Overview

Common charcoal is made from peat, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum. "Activated charcoal" is similar to common charcoal. Manufacturers make activated charcoal by heating common charcoal in the presence of a gas. This process causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or "pores." These pores help activated charcoal "trap" chemicals.

Activated charcoal is commonly taken by mouth to treat poisonings. It is also used for intestinal gas (flatulence), high cholesterol, hangovers, upset stomach, and bile flow problems (cholestasis) during pregnancy.

Activated charcoal is applied to the skin as part of bandages for helping heal wounds.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Similar to common charcoal. Made from peat, coal, coconut shell, wood, petroleum.

Primary Functions:

Treat Poisoning

Also Known As:

Activated Carbon, Animal Charcoal, Carbo Vegetabilis, Carbon, Carbón Activado

How Does It Work?

Activated charcoal works by "trapping" chemicals and preventing their absorption.

Uses

• Activated charcoal is useful for trapping chemicals to stop some types of poisoning when used as part of standard treatment. Activated charcoal should be given within 1 hour after a poison has been ingested. It does not seem to be beneficial if given for 2 or more hours after some types of poisoning. And activated charcoal doesn't seem to help stop all types of poisoning.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For drug overdose or poisoning: 50-100 grams of activated charcoal is given at first, followed by charcoal every 2-4 hours at a dose equal to 12.5 grams per hour. Sometimes a single-dose of 25-100 grams of activated charcoal may be used.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

• For drug overdose or poisoning: Activated charcoal 10-25 grams is recommended for children up to one year of age, while activated charcoal 25-50 grams is recommended for children 1-12 years of age. Activated charcoal 10-25 grams is recommended if multiple-doses of activated charcoal are needed.

Activated Charcoal Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is activated charcoal used for?

Activated charcoal is used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It helps prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning.

Can you take activated charcoal daily?

Regular intake of activated charcoal may even cause nutrition deficiency or malnutrition. Here are the risks of consuming activated charcoal: It can prevent your body from digesting food and absorbing nutrients. It can make medications and supplements less effective.

Why is activated charcoal banned?

In the 1960s, the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the use of activated charcoal in food additives or coloring, but an F.D.A. spokeswoman said in an email that the ban was precautionary, as there was a lack of safety data.

What are the side effects of activated charcoal?

When you take it by mouth, activated charcoal can cause:

• Black stools.
• Black tongue.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Constipation.

Does charcoal really whiten your teeth?

Activated charcoal has some proven uses, but teeth whitening isn't one of them. If you do decide to try activated charcoal to whiten your teeth, use it only in moderation. Activated charcoal is abrasive and shouldn't be used long term, as it can erode tooth enamel.

Does activated charcoal make you poop?

Activated charcoal will only bind with whatever particles are in your stomach or intestines at the time that you take it. It works by coming into physical contact with your intestinal contents. Activated charcoal slows down your bowel and is known to cause nausea and constipation (and black stools).

How long does it take for activated charcoal to work?

An individual must take or be given activated charcoal within 1 to 4 hours of consuming a toxin for it to work. The charcoal cannot work if the person has already digested the toxin or drug and it is no longer in the stomach.

How often can I take activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal dosage

A lower daily dose of 4 to 32 grams is recommended for lowering cholesterol levels. Some doctors or naturopathic doctors might prescribe activated charcoal to be taken once or twice a day for detox purposes. Take activated charcoal apart from all foods, medicine, and supplements.

How much activated charcoal should I take?

For treatment of poisoning: Adults and teenagers—Dose is usually 50 to 100 grams of activated charcoal given one time. Children 1 through 12 years of age—Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams of activated charcoal given one time. Children up to 1 year of age—Use is not recommended.

How many teaspoons of activated charcoal should I take?

Pay attention to activated charcoal dosing. A very small amount, less than 1/4 teaspoon, goes a long way. Activated charcoal — either as part of the recipe noted below or 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon mixed with one cup of water — should not be consumed more than every other day.

How does Charcoal Detox work?

It's easy to see where the claim that activated charcoal can detoxify the body comes from: it is used in emergency medicine to reduce the toxic load when someone has consumed poison or overdosed on medication. Charcoal binds to poison in the gastrointestinal tract and stops it from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Can activated charcoal remove plaque?

Once the charcoal has been given enough time to stick to your teeth, it can be removed and when it is, the mineral takes the plaque, food particles, and surface stains with it. This is how the activated charcoal succeeds in whitening teeth – by getting rid of surface stains in one fell swoop.

Does activated charcoal actually work?

But despite its popularity, there's no scientific evidence backing up activated charcoal's benefits for teeth. Since there's no data behind the claims that activated charcoal is safe or effective, products containing this ingredient aren't eligible for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.

Does activated charcoal get rid of viruses?

People have long used activated charcoal as a natural water filter. Just as it does in the intestines and stomach, activated charcoal can interact with and absorb a range of toxins, drugs, viruses, bacteria, fungus, and chemicals found in water.

Does activated charcoal help with bloating?

Activated charcoal is created by heating common charcoal to make it more porous. The extra spaces in the charcoal trap gas molecules, reducing the gas that causes bloating. Some studies have shown that charcoal, when combined with simethicone, is even more effective at reducing gas and bloating.

Can charcoal pills cause dark stools?

Activated charcoal will only bind with whatever particles are in your stomach or intestines at the time that you take it. It works by coming into physical contact with your intestinal contents. Activated charcoal slows down your bowel and is known to cause nausea and constipation (and black stools).

Can activated charcoal prevent food poisoning?

It helps prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning.

Does activated charcoal help IBS?

Activated charcoal has been used for years as an adsorbent of gas and toxins in the gut (as in the treatment of medication overdoses). This product is believed to adsorb bacterial toxins and bile acids that may be contributing to symptoms in IBS.

Is activated charcoal good for your liver?

Your liver converts ammonia to urea, a less toxic substance. It is very porous allowing it to trap molecules, both medications or toxins and helpful substances such as vitamins. It's not clear that the addition of activated charcoal to your diet can improve upon the body's physiology.

Can I use activated charcoal for detox?

The bottom line. Experts do not recommend activated charcoal detoxes for general use. Unless the levels of toxins are high, the body is typically able to detoxify itself. Activated charcoal is only effective against certain toxins in certain circumstances.

Does activated charcoal absorb good bacteria?

Water filtration

People have long used activated charcoal as a natural water filter. Just as it does in the intestines and stomach, activated charcoal can interact with and absorb a range of toxins, drugs, viruses, bacteria, fungus, and chemicals found in water.

Clinical Studies