Activated Charcoal
Health Benefits

Activated Charcoal - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Mar 07, 2025
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Activated Charcoal Tonic Health Benefits

Activated charcoal, a simple yet powerful natural remedy, offers many health benefits, from alleviating digestive discomfort to serving as an effective detoxifying agent. Its versatility extends to treating infections, neutralizing insect stings, and functioning as a natural deodorant. The universal accessibility of activated charcoal, derived from burning wood in a low-oxygen environment, makes it a valuable health resource for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a specialized form of carbon produced by burning wood slowly in a controlled, low-oxygen environment. This process leaves behind a pure form of carbon that, when crushed and purified, is termed 'activated' due to its enhanced medical-grade quality. This potent form of charcoal is known for its exceptional ability to adsorb toxins and bacteria, making it a go-to remedy for a variety of health issues.

The Science Behind Activated Charcoal

The effectiveness of activated charcoal lies in its unique ability to adsorb substances, a process that involves the electrostatic attraction of molecules, unlike absorption. This means activated charcoal can attract and safely remove harmful toxins and bacteria from the body. Its broad adsorption spectrum is capable of neutralizing substances ranging from acetaminophen and arsenic to mercury and various narcotics. However, it's important to note that it does not adsorb substances like cyanide, alcohol, or lithium.

Activated Charcoal's Adsorption Spectrum

Charcoal adsorbs thousands of substances. Here is a very partial list:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Arsenic
  • Aspirin
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Chlorine
  • Gasoline
  • Hemlock
  • Iodine
  • Ipecac
  • Kerosene
  • Mercury
  • Methylene Blue
  • Morphine
  • Narcotics
  • Nicotine
  • Opium
  • Penicillin
  • Pesticides
  • Selenium
  • Silver

What Is Not Adsorbed by Charcoal?

  • Cyanide
  • Iron
  • Lithium
  • Mineral Acids
  • Caustic Alkalis
  • Alcohol
  • Boric Acid

Internal Health Benefits of Activated Charcoal

Digestive Health and Detoxification

One of the primary uses of activated charcoal is in treating digestive discomfort and related conditions. It's particularly effective in adsorbing toxins and gases in the gastrointestinal tract, relieving bloating, gas, and pain. For individuals suffering from diarrhea or symptoms of food poisoning, activated charcoal can help by binding to the toxins responsible and facilitating their removal from the body.

Activated charcoal is also a cornerstone in detox regimens. Its porous nature allows it to capture and remove unwanted substances from the body, including environmental toxins and pollutants. This detoxifying effect benefits general health and supports liver and kidney function, organs heavily involved in the body's natural detox processes.

Poisoning and Overdose Management

In emergencies involving poisoning or drug overdose, activated charcoal is a critical first-line treatment. Adsorbing a wide range of substances can prevent the absorption of harmful agents into the bloodstream, reducing their toxicity and potential damage. Healthcare professionals often administer activated charcoal in cases of ingestion of certain medications, chemicals, and household products, leveraging its ability to neutralize threats quickly.

Alleviating Body Odor and Bad Breath

Beyond its detoxifying capabilities, activated charcoal can address internal causes of body odor and bad breath. By adsorbing toxins and bacteria from the digestive system, it helps purify the body from the inside out, potentially reducing unpleasant odors. Its use in combating halitosis (bad breath) is linked to its ability to absorb compounds responsible for odor, offering a natural approach to maintaining oral hygiene.

Supporting Digestive Disorders

Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive disorders may find relief with activated charcoal. Its adsorptive properties can help manage abdominal pain, excessive gas, and bloating, contributing to overall digestive well-being. While not a cure, it serves as a supportive measure in managing the discomfort associated with these conditions.

Cholesterol Level Management

Emerging research suggests activated charcoal may have a role in managing cholesterol levels. Its ability to adsorb cholesterol and bile acids in the gut can potentially reduce blood cholesterol levels, contributing to cardiovascular health. This aspect of activated charcoal's benefits is still under investigation but points to its broader potential in supporting internal health.

Determining the Correct Dosage

The effectiveness of activated charcoal greatly depends on the correct dosage, which varies based on the condition being treated. For acute situations like poisoning, higher doses are typically required, whereas for digestive discomfort or detox purposes, lower doses are often sufficient.

