Charcoal is an amazing substance. It adsorbs more poisons
than any other substance known to mankind. It can adsorb lead acetate,
strychnine, DDT, many drugs (including cocaine, iodine, penicillin, aspirin,
phenobarbital), and inorganic substances (chlorine, lead, and mercury).
It can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases,
heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals; thus it renders them ineffective
and harmless.
It can adsorb intestinal gas and deodorizes foul-smelling
gases of various kinds.
Charcoal can do these various things because of its
ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This
is called "adsorption" (not absorption). Charcoal can adsorb thousands of
times its own weight in harmful substances. One teaspoonful of it has a
surface area of more than 10,000 square feet.
The British medical journal, Lancet, discusses the
amazing ability of the human skin to allow transfer of liquids, gases, and
even micro-particles through its permeable membrane and pores, by the
application of moist, activated charcoal compresses and poultices which
actually draw bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice or
compress! The article describes the use of charcoal compresses to speed the
healing of wounds and eliminate their odors. But the poultices must be kept
moist and warm for this healing process to occur (59).
Ancient Egyptian doctors, as well as Hippocrates (the
Greek physician), recommended the use of charcoal for medicinal purposes.
North American Indians used it for gas pains and skin infections. It eases
inflammation and bruises.
A 1981 research study found that activated charcoal
reduces the amount of gas produced by eating beans and other gas-forming
foods. It adsorbs the excess gas, along with the bacteria which form the gas
(57).
Activated charcoal helps eliminate bad breath, because it
cleanses both the mouth and the digestive tract (38). It also helps to
purify the blood (10, 38).
It relieves symptoms of nervous diarrhea, traveler’s
diarrhea (turista), spastic colon, indigestion, and peptic ulcers. For such
problems, take between 1-1½ tablespoons of powdered charcoal up to 3 times a
day. Because food will reduce its effectiveness, take it between meals.
Swirl the charcoal in a glass of water and then drink it down; or mix it
with olive oil and spoon it into your mouth. (38, 47, 57, 58).
Charcoal was placed in gas masks during World War I; and
it effectively counteracted poison gas.
Bad odors, caused by skin ulcers, have been eliminated by
placing charcoal-filled cloth over plastic casts. It has been used
externally to effectively adsorb wound secretions, bacteria, and toxins.
And, in poultices and packs, it treats infections of the face, eyelids,
skin, or extremities. It is one of the best substances in poultices for
mushroom poisoning, insect stings, brown recluse spider bites, black widow
bites, and various types of snake bites.
It is used in water purification, air purification, and
for removing undesirable odors and impurities in food.
Charcoal is the most-used remedy when many different
types of poisons may have been swallowed. It is also used for diarrhea and
indigestion.
It is used for jaundice of the newborn, poison oak and
ivy reactions, and many other illnesses.
All research studies show charcoal to be harmless when it
is accidently inhaled, swallowed, or in contact with the skin. (But if
enough is swallowed, it can cause a mild constipation.) No allergies to it
have been reported (10, 38). But it is best not to take charcoal longer than
12 weeks without stopping. Do not take it regularly for long periods of
time.
Charcoal from burned toast should never be used; since
substances are present which are carcinogenic. Do not eat burned food.
Charcoal briquettes are especially dangerous, because petro-chemicals have
been added to them.
The most effective type of charcoal is the activated
form. This process renders it 2 to 3 times as effective as regular charcoal.
First, the charcoal is ground very fine; and then it is placed in a steam
chamber. This opens up the charcoal and exposes more of its surfaces, so it
can adsorb much more.
Modern medical science uses Activated Charcoal USP,
a pure, naturally produced wood charcoal carbon that has no carcinogenic
properties.
It must be stored in a tightly sealed container, because
it readily adsorbs impurities from the atmosphere. (Leaving the top off a
container of charcoal will partially purify the room it is in, to the degree
that the air in the room comes in contact with the charcoal.)
Simply place some in water, stir, and swallow. Or apply
it to the skin’s surface. It is odorless and tasteless. Powdered, activated
charcoal achieves maximum adsorption within a minute or so after absorption.
Charcoal can also be placed in empty gelatin capsules and
swallowed. (Gelatin is usually processed from animals.) But they will act
more slowly than swallowing the powder mixed with water. Charcoal can also
be mixed with a little fruit juice before being swallowed; but, of course,
it will adsorb that also. This should not be a problem if the juice is
diluted or there is a sufficient amount of charcoal in it.
Charcoal poultices that are kept moist and warm actually
draw toxins and poisons out through the skin tissue. This is because skin is
a permeable membrane, which permits a variety of liquids and gases to enter
and exit the body.
Make the poultice just large enough to cover the injured
part. The paste may be made by mixing equal parts of flaxseed meal or corn
starch with the activated charcoal, in a bowel, and then adding just enough
hot water to make a moderately thick paste. Then spread the paste over a
porous cloth, covering over the top with another layer of that same cloth.
