The Remedy that No Medicine Cabinet Should Be Without: Activated Charcoal
by Elizabeth Hall

The year is 1831. In front of his distinguished colleagues at the French Academy of Medicine, Professor Touery swallowed 15 grams of the deadly poison, strychnine (that is ten times the lethal dose) and lived to tell the tale.  His secret?  He had combined this lethal substance with a fine, black powder that is an odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic substance known as activated charcoal.  Later another scientist, Bertrand, survived after swallowing 5 grams of arsenic trioxide mixed with charcoal.  

How could something so simple perform so effectively?  Charcoal works by adsorbing chemicals, thus reducing their toxicity (poisonous nature), through the entire length of the stomach and small and large intestines.  The carbon adsorbs a wide range of impurities and contaminants, including chlorine, odors, and drugs.  Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning.  It is found in the emergency room’s poison tray and in certain water and air filters.  Charcoal has been used to remove carbon dioxide from submarines and to filter poisons in gas masks.  Other substances adsorbed by charcoal include: acetaminophen, alcohol, amphetamine, aspirin, barbiturates, cocaine, cyanide, digitalis, iodine, morphine, opium, pentobarbital, silver—just to name a few.  The F.D.A. has found charcoal effective in adsorbing many poisons, gases, and drugs.  In fact, it has been called “The Universal Antidote.”

Charcoal is a type of carbon made from wood, coconut, or vegetables. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen or steam to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. The use of special manufacturing techniques results in highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of 300-2,000 square meters per gram. These so-called active, or activated, charcoal particles  are widely used to adsorb odorous or coloured substances from gases or liquids. The word adsorb isn’t to be confused with absorb, which means to soak up a substance. When a material adsorbs something, it attaches to it by chemical attraction. The huge surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless bonding sites. Because of this, charcoal, when taken orally, helps to prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body.

Gastrointestinal Upsets

Charcoal is also effective for many cases of diarrhea, nausea,  and flatulence.  Most individuals can use 4 capsules as often as 3 to 4 times a day.  However, if taking medication, be sure the medication is absorbed through gut before taking charcoal or the charcoal may adsorb the medicine before the body can use it.  I remember one hot summer day, I unwisely drank a lot of apple juice and got diarrhea.  Unfortunately, I was scheduled for a lecture within the hour.  To lecture about digestive complaints when one has the runs and rumblings was not quite the visual aid I wanted.  So I mixed a heaping tablespoon of charcoal powder in 2 glasses of water.  Problem solved. If charcoal does not help your diarrhea, you need to see a doctor.

Sprains
Charcoal may be used on the skin as a poultice.  Charcoal exerts anti-inflammatory actions.  Many years ago a friend called me to request that I bring her crutches from our central supply.  She had fallen off her porch and sprained her ankle. Her ankle was very swollen.  I brought more than crutches.  I mixed up a charcoal flaxseed poultice, applied it to her ankle by securing it with an ace bandage, put an ice bag on top and of course, propped it up on several pillows.  The next day she could fully bear her weight on that ankle.  The best course of action is to apply this first aid treatment immediately.  Another friend of mine, as a consequence of a fall, developed a large, extensively swollen black and blue area (hematoma) on her left hip.  She told me about it the next day.  At that time I applied a charcoal flax poultice, and by the next day the swelling had decreased by 66%!

How to make a charcoal-flax poultice:
Mix one tablespoon of charcoal powder in a cup with one tablespoon of flaxseed which has been ground in a blender.  While stirring slowly, add enough water so that the mixture can spread evenly like jam.  Spread this mixture on half of a thin cloth or a damp, clean piece of an old sheet (the charcoal will stain the material you use).  Spread it large enough to completely cover the wound or area being treated.  (If you do not have a cloth, simply spread the charcoal mixture onto a damp paper towel.)  Then, fold the other half of the material over the charcoal.  Place this poultice directly on the area of skin being treated.  Wrap a piece of plastic (can be a plastic bag) completely around the poultice to keep the moisture inside*.  Secure it with an ACE bandage.  Keep this poultice on for at least half a day.  A charcoal poultice is only effective if it stays moist.  A convenient time to put on charcoal poultices is at night so the person can just sleep with it on without being disturbed.  But again, if there is an injury, the best time for the poultice is immediately, regardless of the time of day.

Effective, but not for everything:

Ordinarily, charcoal is not effective and should not be used in poisoning if corrosive agents such as alkalis (lye) and strong acids, iron, boric acid, lithium, petroleum products (i.e. cleaning fluid, coal oil, fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner), or alcohols have been swallowed, since it will not prevent these poisons from being absorbed into the body.

Some activated charcoal products contain sorbitol.  Sorbitol is a sweetener and  also works as a laxative, for the elimination of the poison from the body.  Thus any product that contains sorbitol (including certain charcoal tablets) should be given only under the direct supervision of a doctor as diarrhea and vomiting may result.  The best option is to buy the pure charcoal.

Conclusion

Charcoal may not be the magic “cure-all” or secret to living forever, but this simple remedy makes any medicine cabinet more versatile and effective.  A small investment with astounding dividends—why not stock your stock your shelf today!

References
Thrash, Agatha and Calvinb, MD,. Home Remedies: Hydrotherapy, Massage, Charcoal, and Other Simple Treatments, copyrighted 1981, Uchee Pines.

www.howstuffworks.com, What is activated charcoal and why is it used in filters?

www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR602267 - 25k, Charcoal, Activated (Oral Route)