNeguvonNicotineNortriptylineNytolOpiumOxazepamParathionPenicillinPentazocinePentobarbitalPesticides

SominexStramoniumStrychnineSulfonamidesTalwinTofranilTree TobaccoYewValiumVeratrineSome Silver & Antimony SaltsMany Herbicides 32, 39, 40& 4000+ chemicals, drugs, toxins, & wastes

HOME USE OF ACTIVATED CHARCOALIndigestion and Gas-A study made in 1981 shows that activated charcoal cuts down on the amount of gas produced by beans and other gas-producing foods. It adsorbs the excess gas as well as the bacteria that form the gas (57). Activated charcoal helps to eliminate bad breath, because it cleanses both the mouth and the digestive tract (38). It is also helpful in relieving symptoms of nervous diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea (Turista), spastic colon, indigestion, and peptic ulcers. For such problems take between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon of powdered charcoal up to 3 times a day. Take it between meals, as food can reduce its effectiveness. Swirl the charcoal in a glass of water and drink it down or mix it with olive oil for easy ingestion by use of a spoon (38, 47, 57, 58).Activated charcoal is inexpensive, simple to use and is a time-tested natural remedy that has many valuable uses without dangerous side effects or contradictions, a very efficient cleaner of the body when taken orally. It also helps to purify the blood (10, 38).Charcoal may adsorb and inactivate other medications. Usually you can take charcoal two hours before or after other drugs. If you are taking prescription drugs, check with your doctor before beginning treatment with charcoal.You can take charcoal intermittently for long periods or regularly for up to 12 weeks.

TREATMENT OF WOUNDS, ULCERS, AND BRUISESLancet, the prestigious British medical journal, describes the use of charcoal compresses to speed the healing of wounds and eliminate their odors. This article tells about the amazing ability of human skin to allow transfer through its permeable membrane and pores of liquids, gasses and even micro-particles by the application of moist activated charcoal

compresses and poultices which actually draw bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice or compress. Poultices must be kept moist and warm to allow this healing process to take place (59).Make a poultice by putting 1-2 tablespoons of charcoal powder in a container and adding just enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste on a paper towel, cloth, or piece of gauze cut to fit the area to be treated. Make sure the cloth is moist, warm, and thoroughly saturated with the paste. Place it over the wound cloth-side down and cover it with a piece of plastic wrap or plastic bag cut to overlap the poultice by an inch on every side. Fix in place with adhesive tape. Poultices should be changed every 6-10 hours. Do not put charcoal directly on broken skin, as it may cause a tattooing effect (21, 23, 24, 29, 38, 50).

POISONINGSActivated charcoal can be used as an antidote in poisoning from most drugs and chemicals. DO NOT USE WITH THE FOLLOWING: cyanide, mineral acids, caustic alkalies, alcohol, or boric acid. Other antidotes are more effective. Consult a Poison Control Center or a doctor immediately for instructions and information in any poisoning emergency (10, 51, 52).In poisonings, activated charcoal works by adsorbing the poison or drug, inactivating it, and carrying it inert throughout the digestive system so that it can be eliminated from the body. Charcoal is neither adsorbed nor metabolized by the body (6, 13, 47, 53).In a poisoning emergency, if the patient is conscious, first induce vomiting if it can be done quickly. Syrup is ipecac is a commonly used emetic preparation. The dosage is 1/2 oz. for children and 1 oz. for adults. Induced vomiting will bring up about 30% of the poison from the person's stomach. Then give charcoal to help inactivate the remaining 70%. The usual dose of charcoal is 5 to 50 grams, dependent on the amount of poison taken and the person's body size. Adults should receive at least 30 grams, or about half a cup of lightly packed powder. Larger doses are needed if the person has eaten a meal recently. A dose of 200 grams is not excessive in severe poisoning cases. Powdered charcoal can be given in fruit juice, chocolate syrup, jam, or honey to make it easier to get down. Ice cream is not recommended as it makes the charcoal less effective. Powdered charcoal reaches its maximum rate of adsorption rapidly, within one minute. The sooner it is given the better the chances of successful treatment. The dose can be repeated every four hours, or until charcoal appears in the stool (3, 10, 41, 47, 48, 52, 53, 60, 61).Do not give charcoal or anything else to an unconscious patient. Consult a doctor at once. Do not give charcoal before giving an emetic, because the Activated Charcoal will adsorb the emetic and make it ineffective. Charcoal does not work in every poisoning situation, so be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.

CONCLUSIONS

Activated charcoal taken as a powder is the most effective form of charcoal that can be used. The best method of use is to take the required spoonfuls of powder, place them in the bottom of a cup or glass, and add water while rapidly stirring the charcoal into the water, then drink it down, along with a second glass of water to include any residue. Alternate methods listed below can also be used.You can put charcoal into empty gelatin capsules. They may act more slowly than powder; the capsule must dissolve before the charcoal can work. Vegetarians who object to gelatin can use starch papers called Kokko-Oblates to allow convenient ingestion of activated charcoal powder. These are obtained at health food stores.Medical researchers have discovered, that Activated Charcoal is so effective both chemically and physically, because of the it's electrical charge and the thousands of microscopic tunnels created by the process used to make it. The medical profession uses it as an antidote (10, 38, 41). It is inexpensive, harmless, and easy to use.

DOSAGES1 tsp./8 oz. Glass-PURE Water (1-3 times/day) - General Health1 tsp./8 oz. Glass-PURE Water (4-7 times/day) - General Illness (Flus, Colds)1 tsp./8 oz. Glass-PURE Water (8-12 times/day) - Serious Illness

REFERENCES:1. British Medical Journal, August 26, 1972.2. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980, p. 33, 47.3. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica 4:275, 1948.4. Journal of the American Medical Association 64:1882, May 29, 1915.5. Thrash, Agatha & Calvin Rx: Charcoal, New Lifestyle Books, 1998.6. Journal of the American Medical Association 210(10): 1846, December 8, 1969.7. Bulletin de la Society de Chime Biologique 27:513-518, October-December, 1945.8. Journal of Animal Science 34:322-325, February, 1972.9. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980 p. 63.10. Clinical Toxicology 3(1); 1-4, March, 1970.11. Annals of Emergency Medicine 9:11, November, 1980.12. AMA Archives of Industrial Health 18:511-520, December, 1958.13. Archives of Environmental Health 1:512, December, 1960.14. Journal of the American Medical Association 240(7):684, August 18, 1978.15. Comptes rendus Hebdomadaires des Seance de 1-Academie des Sciences 187:959-961, November 19, 1928.

16. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 26; 103-108, September, 1973.17. Journal of the American Medical Association 209(12); 1821, September 22, 1969.18. Management of Poisoning, Pediatrics for the Clinician, p. 325.19. Journal of the American Medical Association, June 15, 1984, 3104 & 3130.20. Patient Care, October 30, 1977, p. 152.21. Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Monthly 47;652-655, December, 1968.22. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 12:500-502, May, 1964.23. Journal of the American Medical Association 64:1671, 1915.24. Chirurg 19:191, April, 1948.25. Quarterly Journal of Pharmacology 1:334-337, July-September, 1928.26. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York; Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980, p. 123.27. Ibid, p. 131.28. Ibid, p. 133.29. White, Ellen G. Selected Messages, Volume Two, Washington, D.C.      Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958, p. 294.30. Nature 184(Suppl 15); 1165-6. October 10, 1959.31. Medical World News, February 17, 1967.32. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York; Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980.33. The Lancet 1:1301, 197434. Annals of Internal Medicine 93:446-449, 1980.35. British Medical Journal 2:1465, November 25, 1978.36. Medical Tribune, April 12, 1978, p. 2.37. Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics 96:873-878, 1930.38. Home Remedies, A. Thrash, M.D. & C. Thrash, M.D., 1981.39. Common Poisons & Injurious Plants, U.S. Public Health, FDA 1981-7006.40. Handbook of Common Poisonings in Children, U.S. Public Health, 1976-7004.41. Pediatrics, Vol. 54, No. 3, Sept, 1974, Drs. Corby & Decker.42. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, Sept. 76, pp. 965.43. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, June 79.44. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, Aug. 79.45. Clinical Toxicology, May 75.46. Hospital Formulary, 1983.47. Martingale Extra Pharmacopeia, 28th edition, pp. 72, 1982.48. AMA Drug Evaluations 5th Edition, 1983.49. Wildwood San. & Hospital, Wildwood, Ga. Marjorie Baldwin, M.D.

50. Conn's Current Therapy 1984, pp. 925 & 927.51. Merck Manual 14th Edition.52. American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, 1976.53. Facts & Comparisons, 1981.54. Klin Wochenschr, 1982.55. Our Earth, Our Cure, R. Dextreit, 1974. Swann House Publishing Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.56. Effect of orally administered activated charcoal on Intestinal Gas. Hall, Thompson & Strother.      Loma Linda Medical School, 1981.57. Prevention, Feb. 1981, pp. 136.58. Lancet, Sept 13, 1980.59. American Medical News, pp. 37, June 22, 1984.60. European Journal of Pharmacology 24:557, 1983.61. The Pediatric Clinics of N.A., Vol. 17, No. 3, Aug. 1970.62. Hospital Pharmacy News, pp. 6, May 1984.63. Journal of Pediatrics, Holt & Holz, pp. 306.64. British Medical Journal, pp. 51, Oct. 7, 1972.

Benefits of Carbon a/k/a Activated Charcoal

by

One of my favorite botanical substances is CARBON, also known as Activated Charcoal.

Carbon's more common name, Activated Charcoal, derives it's name from the process of taking the charcoal which results from the activity of controlled charring of the starting material (usually Willow Bark, a/k/a/ Salix alba), and subjecting it to an oxidizing gas, i.e. air or steam, at elevated temperatures (which enhances the absorptive power of the charcoal by developing an extensive internal network of fine pores in the material).

Carbon carries 2,000 times its own weight in toxins (heavy metal toxins), poisonous gases, and other chemicals. Carbon's negative ionic charge attracts

positive ionic charges (of toxins and poisons) causing them to bind and Carbon escorts them out of the body via the eliminative channel of the intestines. This is the major reason why Dherbs.Com uses Carbon in its Full Body Detox kit and regimen; making it the best COMPLETE herbal-based detoxification kit, regimen, and system available.

Carbon greatly benefits the intestines. It will greatly counteract flatulence (gas) and help to eradicate foul odor in the colon or intestinal tract. This is why Dherbs.Com also uses Carbon in its 10-Day Supreme Colon Cleanse as well as our Colon Conditioner formula (which is why the capsules are dark colored). This majestical substance helps to heal all colon diseases.

Carbon is 100% alkaline and is spinning with electrons making the substance highly electrical.

Nothing brightens or whitens teeth like Carbon. I remember a friend of mine, a Native American woman, who used to work security at Farmers Insurance on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles, told me one day how her teeth became and stayed so white. She told me accounts of when she was a little girl growing up, her father used to burn plant matter and after the plant burned to black ashes or became charred, the father would take the ash residue and give to his family and they would take a little on their finger and brush against their teeth. I used to always wonder how ancient people took care of their teeth without toothbrushes. But these people had Carbon, miswak (or Peelu), something Prophet Muhammad and the Arabs used to use; and licorice sticks to use for oral hygiene.

Now in all due honesty, back in 1994, I thought this woman (and her family) was crazy to be using charcoal (burnt plant matter) for purposes of cleaning her teeth. But I must admit, the stuff worked because the woman had the brightest and whitest teeth I ever saw in my life.

And lo and behold, I would one day become an herbalist and also discover the power of Carbon (charcoal) for purposes of cleaning and brightening the teeth. TRUST ME! The stuff works! Nothing will brighten your teeth better than Carbon (Activated Charcoal). No chemical teeth whitening solution or product on the market comes close to the whitening and brightening action and power of Carbon. None! Most of those commercial brand tooth whiteners are outright poisonous and toxic and cause oral cancer to develop (if used over long periods of time).

To use Carbon for your teeth, all you have to do is put a little toothpaste (a good brand of toothpaste, i.e., Peelu, Ayurveda, Nature's Gate, Tom's of Maine) on your toothbrush, then dip it in some Carbon, add just a little bit of water, and begin to brush. Your mouth will be black due to the Carbon and your sink may get messy, but one thing I can assure you, your teeth will get a good cleansing and a good shinning.

NOTE: You would be wise to avoid using any and all commercial brands of toothpaste such as Crest, Aqua Fresh, Close Up, Ultra Brite, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer, Mentadent, etc. as they are all poisonous and toxic and contain harmful ingredients such as sodium fluoride (a major ingredient in rat poison), propylene glycol (used in engine degreaser), sodium laurel sulfate, saccharin (a known carcinogen), and harmful petroleum-based dyes (Red Lake and Blue Lake), also reported to be carcinogenic.

No substance removes acidic plaque from the teeth like Carbon. This stuff will greatly clean your teeth and

help to remove stains on the teeth (especially stains derived from drinking coffee).

Another good use for Carbon is in the area of accidental ingestion of poison, drugs (legal and illegal), and household chemicals. No home of health conscious individuals should be without of this wonderful and great life-saving product, especially if you have small children on the scene!

Nothing can save the life of a person who has ingested poison or an overdose of pharmaceutical drugs like Carbon. Nothing! All you have to do is add a teaspoon of Carbon to a glass of water, stir it up really good, and have the person who ingested the poison to drink the glass full of Carbon water.

A few years ago, there was a man going around the nation drinking Chlorox bleach and then consuming Carbon behind it, proving to people how Carbon counteracts chemicals, poisons, and drugs (though drugs are both chemicals and poisonous).

Carbon or Activated Charcoal has been around for thousands of years. It was even used by Hippocrates and Pliny in their day.

Carbon is great for people addicted to chemical substances in helping them to kick their habit. To overcome chemical drug addiction, do the following for 3-weeks:

Drink a glass of water with one teaspoon of Carbon added to it twice a day (morning and night).

Drink vegetable juice (8 ounces) 3-4 times throughout the day.

Eat only raw, organic, whole fruits (especially jackfruit) and vegetables.

Take 3 capsules of Kudzu Root three times per day.

Soak in hot water with 10-12 boxes of sea salt (per bath) for about 2-3 hours per day

Perform a coffee enema (using only organic coffee beans) every 3rd day. Optional!

Dherbs.Com sells Carbon (Activated Charcoal), which is one of our biggest sellers. People greatly like this product. We use it in our 3-week Full Body Detox and our 10-Day Supreme Colon Cleanser.

Thank you for reading!

This article is compliments of www.Dherbs.Com

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