What Is Activated Charcoal?
Charcoal is “activated” because it is made to have a very small particle size. This increases its overall surface area and absorptive capacity. People have been using activated charcoal for thousands of years. In World War I, activated charcoal was used mostly by Egyptians, Greeks & Americans to prevent soldiers from being poisoned by chemical exposure, and it has been used to treat water (making it tasteless and odorless) since 1930.
Activated charcoal is usually derived from coconut shells, wood, or peat. What makes it “activated” is the additional process it undergoes after the charcoal is formed when it’s exposed to certain gases at very high temperatures. This causes the formation of a large number of very small pores on the charcoal’s surface, which work as microscopic traps to take up compounds and particles.
9 Uses And Benefits of Activated Charcoal
-Activated charcoal uses include helping prevent cellular damage to kidneys and liver, as well as supporting healthy adrenal glands. It’s imperative to cleanse toxins and chemicals routinely from the body. Activated charcoal benefits major organs by helping the body flush out the toxins and chemicals that cause the damage.
-Using activated charcoal, you can make a face mask that helps pull the toxins and impurities out of your skin. Open 3 charcoal tablets into a bowl, a little warm water and a squeeze of honey and stir until it becomes a paste. Then apply it to your face, making sure to avoid your mouth, eyes, and nose area.
-While activated charcoal does not adsorb alcohol, it does help quickly remove other toxins from the body that contribute to poisoning. Alcohol is rarely consumed in its pure form; mixers that include artificial sweeteners and chemicals are common. Activated charcoal removes these toxins.
-Activated charcoal can be effective for reducing gas, especially after eating foods, such as beans, that commonly create excess gas. It can also relieve an upset stomach or nausea. However, it is worth repeating that activated charcoal should only be taken occasionally to relieve these symptoms, and should not be used every day.
-Activated charcoal removes toxins, it can help reduce the instances of acne and other skin impurities you might suffer from. It also works wonders for completely removing makeup.
-Although activated charcoal can be used as an antidote in poisoning from most drugs and chemicals, it will not be effective against the following: cyanide, alcohol, caustic alkalies (such as lye), mineral acids, or boric acids. Strong alkaline and acid poisons need to be treated with solutions with the opposite pH.
-No substance removes acidic plaque from the teeth like Carbon. It will greatly clean your teeth and help to remove stains on the teeth (especially stains derived from drinking coffee).
-Another one of the benefits of activated charcoal powder is its use for jaundice of the newborn, poison oak and ivy reactions, and many other illnesses.
-Reduce damage caused by high cholesterol, coronary disease and arteriosclerosis.
Sources include:
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-truth-behind-activated-charcoal
http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/black-magic-the-benefits-and-uses-of-activated-charcoal
http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/activated-charcoal-benefits/#axzz3q35GERvz
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