What Are The Health Benefits Of Charcoal Tablets?

Though charcoal may make you think of backyard grilling more than natural medicine, a certain type of charcoal actually has health benefits. Activated charcoal, so-called because it is oxidized with steam or other gases to create fine pores, is sold in tablet form without a prescription. Though the most common application of medicinal charcoal is as an emergency treatment for poisoning, faster-acting charcoal powder is usually used under these circumstances. Tablets, on the other hand, are often taken to treat intestinal problems, aid in non-emergency detoxification and lower cholesterol levels. Consult your doctor before beginning a new charcoal tablet regimen for these or any other reason.

Intestinal Problems

Activated charcoal tablets can be taken for temporary relief from a variety of problems related to the stomach, bowels and intestinal tract, according to the health blog Wellsphere. They have been recommended to reduce uncomfortable and embarrassing gas, indigestion and heartburn, as well as symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, a chronic condition that causes a repeated and painful reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. When taking charcoal for these reasons, it is important to do so under a physician's guidance, as it can potentially worsen other intestinal issues including intestinal viruses and irritable bowel syndrome. Charcoal tablets' natural absorbency can also cause it to absorb helpful medications in your system, so if you're taking it in conjunction with any other medications, ask your doctor how to take charcoal safely.

Detoxification

According to W. Steven Pray's "Nonprescription Product Therapeutics," activated charcoal works as an emergency first aid solution for poisoning by absorbing toxins, rendering them inert and hastening their expulsion from the body. In much the same way, charcoal may be taken regularly over a longer period of time to absorb and reduce toxins that aren't immediately life-threatening. The "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine" by Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno adds that while charcoal is sometimes taken among other substances during the course of various natural detox regimens, it is specifically valued as a means of facilitating a state of sobriety following the ingestion of an intoxicant like alcohol or other drugs. Similarly, it may have applications in drug rehabilitation programs in which patients' dwindling levels of toxins create unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. In applications such as these, as with any other medicinal uses for charcoal, the guidance of a physician is strongly recommended.

Cholesterol Management

The Mayo Clinic warns that high levels of cholesterol, in conjunction with high blood pressure and high levels of triglycerides, can create a fatty buildup in the arteries that can increase the risk of a heart attack. According to "CharcoalRemedies.com: The Complete Handbook of Medicinal Charcoal and its Applications" by John Dinsley, activated charcoal can lower both cholesterol and triglycerides. The author cites a study published in 1986 in the British health journal The Lancet, in which participants with high cholesterol ingested two tablespoons of activated charcoal three times daily for four weeks. The results revealed that the average overall cholesterol reduction was 25 percent, and that LDL cholesterol, more commonly known as "bad cholesterol," dropped by 41 percent. As explained above, however, charcoal tablets can absorb prescription cholesterol-lowering medications if taken too close together, so you should always consult with your doctor to determine if and how charcoal can be incorporated safely into your cholesterol management plan.