The Benefits Of Activated Charcoal
A potent detoxifier and wonderful for digestive health, skin and oral care.
If you’ve ever used activated charcoal then you know how incredible it is. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. It’s a must have for skin, oral and digestive health. I use it most often to whiten my teeth. I’ve used the whitening strips, bleaching trays and activated charcoal is far superior and much less harmful on your enamel. It’s a tasteless, odourless, detoxifying black powder most commonly used in hospitals where it’s used to extract drugs, poisons and alcohol from the body. It’s also found in many water filtration systems like Berkey and Brita as well air filters.
The main reason charcoal is so powerful is due to its strong binding action. The porous surface has a negative charge which attracts the positively charged toxins. Because of it’s incredibly high microporosity, one gram has a surface area of 3,000 m2. The cleansing carbon acts like a magnet to mold, toxins, bacteria, poisons, gasses, chemicals, and heavy metals.
Benefits
Skin Care
Clarifies blackheads
Purifies pores
Tightens pores
Relieves insect bites, rashes, poison ivy.
Use as a on the spot treatment or as a face mask. Mix with an organic oil like coconut or castor.
Oral Care
Combine with baking soda for tooth polish. I can’t tell you how well this works for whitening teeth!
Wonderful for removing wine, tea or coffee stains.
Hair Care
Combine with baking soda to remove chemical buildup on the scalp and hair. Helps clean and add volume.
First Aid
Can be used as a first aid treatment when mixed with clay and peppermint oil.
Digestive Care
Bring charcoal capsules on your travels. It will save you in times of digestive problems.
Helps relieve diarrhea, gas, bloating, digestive upsets, food poisoning.
Relieves indigestion.
Be mindful if you’re taking any medication. Charcoal binds to drugs so it may reduce the medications effectiveness or create an adverse reaction.
Can be taken daily to help detoxify toxins, heavy metals, mold, parasites, etc. The recommended dose is 400mg / day
Detox
Can be added to water or juice and used to stimulate the detoxification process. I’m currently taking 1 tsp in water daily.
It’s also used to help prevent hangovers.
Caveat
Ironically, activated charcoal is great at removing stains, but also stains.
Tip
Look for activated charcoal created from coconut shells.