When dealing with poisonings, it's crucial to adhere to the Mayo Clinic's dosage recommendations for activated charcoal. These guidelines ensure the appropriate amount is administered based on age:

  • Adults and Teenagers: A single dose should be between 25 and 100 grams.
  • Children aged 1 to 12: A single dose should range from 25 to 50 grams.
  • Infants under one year: A single dose should be between 10 and 25 grams.

For administration, mix the activated charcoal with water. To give you a sense of measurement, 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal is roughly equivalent to 10 grams, which is also about 14 capsules.

While these dosages may appear large, they are specifically for cases of poisoning. When poisoning occurs, it's essential to immediately consult with a healthcare professional, such as your doctor, the emergency room, or a poison control center.

A significantly lower amount of activated charcoal is typically adequate for addressing other health concerns. In many situations, just ¼ to 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal, which equates to around 5 capsules, can offer benefits. Through experience, you'll understand the most effective dosage for your needs.

Using Activated Charcoal for External Healing

Activated charcoal is not just for internal detox; it's an effective and gentle remedy for external applications. By creating a poultice from activated charcoal, you can harness its properties to draw out toxins, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain directly at the source of discomfort.

Applications for Activated Charcoal Poultices:

Activated charcoal poultices can be beneficial for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Insect bites
  • Bee stings
  • Gas build-up
  • Food poisoning symptoms
  • Gallbladder pain
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Kidney pain
  • Skin wounds
  • Pancreatitis
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Tooth abscesses
  • Canker sores

Creating an Activated Charcoal Poultice:

To make a poultice, you'll need activated charcoal powder, water to form a paste, and a cloth or gauze to hold the mixture. The paste is then applied to the affected area and secured with an ace bandage or cohesive tape. This method allows the activated charcoal to work directly on the skin, drawing out impurities and providing relief.

While specific instructions for creating and applying an activated charcoal poultice can vary, the principle remains the same: combining activated charcoal with a small amount of water to make a paste, applying this paste to the problem area, and covering it securely to let the charcoal do its work.

For those seeking to use activated charcoal for external healing, incorporating it into your first-aid kit as a poultice can be a valuable addition to your natural remedy collection.

Activated Charcoal Tincture and Its Versatile Applications

Activated charcoal can be effortlessly transformed into a tincture, offering a concentrated form for targeted applications. This simple process involves mixing one teaspoon of activated charcoal with a quarter cup of pure water. After shaking the mixture and straining it through a coffee filter, the resulting liquid retains the beneficial particles of the charcoal. Stored in a glass jar with a dropper, this tincture becomes a handy tool for addressing various health issues.

Uses for Activated Charcoal Tincture:

  1. Eye Conditions: Effective for treating pinkeye and pterygium, offering relief and reducing inflammation.
  2. Ear Infections: A gentle remedy that can be applied to ease discomfort and fight infection.
  3. Oral Health: Ideal as a gargle for sore throats and mouth infections, it combats bad breath and provides a natural solution to oral discomfort.

Beneficial for Pets and Livestock

Activated charcoal extends its healing properties to animals, proving valuable for treating wounds, stings, and poisonings in pets. It also aids in managing diarrhea and other health issues in livestock, demonstrating its effectiveness across a broad spectrum of animal health concerns.

Important Cautions

While activated charcoal offers many benefits, it's crucial to use it responsibly, especially concerning medications and hydration:

  • Avoid taking activated charcoal within 2 hours of taking medications or supplements, as it can adsorb these substances and diminish their effectiveness. The exception is in cases of poisoning, where the benefits may outweigh the risks.
  • Be mindful of the potential for constipation or bowel blockage if large amounts are used without sufficient water intake. Always consume plenty of water when taking activated charcoal to prevent these issues.
  • Handle finely ground activated charcoal with care to avoid inhalation, which could pose a risk due to its lightweight and powdery nature.

Incorporating activated charcoal into your health regimen can offer a range of benefits, particularly for internal health issues. Whether it's aiding in digestion, detoxifying the body, or managing more acute conditions like poisoning, its natural adsorptive properties make it a versatile and effective remedy. As with any supplement, it's crucial to use activated charcoal under the guidance of a healthcare provider, ensuring it complements your overall health strategy safely and effectively.

Activated charcoal's broad range of applications, from health tinctures to pet care, highlights its remarkable versatility as a natural remedy. Explore extensive feedback from Earth Clinic readers, who have shared their experiences with this powerful remedy for over 20 years!