Place the poultice over the area to be treated and cover
it with a piece of plastic. Cover or wrap with a cloth, to hold it all in
place. Secure by a tie, stretch bandage, or pin.
Apply the poultice for 1 or 2 hours. If applied at
bedtime, leave it on overnight. Adsorption takes place almost immediately.
When it is removed, wash or gently cleanse the area with cool water. Repeat
when needed. Poultices should, at the most, be changed every 6-10 hours. Do
not put charcoal directly on the broken skin; because it may cause a
tatooing effect, blackening the skin for a period of time (21, 23, 24, 38,
50).
Activated charcoal is required by law to be part of the
standard equipment on many ambulances, in case poisoning is encountered. It
is the first choice of the medical profession (10, 38, 41).
Scientific experiments, conducted over a period of many
years, attest to the effectiveness of charcoal as an antidote. In one
experiment, 100 times the lethal dose of cobra venom was mixed with charcoal
and injected into a laboratory animal. The animal was not harmed (15).
In other experiments, arsenic and strychnine were
thoroughly mixed with charcoal and then swallowed by humans under laboratory
conditions. The subjects survived, even though the poison dosages were 5 to
10 times the lethal dose (1, 3, 14, 16, 17, 38).
Because medicinal drugs are chemical compounds, they are
all poisons to a greater or lesser degree. Because of this, if charcoal is
taken with them, or soon afterward, it will tend to adsorb and inactivate
the drugs. Therefore, physicians recommend that you only take charcoal two
hours before or two hours after taking a medicinal drug.
Physicians primarily use charcoal for eight different
purposes. Here they are:
1 - To treat poisonous bites from snakes, spiders, and
insects (38).
2 - To treat poisonings in general, as well as overdoses
of aspirin, Tylenol, and other drugs (10, 30, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55,
56, 62, 63).
3 - To treat some forms of dysentery, diarrhea,
dyspepsia, and foot-and-mouth disease (20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 37, 38,
48).
4 - To disinfect and deodorize wounds (48, 50, 58, 59).
5 - To eliminate toxic by-products that cause anemia in
cancer patients (33, 50, 54).
6 - To filter toxins from the blood in liver and kidney
diseases (31, 48, 65).
7 - To purify blood in transfusions (48, 60, 65).
Although activated charcoal can be used as an antidote in
poisoning from most drugs and chemicals, it will not be effective against
the following: cyanide, alcohol, caustic alkalies (such as lye), mineral
acids, or boric acids. Strong alkaline and acid poisons need to be treated
with solutions with the opposite pH. For example, until the ambulance
arrives, calcium powder in water will help offset acids and vinegar will
help offset alkalies. Consult a Poison Control Center (phone numbers are in
the front of your phone book) or a doctor immediately, for instructions and
information in any poisoning emergency (10, 51, 52).
When mixed with water and swallowed to counteract
poisoning, charcoal adsorbs the poison or drug, inactivating it. It then
carries it inert through the entire length of the digestive tract and out of
the body. Charcoal is not absorbed, adsorbed, neutralized, nor metabolized
by the body (6, 13, 47, 53).
In a poisoning emergency, if the victim is conscious,
first induce vomiting (unless he has swallowed an acid) if it can be done
quickly. Ipecac is a commonly used emetic. The dosage is ½ oz. for
children and 1 oz. for adults. Induced vomiting will bring up about 30% of
the poison from the stomach.
Then give the charcoal to help inactivate the remaining
70%. The usual dose is 5-50 grams of charcoal, depending on age and body
size. Adults should be given at least 30 grams (about half a cup of lightly
packed powder), depending on the amount of poison ingested. Larger doses
will be needed if the person has eaten a meal recently. A dose of 200 grams
(3½ cups) is not excessive in cases of severe poisoning. The charcoal will
reach its maximum rate of adsorption within one minute. The sooner it is
given, the more complete will be the adsorption of the poison. Always keep a
large jar of activated charcoal in your kitchen! The dose can be repeated
every four hours or until charcoal appears in the stool (3, 10, 41, 47, 48,
52, 53, 60, 61).
Never give charcoal, or anything else, to an unconscious
person to swallow. Contact a physician or ambulance immediately.
Do not give charcoal before giving an emetic (to get him
to vomit), because the charcoal will neutralize the emetic. Remember that
charcoal will not work in cases of poisoning by strong acids or alkalies.
