Charcoal

 -Nature’s Purifier

By Royce K. Bailey MD, MPH, FAAC, MAAC

Fomentations of pulverized charcoal, in a porous bag, placed on one’s back and stomach has been shown, to bring relief of spasms and pain in as little as 30 min. *

Charcoal Uses In And Out Of The Human Body

2000 BCE**, ancient Egyptian doctors used charcoal poultices for fever, snake bites, insects stings, inflammation of the bowels, to filter water, to eliminate odors and relieves gas pains. Charcoal adsorbs more poisons than any other substance known to man. It can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals and poisons. It has been shown to adsorb arsenic, DDT, drugs (like codeine, Tylenol, penicillin, aspirin, phenobarbital etc), inorganic substances (chlorine, lead, mercury, fluoride, etc), poison ivy, snake bites, mushroom poisoning, brown recluse spider bites, black widow bites, to name a few.

The Ultimate Antidote

Scientific experiments 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 lab animals. The animals were not harmed. 1831, a French pharmacist, swallowed charcoal at the same time that he took strychnine to show that charcoal was an effective remedy for all poisons. He died — of old age. Using charcoal does not relieve you of your responsibility to seek medical attention if poisoned! If poisoned, induce vomiting first, then give the charcoal. Never give charcoal to an unconscious person. Poison Hot Line 1 800 222 1222.

Activated Charcoal

Today specially processed or Activated charcoal is used to treat poisoning and overdoses in the Emergency Room, adsorbing thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals and poisons, rendering them ineffective and harmless. Unlike regular charcoal, Activated charcoal has an extremely large surface area. One teaspoonful has the surface area of more than 10,000 square feet (1000 square meters per gram). Thus, activated charcoal can readily adsorb or bind toxins from within (stomach and intestines) or on the skin (bites, stings, pimples, infections). In an acute poisoning it is not unusual to give 3 cups (200 grams) of activated charcoal, repeated every four hours or till one’s stool turns black.

Where Does Charcoal Come From?

Activated charcoal can come from incompletely burned hard wood, coconut shells, bamboo, olive pits or coal (Lignite or Anthracite). It is a very fine or granular, black, odorless, tasteless powder. Medical use Activated Charcoal USP (U.S. Pharmacopoeia) is wood charcoal carbon that is free from inorganic material, contains less than 4% ash residue and has no carcinogenic properties.

Charcoal to Avoid

Charcoal from burned toast or other burned foods contains carcinogenic substances-avoid this type of charcoal. Never ingest charcoal briquettes because they contain petroleum products.

How I Make It

Start with crushed charcoal tablets or powdered activated charcoal. Take equal parts charcoal and ground flaxseed or corn starch with just enough hot water to make a paste. Place it between two layers of wax paper and roll it out thin with rolling pin. We make it ahead of time as a family project. Then place in the freezer to take out and break off pieces to use as needed. The flaxseed/corn starch is optional but makes it easier to handle. Sometimes we make it fresh as a paste and place it between two layers of porous cloth and secure it to the needed body part for up to 10 hours or all night. Keep your container of charcoal closed tightly because it will collect all the room impurities before you get to use it.

Who Needs It?

I have found a warning label on a few brands of charcoal, saying not to be given to infants, children, pregnant women or nursing women. If this is pure activated charcoal USP, there is no restriction on age or gender for its use.

Why Use It?

Any area on your body that is red, painful, swollen and hot responds to charcoal. Place a moist warm poultice compress on the site. Charcoal actually draws bacteria, toxins and poisons through the skin and into the poultice. Here’s an example: For a red infection around a wound: make a charcoal poultice and place it over the inflamed site, cover with plastic wrap to prevent the charcoal from getting on your clothes. Remember this could stain/tattoo your skin black temporarily. The only reason I mention this is one of my girls (which one will remain nameless) about 10 years ago placed some on her face to clear up her skin. She was horrified when we insisted that she go to church that week. Isn’t makeup wonderful!

Diabetic Ulcer/Bedsores

I’ve seen non-healing diabetic ulcers of the feet (not responding to antibiotics and recommended for amputation) respond to charcoal poultices. The feet were placed in plastic bags filled with a mixture of charcoal and water and changed four times a day, until better. This also works well for stubborn decubitus bedsores that won’t heal.

Too Much Gas/Bad Breath

Charcoal reduces the amount of gas produced (upper and lower) after eating beans and other gas forming foods. It also adsorbs the bacteria which forms the gas. Activated charcoal helps resolve bad breath by adsorbing bacteria and volatile breath odors.

Diarrhea

Charcoal relieves nervous diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea, spastic colon, indigestion, and helps heal peptic ulcers. You may use charcoal tablets or take one to two tablespoons of powdered charcoal mixed with olive oil, swirl in a glass of water and drink. Take three times a day or if one has severe diarrhea, every hour until it is resolved. Take charcoal between meals because food decreases its effectiveness. Remember to re-hydrate and replace your trace minerals/electrolytes after using charcoal, (like a tomato juice product or sports drink). I don’t recommend taking charcoal daily because it adsorbs all your vitamins, prescription meds, minerals and nutrients.

Pets

Yes, the family pet can be benefitted too by charcoal, given either internally or externally, for the itch, infected skin, the runs, or poisoning.

* White, E.G., Selected Messages, Vol.2, 294-5

** BCE=Before Common Era

 

References:

"Amazing Charcoal," http://www.sdadefend.com/MINDEX-C.htm.

Paulien, G.B., "Charcoal," The Divine Philosophy And Science Of Health And Healing, TEACH Services. 1995.

Poison Hot Line Web Page http://www.aapcc.org/DNN/ 1 800 222-1222

"Amazing Charcoal" Lancet , 09-13-80

Baldwin, M., Wildwood Sanitarium and Hospital, Wildwood, GA.

http://www.tpministries.org/charcoal.htm