Activated Charcoal: Universal Antidote & Detoxifier

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Activated Charcoal: Universal Antidote and Detoxifier JoAnn Guest

Oct 16, 2005 12:20 PDT

by Richard C. Kaufman, Ph.D.

March 14, 2005

 

 

http://www.thenhf.com/articles_91.htm

 

 

Activated charcoal is a highly absorbent gritty black material

commonly found in air and water filters. Activated charcoal is

created by carbonizing organic matter in a kiln under anaerobic

conditions and activating the material with oxidizing gases like

steam or air at high temperatures. This oxidative process erodes the

charcoals internal surfaces and increases its adsorption capacity by

creating an internal network of very fine pores. Usually bone char,

coconut shells, peat, coal, petroleum coke, and sawdust are the

starting materials for making activated charcoal.

 

Early Uses Of Charcoal

 

The medical uses for charcoal date back to the Egyptian Papyrus of

1550 B.C. During the time of Hippocrates (400 B.C.) physicians

treated epilepsy and anthrax with charcoal. In the 1700s charcoal was

often prescribed for bilious problems (excessive bile excretion).

After the development of the charcoal activation process (1870 to

1920), many reports appeared in medical journals about activated

charcoal as an antidote for poisons and a cure for intestinal

disorders.

 

Contemporary Charcoal Use

 

Modern research has validated most of the early uses for charcoal and

discovered exciting new applications. This article will discuss the

many important therapeutic uses for activated charcoal;

 

Universal antidote for drugs, chemicals and poisons.

 

Systemic clearance of drugs and intoxicants.

 

General detoxification.

 

Anti-aging and life extension.

 

Reducing cholesterol, coronary disease and arteriosclerosis.

 

Counteracting pathogens.

 

Intestinal complaints.

 

 

Antidote For Drugs, Chemicals and Poisons

 

Activated charcoal has the well-earned reputation of being a

universal antidote. It can adsorb most organic chemicals, many

inorganic chemicals and countless poisonous substances before they

can cause harm. How well activated charcoal really works in practical

situations depends on several different factors:

 

The type of toxicant (its chemical structure and physical properties)

 

The amount and type of charcoal ingested.

 

The length of time from toxin ingestion to activated charcoal

ingestion.

 

 

The contents of your intestinal fluids and intestinal transport

efficiency.

 

As a general rule, a single large dose of activated charcoal should

be taken as soon as possible after ingesting a poison. The amount of

activated charcoal should exceed the toxic substance by a factor of

eight (a ratio of 8:1). In other words, if youre poisoned with 5

grams of a chemical, you need to take at least 40 grams of activated

charcoal. Other researchers recommend different dosages. Some experts

believe a 10 to 1 ratio is correct. Still other experts recommend a

fixed amount of 50 to 100 grams. I recommend ingesting a minimum of

50 grams of activated charcoal as a counterpoison, because ingesting

large amounts of activated charcoal is harmless, and taking too

little is ineffective. Besides, how often in the case of an emergency

can you precisely determine the amount of the poison?

 

The actual effectiveness of the activated charcoal will vary, so take

more than you think you require. Activated charcoal should be taken

within 30 minutes of ingesting the poison. The longer the delay, the

less effective activated charcoal will be. On some poisons delaying

more than 30 minutes decreases the effectiveness of the activated

charcoal as an antidote by up to 60%. The bottom line is plain and

simple. Keeping activated charcoal in your medicine cabinet and

taking it if you are poisoned could save your life and your money

too. It has been estimated that use of activated charcoal for

treating poisonings could reduce the stay in intensive care from 3 or

4 days to one, saving over $100,000,000 in health care costs and

preventing unnecessary disability and death.

 

Systemic Clearance of Drugs and Intoxicants

 

Nowadays, activated charcoal is often used to clear drugs and

intoxicants that can enter the body through the intestinal tract, and

even by injection and other routes. The systemic clearance of toxic

substances or detoxification by activated charcoal is accomplished by

taking multiple daily doses. Activated charcoal detoxifies the body

in several manners:

 

Purifies the 6-8 liters of digestive fluids that are secreted daily

which in turn helps remove foreign substances from the blood.

 

Absorbs the intoxicant substance and its metabolites that are

excreted into the small intestine from the biliary (bile) tract,

preventing their reabsorption.

 

Absorbs drugs that diffuse back into the stomach and intestines.

 

Decreases the detoxification work load of the liver.

 

Activated charcoal shortens the time it takes an intoxicant to leave

the system and decreases the duration and intensity of symptoms.

