Activated carbonalso known asactivated carbon can be thought of as an antidote. Today, it is used as a powerful natural treatment. It has various benefits such as lowering cholesterol, whitening teeth and preventing vomiting.
What is activated charcoal?
It is a fine black powder made with carbonized coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive seeds or sawdust.
How is activated charcoal made?
Charcoal is activated by processing at very high temperatures. High temperature changes its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area. This provides a more porous charcoal than regular charcoal.
Activated charcoal should not be confused with charcoal. Although both are made from the same base material, charcoal is not activated at high temperatures. Moreover, it contains some substances that are toxic to humans.
What does activated charcoal do?
One of the benefits of activated charcoal is that it keeps toxins and chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption. The porous texture of charcoal 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. Since it is not absorbed by the body, it carries out toxins bound to the body's surface in the stool.
In which poisonings is activated charcoal used?
One of the uses of activated charcoal is in a variety of medicinal uses that include toxin binding properties. For example, it is often used in cases of poisoning. This is because it can bind a wide variety of drugs, reducing their effects.
In humans, it has been used as an antidote to poison since the early 1800s. It can be used to treat overdoses of prescription drugs, as well as overdoses of over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and tranquilizers.
For example, studies have shown that taking a single dose of 50-100 grams of activated charcoal five minutes after ingestion can reduce drug absorption in adults by up to 74%.
It reduces the effects to 30% when taken 50 minutes after my drug use, and to 20% if the drug is taken three hours after an overdose.
Activated charcoal is not effective in all cases of poisoning. For example, alcohol, heavy metal,ironlithiumpotassiumappears to have little effect on acid or alkali poisonings.
Moreover, experts warn that it should not always be routinely applied in poisonings. Instead, its use should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What are the benefits of activated charcoal?
Supports kidney function
Activated charcoal helps improve kidney function by reducing the number of waste products the kidneys have to filter. It is especially useful in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.
Healthy kidneys are normally very well equipped to filter the blood without additional help. However, patients with chronic kidney disease often have trouble removing urea and other toxins from the body.
Activated charcoal helps the body eliminate them by binding urea and other toxins. Urea and other waste products pass from the bloodstream to the gut through a process known as diffusion. It binds to the charcoal mobilized in the intestines and is excreted in the feces.
Reduces the symptoms of fish odor syndrome
Activated carbon,fish odor syndrome Helps reduce unpleasant odors in individuals with trimethylaminuria (TMAU).
Fish odor syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the accumulation of trimethylamine (TMA), a compound with a rotting fish-like odor, in the body.
Healthy individuals often convert fishy-smelling TMA to an odorless compound before it is excreted in the urine. However, people with TMAU lack the enzyme necessary to perform this conversion. This causes TMA to build up in the body and enters the urine, sweat, and breath creating a foul, fishy odor.
Researches,shows that the porous surface of activated charcoal can help bind odorous compounds such as TMA, increasing their excretion.
Lowers cholesterol
Activated charcoal helps lower cholesterol levels. This is because it binds cholesterol and cholesterol-containing bile acids to the intestines, preventing the body's absorption.
One study determined that taking 24 grams of activated charcoal per day lowered total cholesterol by 25% and “bad” LDL cholesterol by 25% for four weeks. Levels of “good” HDL cholesterol also increased by 8%.
How is activated charcoal used?
This popular natural product with so many uses is used for:
Gas reduction
Some studies report that it can help reduce gas production after a gas-producing meal.
It can also help cure gas odor.
Water filtration
Activated charcoal is heavy metal andfluoride It is a popular method used to reduce content.
But it doesn't seem to be very effective at removing viruses, bacteria, or hard water minerals.
Teeth whitening with activated charcoal
Activated carbonWhen used while brushing teeth, it provides whitening.
It helps whiten teeth by absorbing compounds such as plaque.
Preventing the effects of alcohol
It is sometimes used as a treatment for conditions referred to as hangover.
Skin treatment
Activated charcoal appears to be an effective treatment for skin acne, insect or snake bites.
What are the benefits of activated charcoal?
It is considered safe in most cases and its side effects are said to be infrequent and rarely severe.
However, it has been reported that it can cause some unpleasant side effects, the most common of whichnausea and vomiting. Constipation and black stools are also commonly reported side effects.
When used as an antidote for poisonings, there is a risk of getting into the lungs rather than the stomach. This is especially true if the person taking it vomits or is drowsy or semi-conscious. Because of this risk, it should only be given to fully conscious individuals.
Activated charcoal may worsen symptoms in people with variegate porphyria, a rare genetic disease that affects the skin, intestines, and nervous system.
In addition, it can cause intestinal blockages in very rare cases.
It is worth noting that it can also reduce the absorption of some drugs. Therefore, individuals taking medication should consult with their healthcare professional before taking them.
Activated charcoal dose
Those wishing to try this natural remedy should pay attention to dosage instructions similar to those used in the studies mentioned above. It is important to seek immediate medical attention in the event of drug poisoning.
A dose of 50-100 grams can be administered by a medical professional, ideally within one hour of overdose. Children should normally take a dose less than 10-25 grams.
Dosages in other conditions can range from 1.5 grams to 4-32 grams per day in the treatment of fish odor disease to lower cholesterol and increase kidney function in kidney disease.
Activated charcoal is available in capsule, pill, or powder forms. When taken as a powder, it is mixed with water or a non-acidic water. In addition, increasing water intake,constipation It also helps prevent symptoms.
Use of activated charcoal during pregnancy
The FDA has proven that its use during pregnancy harms the fetus. Although the study has only been confirmed in animals, it is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
