Activated charcoal was once considered the universal antidote. Today, it continues to be promoted as a powerful natural treatment. It has a wide range of suggested benefits, from lowering cholesterol to teeth whitening. This article looks in detail at the science behind activated charcoal and the benefits it offers in detail ;
Activated carbon is a substance with very good absorption properties due to its highly porous structure. Commercially activated carbon; wood, lignite, charcoal, bone, coconut, rice husk, hazelnut shell, peat etc. It is produced from materials such as. Coal is “activated” by treating it at very high temperatures. High temperatures change its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area. This results in a charcoal that is more porous than regular charcoal.
Activated charcoal should not be confused with the charcoal briquettes used to light your barbecue.
Every. While they can both be made from the same basic materials, charcoal briquettes are not “activated” at high temperatures. It also contains additional substances that are toxic to humans.
How Does Activated Charcoal Work?
Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in the intestine, preventing their absorption.
Charcoal Its porous tissue has a negative electrical charge, causing it to attract positively charged molecules such as toxins and gases. This helps it trap toxins and chemicals in the intestine. Since activated charcoal is not absorbed by your body, it can carry toxins bound to its surface out of your body with your stool.
Activated Charcoal as an Emergency Poison Treatment
Thanks to its toxin-binding properties. Activated charcoal has a variety of medical uses. For example, activated charcoal is often used in cases of poisoning. This is because it can bind a wide variety of medications, reducing their effects. In humans, activated charcoal has been used as a detoxifier since the early 1800s.
It can be used to treat prescription drug overdoses as well as overdose of over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and sedatives.
< For example, studies have shown that if a single dose of 50-100 grams of activated charcoal is taken five minutes after taking the medication, It shows that it can reduce drug absorption by up to 74% in adults.When charcoal is taken 30 minutes after drug ingestion, this effect decreases to 50% and to 20% when taken three hours after drug overdose.
p>
The initial dose of 50-100 grams is sometimes followed by two to six doses of 30-50 grams over two to six hours. However, this multiple dosing protocol is less used and may only be effective in a limited number of cases of poisoning. It is important to note that activated charcoal is not effective in all cases of poisoning. For example, it appears to have little effect in alcohol, heavy metal, iron, lithium, potassium, acid or alkali poisoning. Moreover, experts warn that activated charcoal should not be routinely administered in all cases of poisoning. Rather, its use should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
May Regulate Kidney Function.
Activated charcoal may help support kidney function by reducing the number of waste products that the kidneys must filter.
This can be particularly helpful in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys are no longer able to properly filter waste products.
Healthy kidneys are normally very well equipped to filter your blood without any additional help. However, patients suffering from chronic kidney disease often have difficulty removing urea and other toxins from the body.
Activated charcoal can bind to urea and other toxins, helping your body eliminate them.
Urea and other waste. products can pass from the bloodstream through the intestine through a process known as diffusion. They bind with activated charcoal in the intestine and are excreted in the feces.
In humans, activated charcoal has been shown to help improve kidney function in those suffering from chronic kidney disease.
In one study, activated charcoal supplements were shown to help those with end-stage renal disease. has shown to help lower blood levels of urea and other waste products in patients. However, current evidence is weak and higher quality studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made.
May Lower Cholesterol Levels
Activated charcoal also cholesterol It may help lower L levels. This is because it binds to cholesterol and cholesterol-containing bile acids in the gut, preventing the body from absorbing them.
In one study, taking 24 grams of activated charcoal daily for four weeks reduced total cholesterol by 25% and “bad” LDL lowered cholesterol by 25%. “Good” HDL cholesterol levels also increased by 8%.
In another study, taking 4-32 grams of activated charcoal daily helped reduce total and “bad” LDL cholesterol by 29-41% in those with high cholesterol levels. .
Similar results have been reported in most, but not all, studies.
However, it is interesting to note that all studies on this topic were conducted in the 1980s. Newer studies will help confirm the link.
Activated charcoal is also a popular home remedy with multiple uses, but it's important to note that not all of them are backed by science.
The most well-known public use is include:
Gas reduction: Some studies have reported that activated charcoal may help reduce gas production following a gas-producing meal. It may also help improve gas odor. However, not all studies have observed this benefit.
Water filtration: Activated charcoal is a popular way to reduce heavy metal and fluoride content in water. However, it does not appear to be very effective at removing viruses, bacteria, or hard water minerals.
Teeth whitening: Using activated charcoal to brush your teeth is anecdotally said to whiten teeth. It is said to do this by absorbing plaque and other tooth-coloring compounds. However, no studies were found to support this claim.
After alcohol: Activated charcoal is sometimes used after alcohol consumption for a hangover. Consuming it with alcohol may reduce blood alcohol levels, but its effects on hangovers have not yet been studied.
Skin treatment: Applying this charcoal to the skin is an effective treatment for acne and insect or snake bites. However, not many proven reports have been found on this subject.
Is Activated Charcoal Safe?
Activated charcoal is considered safe in most cases and does not cause adverse reactions. The effects are said to be rare and rarely severe. This may cause some unpleasant side effects, the most common of which are nausea and vomiting.
Additionally, constipation and black stools are two other commonly reported side effects.
When activated charcoal is used as an emergency antidote for poison, there is a risk of it entering the lungs rather than the stomach. This is especially true when the person taking it is vomiting or is drowsy or semi-conscious.
Because of this risk, activated charcoal should only be given to people who are fully conscious. Additionally, activated charcoal may be used against a rare genetic disease that affects the skin, intestines, and nervous system. It can worsen symptoms in individuals with various forms of porphyria.
Also, in very rare cases, activated charcoal has been linked to intestinal blockages or perforations. It is worth mentioning that activated charcoal may also decrease the absorption of some medications. Therefore, people taking medications should consult their healthcare professional before taking medication.
Activated charcoal is a supplement with a variety of uses.
Interestingly, it has been used to lower cholesterol, treat poisoning, reduce gas. and may have the potential to support kidney function.
However, studies supporting these benefits tend to be weak, and many other benefits linked to activated charcoal are not supported by science.
Keep these in mind when deciding to use activated charcoal. keep it.
Read: 0