People who take activated charcoal after drinking alcohol or taking

recreational drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines recover quicker. I

recommend activated charcoal as part of a drug recovery program to

ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug craving. Other nutrients

that help are the neurotransmitter precursors L-Tyrosine, L-

Tryptophan, L-Phenylalanine, Choline and DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol).

 

Even experts disagree on the best way of using multiple doses of

activated charcoal to remove intoxicants. Most protocols are based on

experience with drug overdosages. In actual clinical situations, the

activated charcoal regimen is optimized to the patient. The doctor

considers the type of toxic substance, severity of intoxification,

digestive functions and electrolyte balance. For mild overdoses and

intoxification, I suggest up to 80-100 grams divided into 4-6 daily

doses of powdered activated charcoal until the symptoms are

eliminated. Consult an expert who can optimize your regimen. For a

dangerous overdosage call your physician or hospital immediately.

 

General Detoxification

 

Very few health practitioners realize that activated charcoal is the

best single supplement for enhancing detoxification. Detoxification

is an on-going biological process that prevents toxins (from

infectious agents, food, air, water, and substances that contact the

skin) from destroying health. Chronic exposure to toxins produces

cellular damage, diverse diseases, allergic like reactions,

compromised immunity and premature aging.

 

To use activated charcoal in a detoxification plan, I recommend about

20 grams a day of powdered activated charcoal be taken in divided

daily doses for several months or the duration of the detoxification

program.

 

In addition to activated charcoal, the ideal detoxification

prescription includes sauna baths, exercise, a special diet, and

supplements (unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin C, niacin, proteolytic

(protein digesting) enzymes, liver support phytonutrients, and a

comprehensive multiple nutrient formula.

 

Anti-Aging and Life Extension

 

Dr. V. V. Frolkis, a famous Russian Gerontologist, and his colleagues

have discovered that activated charcoal is a potent life-extending

agent. Activated charcoal has been found to increase the mean

lifespan of older test animals by approximately 40% and their maximum

lifespan by approximately 34%.

 

Activated charcoal decreases the age-related increase in the brains

sensitivity to drugs and toxins.

 

Activated charcoal normalizes cholesterol and lipid metabolism.

 

The regular use of activated charcoal improves the adaptive

functioning of essential organs (the liver, kidneys, and adrenals).

That translates into better defense mechanisms.

 

Microscopic tissue analysis shows that activated charcoal prevents

many cellular changes associated with aging-decreased protein

synthesis, lower RNA activity, arteriosclerosis, and organ fibrosis.

So the cumlative effects from activated charcoal are longer life and

improved overall health.

 

A recommended protocol for anti-aging and life extension benefits is

as follows: On two consecutive days each week, take about 30 grams

each day of powdered activated charcoal in divided daily doses. Take

charcoal in the morning, at midday and before bed on an empty

stomach. Avoid excessive calories or unhealthy foods on those days.

 

Reducing Cholesterol and Coronary Artery Disease

 

You can help your heart and circulatory system by taking activated

charcoal. Activated charcoal lowers the concentration of total

lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood serum, liver,

heart and brain. In one study that was reported in the British

journal, Lancet, on patients with high cholesterol, 8 gm of activated

charcoal taken three times a day lowered total cholesterol 25%,

lowered LDL cholesterol 41% and doubled their HDL/LDL (high-density

lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol ratio. Microscopic

tissue examination studies have shown that a daily dose of activated

charcoal may prevent sclerotic changes in the heart and coronary

blood vessels. To help your heart and blood vessels, I suggest the

following: 12-17 grams of activated charcoal twice a day for one

month under the guidance of a physician who can measure

cardiovascular improvements and cholesterol levels.

 

Counteracting Pathogens

 

Activated charcoal reduces the activity of some viruses. So if you

catch a cold or the flu, try activated charcoal. You may suffer less

and heal faster. Activated charcoal also prevents the poisonous

activity of many harmful bacteria in the human body by adsorbing the

toxins and enzymes that they generate. Studies have shown that

activated charcoal is an effective treatment for dysentery, cholera,

and many infectious conditions of the digestive tract.

 

Systemic Candidiasis

 

Activated charcoal can be an effective adjunct to any regimen for the

treatment of systemic Candida albicans infections. Activated charcoal

adsorbs much of the toxins that Candida produces that otherwise would

be absorbed by the blood and carried throughout the body. These

toxins produce pathological changes in tissues and organs and

interfere with proper immune function. Candida toxins cause allergic

reactions and are responsible for the debilitating symptoms of

Candidiasis.

