Activated Charcoal

It is important to understand that charcoal (or carbon) does not function like a sponge in pulling into its inner structures various pollutants. Instead, poisonous gases and chemicals adhere or stick to its surface. If you were to eat the carbon, nearby poisons within your body would attach to it firmly until the body expels both of them from the body. The charcoal is not absorbed into the blood, but is merely a carrier of toxins. As far as we know, carbon does not lose any of them prematurely.

What does "Activated" mean? When wood is heated 600 degrees centigrade in a container with the oxygen removed, certain gases and liquids are driven off. It does not 'burn' because the oxygen is missing. (Only a little may be in the wood itself) After this process is completed, steam at 4OO degrees centigrade is introduced (or air is sometimes used), under high pressure. Remember, it is not "absorbed" but 'adheres' to the outer surface of the carbon.

Not only is this state of 'active porosity' obtained by the steam or air pressure process, but simultaneously purifies the product for internal use. Use the powdered form if possible, as commercial tablets are about half as effective and should be chewed.

Whereas charcoal is not absolutely pure carbon, it is nearly so, and both terms are used to mean the same thing. Charcoal is simply charred wood. Various materials can be used - wood pulp, petroleum, coke, coal, peat, sawdust, paper mill waste, bone and coconut shells. Any kind of wood such as Ilow, eucalyptus, pine, oak, and others are also adequate sources. Medical researchers acknowledge that charcoal is probably the best known antidote for poison. And charcoal is rated safe and effective for acute toxic poisoning by the FDA.

Internal uses: Hangover, hiccups, high cholesterol in blood, kidney failure (to help clean blood), breath sweetener, abdominal fevers in children, drug overdoses (with some exceptions), like phenobarbital, jaundice in babies, ingested radioactive sub- stances. Intravenous injections of colloidal charcoal have been used by doctors for mastitis, lymphangitis, septicemia. (Not a recommended procedure for the layman.)

External Uses: Air purifier, insect bites, including bee stings, brown recluse spider and snakebites, toothpaste to whiten teeth, cellulitis of face, eyelids and ears, cancer (and other) pains, infections (Charcoal will absorb bacteria, viruses), eye inflammation (dip bag of charcoal in water that will be used for a fomentation application).

Making Your Own: Although commercial charcoal is readily available at your neighborhood pharmacy (and don't buy the charcoal sold for burning incense; it may contain gunpowders, you can make your own at home. But without specialized equipment to make the activated form, you will have to use 3 or 4 times more than the commercial variety to get the same benefit. We advise, however, that untreated, nontoxic woods be used. Simply char wood in a fireplace or grill-without the use of toxic firestarters or briquettes-and, when the wood has cooled, cut off the charred portions with a sharp knife. Pound large pieces with a hammer and then grind to a fine powder in a blender.

If you want to make it outdoors, wait until the wood is burning brightly before covering with a large piece of tin (beware of hot galvanized metal that can give off toxic fumes) and pile dirt over it to exclude air.

What Can It Do? Intestinal gas: Whereas carbon will not absorb air in the stomach, intestinal gas is usually hydrogen, methane or carbon dioxide (and sometimes ammonia and hydrogen sulfide) and these will be "absorbed" by charcoal.

"Few people realize that the body normally gets rid of most of its intestinal gas by diffusion through the intestinal wall where it is taken by the blood to the lungs to be expelled. An inflamed or toxic coating of the intestinal wall can prevent this process, allowing a buildup of painful and noxious gas. Activated charcoal will not only remove the gas, but often can also remove the toxic irritant causing it.

Diarrhea: "Turista" or even baby's diarrhea is not repressed by charcoal, but it does aid the body in getting rid of noxious substances. When these are captured, the body no longer has the need to hurry the bowels.

Poisoning: By itself, activated charcoal will tackle almost any poison known to man, from hemlock to DDT. Doesn't that say something for having a goodly amount in the medicine cabinet? It can be given safely by nonprofessionals. To neutralize poison (even in cases of food poisoning), mix about one-quarter to one-half cup of powdered charcoal with a cup of water. Stir or shake the mixture and drink within the first 30 minutes after being poisoned,' Also use for mushroom poisoning, even up to 24 hours after ingestion. It will even 'absorb" some or most of gasoline, kerosene, lighter and cleaning fluids, but use much larger doses. Secure your situation by seeing a medical doctor immediately.

Care should be used when applying charcoal to open wounds, as some of the black powder may get trapped as the area heals, giving a tattoo effect! But at least you know it won't sting or irritate the wound.

Will Charcoal Absorb Nutrients? It is argued that charcoal can take vitamins from the intestinal tract. However, clinical research has rarely shown any ill effects from long-term use of activated charcoal." In experiments with sheep and rats, no significant change in blood chemistry was detected after 6 months of observation," While charcoal "absorbs" extremely well at body temperatures, it loses this quality at higher temperatures. "Charcoal can be reused once or twice by washing, allowing to settle, pouring off the fluid and drying the charcoal in the oven at a high temperature (about 350 degrees F.) but not high enough for the charcoal to ash."' However, when dangerous compounds have been 'absorbed,' who wants to take the chance of depending on re-used charcoal?

Where Does Charcoal Work Poorly: Caustic materials like lye are probably not readily absorbed" and in these cases very large quantities of charcoal should be used. Salts such as sodium chloride and potassium nitrate are also poorly 'absorbed,' including iodine and mercuric chloride. But simple acids and bases are easily absorbed." There is also a question about its power to remove alcohol from the body.

We've taken a pretty good look at the pros and cons of charcoal - Who would want to be without it? Unlike charcoal, however, we hope you have been able to absorb these ideas we've presented. This 'black powder that won't blow you away" may be the only carbonated drink you can get that's actually good for you and yours.

NOTE - Some of the Substances "Absorbed" by Activated Charcoal: Acetaminophen, Aconitine, Alcohol, Amphetamine, Antimony, Antipyrine, Arsenic, Aspirin, Atropine, Barbital, Barbiturates, Camphor, Chlordane, Chloroquine, Chlorpheniramine, Chlorproma, Cocaine, Colchicine, Cyanide, Delphinium, Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Digitalis, Diphenylhydantoin, Diphenoxylates, Ergotamine, Ethclilorvynol, Gasoline, Glutethimide, Hemlock, Hexachlorophene, Imipramine, Iodine, Ipecac, Isoniazid, Kerosene, Lead acetate, Malathion, Mefenamic acid, Mepfobamate, Methylene blue, Methyl salicylate, Morphine, Muscarin, Narcotics, Neguvon, Nicotine, Nortriptyline, Opium, Parathion, Penicillin, Pentobarbital, Pesticides, Phenobarbital, Phenolphthalein, Phenol, Phenylpropanolamine, Potassium, Primaquine, Propantheline, Propoxyphene, Quianacrine, Quinidine, Quinine, Radioactive substances, Salitylamide, Salicylates, Secobarbital, Selenium, Silver, Stramonium, Strychnine, Sulfonamides, Veratrine.

Please send E-mail to: joyful@best.com if you would like to order the item above or if you have any questions. You can phone or fax your order to 408-248-2671 or 800-704-9800 or order from the secure online ordering system as well.

VISA, MasterCard, & American Express Accepted!