When you experience a stomach ailment, before turning to over-the-counter drugs, consider using activated charcoal, a natural substance that treats the cause of the ailment, namely the toxin itself. Since its first recorded use in 1791, activated charcoal has been used to treat accidental poisonings, overdoses and food contaminations in industrialized and developing countries around the world.
Activation of Charcoal
Charcoal is treated with oxygen to create a highly absorbent pore structure in the charcoal. This process of activation removes any previously absorbed substances from the surface of the charcoal, creating numerous bonding sites. Activated charcoal binds to chemicals and organic materials. Because of its absorbent quality, activated charcoal is used in water filters, nutritional supplements and poison control drugs to cleanse toxins.
Treatment for Poisoning and Drug Overdose
Activated charcoal treats accidental poisoning and drug overdose. The supplement prevents your body from absorbing ingested toxins through your stomach and intestinal lining. To prevent poisoning, you must take activated charcoal within one hour of ingesting the toxic substance. For immediate accessibility, the supplement should be included in your home's first-aid kit. Immediately upon discovering the poisoning or overdose, call a poison control center for instructions, and tell the health care professional that you have activated charcoal readily available.
Treatment for Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Activated charcoal treats gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, indigestion and gas. Activated charcoal cleanses the digestive tract by bonding to the toxins or bacteria that cause food poisoning and infection. As the activated charcoal absorbs the toxins, the symptoms caused by ingesting the contaminated food should begin to subside. If symptoms continue for longer than two days or worsen, you should call your doctor to determine whether the infection is too widespread or serious to be treated with activated charcoal.
Drug Interactions
Because of its absorbent quality, activated charcoal can affect the efficacy of other medications taken around the same time as the activated charcoal. You should inform your doctor if you have taken activated charcoal, especially if undergoing treatment that requires regular dosages of medications. Although an emergency situation may require the immediate administration of activated charcoal regardless of your medication schedule, you should take activated charcoal two hours prior to or one hour after taking other medications if possible. For instance, if you regularly take oral contraceptives and endure a bout of food poisoning, time your dosages so that the activated charcoal does not absorb the medication and reduce its effectiveness.
Forms
Activated charcoal comes in a variety of forms, most often a capsule or powder for home use, and is available without a prescription. Although the powdered slurry may provide quicker activation, the slurry presents a less palatable form because its gritty texture and black color may seem unappealing to swallow, and so may be rejected when an attempt to consume is made. The oral capsules act quickly and provide an effective solution.