Related Links:

Activated Charcoal for Pets: Emergency Uses, Dosage & Benefits


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Tooth and Mouth Care

Posted by Vicky (Ohio) on 03/02/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I couldn't live without activated charcoal. It is so good for so many things. I buy a box of 100 cheap tea bags, I cut the top off of them and dump out the tea and discard. I then put about a teaspoon of activated charcoal in the empty bag, fold over the top and tape it with scotch tape. I keep them sealed in an air tight container. If I get any tooth or gum pain, sore throat or signs of thrush I wet one of of the charcoal filled bags and place on the sore area, I change it after several hours or even sleep with it in all night. AMAZING!! This stuff really works! I have also wet the bags and put on bee stings etc. Just remember charcoal only works when it is kept wet, so if you are using it for a bite or sting you need to keep the bag moist by covering it with some type of plastic wrap etc.


Jaw Bone Infection

Posted by Faith (Tacoma) on 03/22/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Activated Charcoal For Jaw Bone Infection

Activated charcoal has amazing power to absorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals. It has no side effects .

I was very ill with unknown illness 2 years to find the cause. It was a jaw bone infection. I had it after oral surgery, a fistula formed and the infection moved to front of my mouth and my temple was swollen. My MD gave me some stuff but I had a reaction to it. I decided to just mix charcoal with distilled water and pack into the infected areas mouth did this daily for several hours I also went to bed with a poultice in my mouth I put a towel over my pillow I made a poultice for my swollen temple . It was nothing short of miraculous I was healed! I also took a bunch of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), collodial silver, garlic and oregano oil and mega vitamin C.


Chemo Detoxing

Posted by Cameron (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) on 10/24/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Charcoal works in the Colon just as effectively as it does in the stomach and for the same reason as an enema. It prevents any toxins in the gut from being reabsorbed by your body from your gut due to a slow or blocked bowel. There are no better alternatives for ERs than charcoal, medical research shows charcoal as the most effective primary treatment for poisoning or drug overdose and is effective until at least an hour after poisoning/overdose. Do not administer Charcoal to a person who is unconsious except in the most dire circumstances.

My daughter has Leukemia and we were forced by Authorities to submit her for Chemotherapy, she had a severe reaction to a Chemo drug during treatment and eneded up in ICU, then a regular ward for 3 weeks recovering. I use Charcoal to detox the Chemo drugs out of her now to avoid side effects. Recemntly though she had some Doxorubicin an extremely dangerous Chemo drug along with Pegaspargase, we did not get home to administer the charcoal until at least 4 hours after her dose, all of a sudden she was suffering from severe abdominal pain, nausea, joint, bone pain and vomiting. I gave her 1 tablespoon of charcoal in juice and she was in bed asleep less than 5 minutes later with no more syptoms. I am the biggest fan of Charcoal, I have a lot of experience applying it and have done extensive reading about the most amazing and under rated substance I have ever discovered. I never ever leave home without it now.

Charcoal is still the treatment of choice at virtually all ERs that I am aware of, current 2011. Charcoal is the most effective remedy for poisons and toxins of all sorts, it has no known side effects of any sort except to make your Poo go black. Charcoal is not known to ADsorb Nutrients from the body! Charcoal is effective for anything except Solvents, Acids, Highly Alkaline Products or other petroleum based products. Ruling out those few things, it leaves us with an effective remedy for bites and stings of all sorts including spiders and snakes, please seek urgent medical attention for snake or spider bites. To use Charcoal as First Aid for snake or spider bites, apply as a wet Poultice, covered in plastic wrap to stop it drying out. Change as often as possible until you recieve medical help. You can also use Charcoal in a bath, it relieves pain almost instantly.

Diahhrea, Stomach Pain, Nausea, Topical Ulcers and a host of other conditions all can be treated with Charcoal. Nausea can be stopped in as little as 1 minute, vomiting stops in less than 5 minutes, retake charcoal if the charcoal slurry is vomited until vomiting stops, usually less than 3 times. Diahhrea, take a tablespoon in water or juice after each runny stool, your next firm stool will be quite black but do not worry. For Topical Ulcers, make a Poultice with 3 tablespoons Charcoal and 3 tablespoons Starch or Ground Flax Seed (keeps moisture in) and apply this to the cleaned Ulcer site on the back of a clean dressing. Cover the dressing with Plastic to stop the poultice drying out, change every 4 hours to 6 hours.

