What Is Activated Charcoal Good For? Benefits and Uses

Activated carbon was once considered a versatile antidote (1 Reliable Source).

It is still considered a powerful natural remedy today.

It has many benefits on offer, from lowering cholesterol levels to whitening teeth and treating hangovers. fashionglee

This article takes a closer look at activated carbon and the scientific evidence behind its purported benefits.

What is activated carbon?

Activated carbon is a fine black powder made from charcoal, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, charcoal, olive pits, or sawdust.

Charcoal is activated when it is processed at very high temperatures. High temperatures alter its internal structure, decreasing pore size and increasing the surface area (1 Trusted Source).

The result is carbon that is more porous than conventional carbon.

Activated carbon should not be confused with charcoal briquettes, which are used for barbecue lighting.

Although both can be made from the same base materials, charcoal briquettes were not activated at high temperatures. In addition, they contain additional substances that are toxic to humans.

How does activate carbon work?

Activated carbon traps toxins and chemicals in the intestines, preventing their absorption (2 Trusted Source).

The porous texture of coal has a negative electrical charge, which causes it to attract positively charged molecules such as toxins and gases. It helps trap toxins and chemicals in the gut (2 Trusted Source, 3).

Since activated charcoal is not absorbed by your body, it can carry surface-related toxins out of your body in your stool.

Activated carbon as an emergency treatment for poisoning

Due to its toxin-binding properties, activated carbon has many medical uses.

For example, activated carbon is often used for poisoning. tophealthfitnesstips

This is because it can bind to a wide variety of drugs and reduce their effects (1 Trusted Source, 4). In humans, activated charcoal has been used as an antidote for poison since the early 1800s (1 reliable source).

It can be used to treat overdose of prescription drugs as well as an overdose of over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol, and sedatives (5 Trusted Source, 6 Trusted Source).

For example, studies show that when a single dose of 50 to 100 grams of activated charcoal is taken within five minutes of taking the drug, absorption of the Drugs in adults can be reduced by up to 74% (1 Confidence Source).

This effect is reduced to about 50% of charcoal is taken 30 minutes after taking the drug, and to 20% if it is taken three hours after drug overdose (7 Reliable Source).  superhealthiness

The initial dose of 50 to 100 grams is sometimes followed by two to six doses of 30 to 50 grams every two to six hours. However, this multi-dose protocol is used less frequently and may only be effective in a limited number of cases of poisoning (8 reliable sources, 9 reliable sources).

It is important to note that activated carbon is not effective in all cases of poisoning. For example, it appears to have little effect on alcohol, heavy metal, iron, lithium, potassium, acid, or alkali poisoning (1 reliable source, 2 reliable sources).

In addition, experts warn that activated carbon should not be used in all cases of poisoning. Rather, their use should be considered on a case-by-case basis. redditbooks