Other Names:
Carbo Activatus / Carbon / Charcoal / Sugar Charcoal
What is it?
It is carbon, which is processed with oxygen in order to increase the number of pores.
An odourless and tasteless black powder.
It can absorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.
It has the ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there.
Sources:
Bamboo
Nut shells
Olive pits
Peat moss
Trees
Main Uses:
Activated charcoal helps counter the toxic effects of organic and inorganic poisons by reducing their systemic absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract.
It is a beneficial aid for the symptomatic relief of flatulence, and certain gastro-intestinal disorders including ulcers.
Charcoal can do these varied tasks because of its amazing ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called adsorption.
Charcoal can absorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.
In other experiments, arsenic and strychnine were mixed with charcoal and ingested by humans under laboratory conditions. The subjects survived even though the poison dosages were 5 to 10 times the lethal dose.
Substances Absorbed by Charcoal:
2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
4000+ chemicals, drugs, toxins, & wastes
Acetaminophen
Aconitine
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
Amphetamine
Antimony
Antipyrine
Arsenic
Aspirin
Atropine
Barbital Barbiturates
Ben-Gay
Benzodiazepines
Camphor
Cantharides
Chlordane
Chloroquine
Chlorpheniramine
Chlorpromazine
Cocaine
Colchicine
Congesprin
Contac
Dalmane
Darvon
Delphinium
Digitalis or Foxglove
Dilantin
Diphenoxylates
Diphenylhydantoin
Doriden
Doxepin
Elaterin
Elavil
Equanil
Ergotamine
Ethchlorvynol
Gasoline
Glutethimide
Golden Chain
Hemlock
Hexachlorophene
Imipramine
Iodine
Ipecac
Isoniazid
Kerosene
Lead Acetate
Malathion
Many Herbicides 32, 39, 40
Mefenamic Acid
Meprobamate
Mercuric chloride
Mercury
Methyl Salicylate
Methylene Blue
Miltown
Morphine
Multivitamins with Minerals
Muscarin
Narcotics
Neguvon
Nicotine
Nortriptyline
Nytol
Opium
Oxazepam
Parathion
Penicillin
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Pesticides
Phenobarbital
Phenol
Phenolphthalein
Phenolthiazines
Phenylpropanolamine
Placidyl
Potassium Permanganate
Primaquine
Propantheline
Propoxyphene
Quinacrine
Quinidine
Quinine
Radioactive Substances
Salicylamide
Salicylates
Secobarbital
Selenium
Serax
Silver
Sinequan
Sodium Salicylate
Some Silver & Antimony Salts
Sominex
Stramonium
Strychnine
Sulfonamides
Talwin
Tofranil
Tree Tobacco
Valium
Veratrine
Yew
Contra-Indications:
None other than allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
Warnings:
Rated safe when taken in appropriate quantities.
If this nutritional supplement is being taken for any symptoms whatsoever always consult a doctor, herbal practitioner or nutritionist should these symptoms persist for more than four weeks.
Although not expected, treating infants and children under 2 with any nutritional preparation may be hazardous. Always consult with your nutritionist, herbal or medical practitioner.
Interactions:
Charcoal may affect the absorption of any medicine. It nullifies the effectiveness of acetylcysteine.
With the proliferation of available drugs, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before taking this or any other supplements.
Pregnancy & Lactation:
Pregnant women taking usual amounts as part of a balanced diet should not experience any problems. It is however always advisable to consult with your nutritionist, herbal or medical practitioner. Do not take mega doses.
Breast-fed infants of lactating mothers should experience no problems when mother takes usual amounts as part of a balanced diet. It is however always advisable to consult with your nutritionist, herbal or medical practitioner. Do not take mega doses.
Side Effects ¿ Only With Mega Doses:
None expected if you are beyond childhood, basically healthy and do not exceed recommended dosage. However, it is advisable to always consult with your nutritionist, herbal or medical practitioner before taking this or any medical drugs, herbs or nutritional supplements, particularly if suffering from a serious health condition or on any medication or treatment.
Over Dosage:
Accidental overdose such as child ingesting a whole bottle. As a safety precaution obtain immediate medical assistance.