Here is a sampling of over 100 substances which are
adsorbed by charcoal:
Acetaminophen / Aconitine / Amitriptyline / hydrochloride
/ Amphetamine / Antimony / Antipyrine / Arsenic / Aspirin / Atropine /
Barbital, Barbiturates / Ben-Gay / Benzodiazepines / Cantharides / Camphor /
Chlordane / Chloroquine / Chlorpheniramine / Chlorpromazine / Cocaine /
Colchicine / Congesprin / Contact / Dalmane / Darvon / Delphinium / Diazepam
/ 2-, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid / Digitalis (Foxglove) / Dilantin /
Diphenylhydantoin / Diphenoxylates / Doriden / Doxepin / Elaterin / Elavil /
Equanil / Ergotamine / Ethchlorvynol / Gasoline / Glutethimide / Golden
chain / Hemlock / Hexachlorophene / Imipramine / Iodine / Ipecac / Isoniazid
/ Kerosene / Lead acetate / Malathion / Mefenamic acid / Meprobamate /
Mercuric chloride / Mercury / Methylene blue / Methyl salicylate / Miltown /
Morphine / Multivitamins and minerals / Muscarine / Narcotics / Neguvon /
Nicotine / Nortriptyline / Nytol / Opium / Oxazepam / Parathion / Penicillin
/ Pentazocine / Pentobarbital / Pesticides / Phenobarbital / Phenolphthalein
/ Phenol / Phenothiazines / Phenylpropanolamine / Placidyl / Potassium
permanganate / Primaquine / Propantheline / Propoxyphene / Quinacrine /
Quinidine / Quinine / Radioactive substances / Salicylamide / Salicylates /
secobarbital / Selenium / Serax / Silver / Sinequan / Sodium Salicylate /
Sominex / Stramonium / Strychnine / Sulfonamides / Talwin / Tofranil / Tree
tobacco / Yew / Valium / Veratrine / Some silver and antimony salts / Many
herbicides (32, 39).
Reference sources:
1 - British Medical Journal, August 26, 1972.
2 - David O. Conney, Activated Charcoal, p. 47.
3 - Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica, 4:275,
1948.
4 - Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA), May 29, 1915.
5 - Cooney, p. 33.
6 - JAMA, December 8, 1969.
7 - Bulletin de la Society de Chime Biologique,
October-December 1945.
8 - Journal of animal Science, February 1972.
9 - Cooney, p. 63.
10 - Clinical Toxicology, March 1970.
11 - Annals of Emergency Medicine, November 1980.
12 - AMA Archives of Industrial Health, December
1958.
13 - Archives of Environmental Health, December
1960.
14 - JAMA, August 18, 1978.
15 - Comptes rendus Hebdomadaires des Seance de
Academie des Sciences, November 19, 1928.
16 - Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology,
September 1973.
17 - JAMA, September 22, 1969.
18 - Management of Poisoning, Pediatrics for the
Clinician, p. 325.
19 - JAMA, June 15, 1984.
20 - Patient Care, October 30, 1977, p. 152.
21 - Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Monthly, December
1968.
22 - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
May 1964.
23 - JAMA, May 1964.
24 - Chirurg, April 1948.
25 - Quarterly Journal of Pharmacology,
July-September 1928.
26 - Cooney, p. 123.
27 - Cooney, p. 131.
28 - Cooney, p. 133.
30 - Nature 184, October 10, 1959.
31 - Medical World News, February 17, 1967.
32 - Cooney, p. 145.
33 - Lancet, 1:1301, 1974.
34 - Annals of Internal Medicine, 93:446-449,
1980.
35 - British Medical Journal, November 25, 1978.
36 - Medical Tribune, April 12, 1978.
37 - Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics,
96:873-878, 1930.
38 - A. Thrash, Home Remedies, 1981.
39 - Common Poisons & Injurious Plants, U.S.
Department of Public Health, 1967-7004.
41 - Pediatrics, September 1974.
42 - American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (AJHP),
September 1976.
43 - AJHP, June 1979.
44 - AJHP, August 1979.
45 - Clinical Toxicology, May 1975.
47 - Hospital Formulary, 1983.
48 - Martingale Extra Pharmacopeia, 28th edition,
p. 72, 1982.
49 - AMA Drug Evaluations, 5th edition, 1983.
50 - Marjorie Baldwin, M.D., Wildwood Sanitarium and
Hospital, Wildwood, Georgia.
51 - Conn’s Current Therapy 1984, pp. 925, 927.
52 - Merck Manual, 14th edition.
53 - American Society of Hospital Pharmacists,
1976.
54 - Facts and Comparisons, 1981.
55 - Klin Wochenschr, 1982.
56 - Our Earth, Our Cure, R. Dextreit, 1974.
57 - Effect of Orally Administered Activated Charcoal
on Intestinal Gas, Hall, Thompson & Strother, Loma Linda Medical School,
1981.
58 - Prevention, February 1981.
59 - Lancet, September 13, 1980.
60 - American Medical News, June 22, 1984.
61 - European Journal of Pharmacology, 24:557,
1983.
62 - Pediatric Clinics of North America, August
1970.
63 - Hospital Pharmacy News, May 1984.
64 - Journal of Pediatrics, July 1979.
