The Benefits of Activated Charcoal You Didn’t Know About

The Benefits of Activated Charcoal You Didn’t Know About Did you know nature has provided us with almost everything we need medicinally? Buried deep within many plants are cures to numerous common and some not so common ailments. Amazingly, many of these plants provide us with more than just one benefit. They cure and nourish, thereby providing us with natural ways to keep our health at an optimal level without side effects. For example, there are over a dozen benefits of activated charcoal from teeth whitening to digestion. With proper usage, the benefits of activated charcoal are quite literally astonishing.

At one time, people looked to pharmaceuticals to address all their health conditions. Some really great quick fixes have been developed, helping many people. However, the vast majorities of people have forgotten about nature and rely too heavily on medicine rather than practicing a healthy lifestyle. In addition, many prescription drugs have harmful side effects and should be avoided, if possible.

Thankfully, there has a been a switch in recent years and more consumers are now turning to alternative health care.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is not the soot on your grill after you barbeque but is most commonly derived from bamboo, wood, coal, or coconut shells that are burned without oxygen to create char, which then undergoes a multi-level process to become “activated.” The char is heated to high temperatures and exposed to a gas, creating an extremely porous surface. The enlarged surface area of the activated molecules can then bind to certain substances, a process called adsorption–the adhesion of an extremely thin layer of molecules, gases, solids or liquids, to the surface of another solid or liquid as they come into contact. The term “adsorption” should not be confused with “absorption”, as they are two different reactions. The adsorption process is where all the benefits of activated charcoal are derived from.

The History of Activated Charcoal Activated Charcoal has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicinal practices, dating back to 1550 BC. Oddly, it is one of the rare treatments that both modern conventional medicine and ancient traditional medicine agree upon, used by both traditions as a natural and safe way to remove toxins, chemicals, and poisons from the body. However, the benefits of activated charcoal go far beyond poison control.

The Benefits of Activated Charcoal With the purchase of a single bottle of activated charcoal, you will have treatments for many common health and household issues. True activated charcoal is non-toxic, odorless, and tasteless, and should be readily available in the medicine cabinet of every home.

Here are some of the benefits of activated charcoal you may not know: Poison Control The first thing to do if you or a family member accidentally ingests poison is of course call 9-1-1 or poison control. The second thing to do is use your activated charcoal. It could save your life. Most organic compounds, pesticides, fertilizers, metals, and even bleach will bind to the surface of activated charcoal, preventing absorption of the toxins into the body. Activated charcoal is also effective in binding aspirin, opium, cocaine, morphine, acetaminophen, and can also be used in cases of food poisoning.

In 1831, a professor at the French Academy of Medicine purposely drank a lethal amount of strychnine and experienced no ill effects whatsoever, which he attributed to combining the poison with the charcoal. After this incident, the world of modern medicine became aware of the benefits of activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal should be administered as soon as possible after ingesting poison, but proper dosing is required. A study from the University of Michigan Health System recommends 50 – 100 g for adults and 10 – 25 g for children. For food poisoning, it is recommended that adults take 25 g at the onset, and children take 10 g.

Teeth Whitening Benefits of activated charcoal - whitening your teeth Oral Hygiene is an extremely important part of an individual’s overall health. Not only does activated charcoal help whiten teeth; it changes the pH balance of the mouth, helping to prevent cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.

To whiten your teeth, dip a moistened toothbrush into a container of activated charcoal and brush as normal, then sip some water, swish, and rinse until clear. It is recommended that you brush your teeth with activated charcoal 2 – 3 times per week. However, exercise caution if you have crowns, caps, or veneers as the charcoal may stain them.

Mold Removal, Detox, and Cleansing If you or your family suffers from unexplained wheezing, rashes, watery eyes, coughing, or headaches, you could be suffering from a toxic mold reaction and should have your home inspected immediately.

Mold may or may not be visible but can often cause serious, often unexplainable, symptoms. Severe toxic mold symptoms can include depression, respiratory distress, kidney and liver failure, cognitive dysfunction, heart disease, and an impaired immune system. It is not something to leave remedied.

Activated charcoal can be used to cleanse the body of toxic mold. Environmental factors such as mold, pesticides, and chemicals in our drinking water, are a huge burden on the body. Therefore, routinely cleansing our system and digestive tract can aid in removing toxins to support optimal health.

To perform a detox cleanse with activated charcoal, take 10 g at least 90 minutes before each meal for two consecutive days. Be sure to drink plenty of water.

Support Healthy Organs and Adrenal Glands By routinely flushing our bodies of toxins and chemicals, charcoal prevents cellular damage to organs including the kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands. Being overloaded with toxins can burden our bodies leading to debilitating and often chronic diseases such as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS). Toxins can also hinder recovery from health issues.

For those suffering from advanced stages of a disease like AFS, caution is required when performing any type of detox since the body will be extremely sensitive to foreign substances, and can often reject even the healthiest of supplements. However, there are a number of options available for reaping the benefits of activated charcoal to suit the needs of each individual. In fact, even clothing made of activated charcoal can be used as a gentle detox, and is useful in sensitive cases and could be an excellent option for those seeking a more subtle approach.

Stop Premature Aging Keeping all of our organs and glands healthy and operating efficiently can prevent premature aging.

Although aging is a natural process, overloading the body with toxins often leads to inflammation, cell degeneration, premature wrinkles, reduced cognition, and other age-related ailments. Basically, the more toxins you have in your body, the quicker you age.

Regulate Cholesterol Studies around the world have demonstrated that the benefits of activated charcoal are equal to those of prescription cholesterol medications. Moreover, the use of activated charcoal has been shown to increase good cholesterol in the body while decreasing bad cholesterol by 25% in just four weeks.

For regulating cholesterol, 8 g of activated charcoal three times a day is suggested. Do not take the charcoal within 90 minutes of taking any other medication or supplement as it can interfere with their absorption rates.

Reduce Bloating and Gas You can put aside the Tums, or any other chemical-laden over-the-counter substance you might be taking for stomach discomforts, and reaches for activated charcoal.

You have a few options to relieve bloating and gas. Activated charcoal can be taken in capsule, liquid, or powder form and since it is tasteless, can be mixed into a non-acidic juice of your preference. Tablet and capsule forms are the least expensive and often the best investment, since you can open the capsule and use the powder for other things, such as teeth whitening or as a body scrub, or even relieving itchy bug bites.