Activated charcoal is a substance with many uses. It is highly adsorptive, meaning that it draws other substances into itself. This makes it useful in medicine, cleansing and filtration. It has been used since ancient times as a medicinal supplement, and in the past century its benefits have been proven through scientific research. Activated charcoal powder is a natural cure that, when used correctly, really does work.
History
In 2007, "Current Opinion in Pediatrics" published a review of activated charcoal, calling it "the universal antidote." The review stated that charcoal was used medicinally by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Hindus. Activated charcoal began to be studied by modern scientists in about 1773. In 1831, a French pharmacist ingested several times the lethal limit of strychnine along with an equal amount of charcoal, and survived. Since that time, activated charcoal has been used as an antidote to swallowed poisons, and is still commonly used today.
Structure and Function
According to a 1992 report from North Dakota State University, activated carbon is made from charred organic materials such as peanut shells or coal. The carbon is then heated in the absence of air, and oxidizing gases are passed through it. This causes it to farm enlarged "pores," fissures in the charcoal that attract foreign molecules. When activated charcoal is introduced to a liquid, large organic molecules lodge in its pores, effectively filtering them out of the liquid.
Medicinal and Health Applications
According to "Current Opinion in Pediatrics," activated charcoal is used by modern doctors as a poison remedy. "It has been studied with hundreds of substances in vitro, in animals, in human volunteers and in actual patients with
overdoses," the article states. As a poison antidote, it is useful when taken within one hour of poison ingestion. In naturopathy and alternative health circles, activated charcoal is touted as a natural detoxifying supplement, however, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. It may be useful as a skin cleanser, however, removing dirt and toxins from your skin's pores.
Water Filtration
Outside of its health applications, activated charcoal is widely used to clean water. A 2005 article in Slate details a Chinese chemical spill that was cleaned up by dumping activated carbon directly into the affected river. Activated charcoal is also used in home water filters, including Brita pitchers.
Making Your Own
You can make your own activated charcoal powder using hardwood. Make a hot fire with the hardwood. When it is burning well, shovel the hot coals into a pile, cover them with a metal top such as a barbecue lid, and block the edges with sand to make it airtight. The absence of air will "activate" the charcoal, though probably not as well as a professional process would. Once the coals have cooled completely, pound and grind them into a powder.
Member Comments