You may also try Charcoal as a Poultice for Kidney or Liver problems as it will help detox these through the largest organ of your body(skin) quite easily and effectively, change every 4 to six hours, you will notice a urine smell, this means its working.


Bloating

Posted by Killer Bees (Brisbane, Australia) on 05/15/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had the same problem as Sharon from Santa Fe. I'm 42 now and for the last couple of years, I've had problems with everything I eat making me bloated and uncomfortable. I've tried everything I can think of, including elimination diets, with no luck. But activated charcoal really worked for me. I take 2 tabs in the morning and then 2 at night, each time about an hour after eating to give my body time to digest the meal's nutrients. I don't usually take it at lunch time because I only have soup or tea and that doesn't seem to upset me too much. I didn't have the diahorrea. My stools were solid and did change to a very dark brown/black and I felt very cleaned out. They passed more easily as well. I'll keep taking the tabs twice a day until I feel like I don't need them. My thanks to Sharon from Santa Fe for recommending this product. Girl, you rock!


Digestive Problems

Posted by Norman (Edmonton, Canada) on 06/21/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Our family has used activated charcoal tablets as a quick remedy for digestive problems for years. In Asia one can buy them for pennies, and with the spicy foods there and possible diaheria at times they are a life saver. Recently I moved back to Canada and feel like I am in a 3rd world country. Anything connected with health and well being is either unavailable or overpriced. How sad that we can not even buy a harmless product that can save ones life when an accidental poisoing occurs. You will only realize how much Canada has peddled backwards in the past 10 years when you visit other countries.


Tooth and Mouth Care

Posted by Keith (Orlando, FL) on 10/05/2006
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Was reading the remedies and just wanted to add the following: I am a medical missionary that uses natural methods of healing. I encounter several different diseases and sickness in my line of work.

One remedy that I have never seen fail for toothache pain, is charcoal. It will stop severe toothache pain in about 20-45 minutes in most cases! I will give you an example with my wife. She begin to have tootheache pain last year (2005) around the time of thanksgiving. She began to call dentists for an appointment; however, the soonest that she could get an appointment was 2 weeks! To make a long story short, the pain became unbearable. It radiated all the way to her temple on the side of the bad toothe.

So I took activated charcoal, added a little water, stirred to a paste consistency, placed it on a gauze(a piece of cotton t-shirt could also be used) and placed it directly over the toothe. I had her press down very gently. I then offered a prayer.

In about 12-15 minutes the pain that was radiating up to her temple begin to subside. In about 20-30 minutes my wife, who had been in such great pain, that she was in tears, and was unable to even sleep, dropped off to sleep.

The next day we also started her on a program of drinking 2-3 glasses per day of a table spoon of the charcoal mixed with a glass of water. She did evidentally go to the dentist only to find that a small cavity had exposed a nerve, and infection had set in.

The charcoal worked on the infection because it is the inflammation that causes the pain. So by pulling or drawing the poisons from the infection(the underlying cause) the inflammation is addressed.

A friend of mine, who is also a very experienced medical missionary, with more than 30 years of hands on experience, even running a natural clinic in Tennessee for a long time, and having a 45-50% success rate with 4 stage cancer, (conventional success rate with 4th stage cancer is about 5%" gives the following alternative for toothache pain and abcess.

These are direct quotes: "Mix 3 tablespoons charcoal,1/2 teaspoon clove oil, 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon olive oil (enough to make a paste), and 1 teaspoon of golden seal. He states: " This remedy is strictly for pain in the jaw or tooth pain. Pack this around the tooth that is giving you problems. If you can cover the tooth up it will generate heat. That will remove the pain faster than any toothache remedy. Try it. You will feel the heat and you can go wash your mouth out. If you are in a lot of pain the heat is comforting. The pain of the poultice drawing is less than the throbbing of the toothache.[The mixture] should be quite thick, about the consistency of natural peanut butter. You want to be able to mould it around the tooth, so that it will stick."

The next is for an abcess specifically.

His words: "If you have an abscess with a lot of swelling, you cannot get that tooth pulled until you get the abscess under control. This recipe is famous for getting that abscess down 3 parts Slippery Elm, 2 parts baking yeast, 4 drops cloves, 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Add a little water, enough to make a paste. It will be gummy due to the slippery elm. Then pack this mixture around the gum. The slippery elm, like charcoal, draws the inflammation, the cayenne stimulates the cells around the tooth to release toxins and the cloves are added for the reputation as a pain remedy, especially in toothache.