 

Activated charcoal also suppresses the growth of intestinal-based

yeasts. Activated charcoal counteracts the Herxheimer reaction--a

severe, short-term exacerbation of Candida symptoms caused by the

copious amount of toxins produced by dying yeast cells. The

Herxheimer reaction is often so unpleasant that patients abandon

treatment before completion. Activated charcoal is one method for

alleviating the symptoms of yeast die-off so people can continue

their treatment and not suffer.

 

I suggest 20-30 grams of powdered activated charcoal a day in divided

dosages on an empty stomach until the problem is eliminated. The

larger amount is taken for more severe situations. Again, a reminder:

do not take required medications within 2 hours of taking activated

charcoal.

 

Intestinal Complaints

 

Activated charcoal has been used by physicians since the last century

to treat various intestinal complaints. Abdominal distension

(bloating) and flatulence respond favorably to treatment with

activated charcoal. Diarrhea caused by food poisoning, bacteria,

nervousness and other factors is usually alleviated by taking

activated charcoal. Some physicians have used activated charcoal to

stop bleeding from ulcerative colitis and calm spastic colons.

Activated charcoal is the best intestinal deodorant available. Taking

activated charcoal counteracts decomposition products from food (such

as beans) that cause flatulence and diarrhea. Individuals with

malodorous stools should reach for activated charcoal. Travelers to

foreign countries would be wise to pack activated charcoal. In my

opinion, activated charcoal is the most practical way to effectively

counteract food poisoning. To alleviate intestinal disorders with

activated charcoal, I recommend the following. As an antidote for

food poisoning, take 20 grams of activated charcoal two to three

times daily. For other intestinal complaints, 5 to 10 grams of

powdered activated charcoal twice daily.

 

Charcoal Is Safe

 

Toxicology studies have proven that activated charcoal is basically

harmless. Ingesting high dosages does not interfere with sleep,

appetite or well being--or cause major problems. There are several

undesirable effects of using activated charcoal that can be avoided

by complying with the following directions. Activated charcoal is

highly adsorbent; when it is ingested at the same time as medication,

supplements and foods it may decrease their absorption and

utilization. Therefore, always allow 2 hours before and wait 2 hours

after using activated charcoal to eat, take supplements or swallow

medication. Activated charcoal has a natural tendency to cause

constipation. That can be counteracted by taking a mild herbal

laxative with the activated charcoal. Finally activated charcoal

harmlessly blackens your stools. Although black-gray stools look

strange, they can be used to calculate your bowel transit time. Just

measure the length of time from taking activated charcoal to the

appearance of darkened stools.

 

Not All Charcoal is Alike

 

Numerous companies manufacture activated charcoals, each of which can

have different adsorptive capacities. Different source materials and

manufacturing procedures give each brand of activated charcoal its

own pore diameters and internal volume that determine its adsorption

capacity. The U.S.P. (United States Pharmacopoeia) standard for

activated charcoal specifies an internal surface area of 1000 m2/g

(square meters per gram). Recently, several companies have begun

manufacturing Super activated charcoals, with up to 3 times the

internal surface area per gram and far greater adsorption power than

standard activated charcoal.

 

Powders, Capsules, or Tablets?

 

Because of the large volume of charcoal that is needed, it is easiest

to take liquid preparation of charcoal powder. For example, to take

30 grams of charcoal a day in capsules would require that you swallow

about 60 capsules. Furthermore, activated charcoal tablets are not

effective. They take too long to disintegrate and release the

activated charcoal.

 

Ideal Charcoal Preparation

 

Unfortunately, a simple water and charcoal mixture is unpalatable and

messy. It tastes like a charcoal briquette, and blackens your teeth,

gums and tongue. These problems can be avoided by ingesting a

powdered activated charcoal complex that contains a thickening agent

like bentonite, with added flavors and mild sweeteners.

 

Research studies showed that that the addition of bentonite with or

without chocolate significantly improved the palatability of an

activated charcoal and water slurry. Bentonite acts as thickening

agent that reduces powdery mouth-feel and improves the taste without

reducing the efficacy of activated charcoal. In fact, bentonite is an

enterosorption agent and a poison antidote in its own right. For

example, bentonite has been shown to bind and reduce the poison

paraquat. The addition of chocolate further enhances the palatability

of activated charcoal in research studies and practical experience.

 

Provided by Zeusinfoservice

Reprinted with permission of Journal Of The Megahealth Society, Vol.

5, No. 3, Issue #23 ISSN 0891-5334. Copyright 1989 by MegaHealth

Society, now Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute (CERI),

publishers of Smart Life News. CERI explores the latest research and

treatment for Alzheimerss, Parkinsons, Downs syndrome and age-

associated mental impairment in normal, healthy adults.

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets