is not just carbon, but a specially product obtained from wood, peat, coconut shells and even oil.
Charcoal itself is simply burnt organic matter. But to make it “activated,” the product is additionally at very high temperatures. This opens up many microscopic pores in its structure, like a sponge. They allow the charcoal to absorb and retain various substances.
It is due to this feature that activated carbon is used in medicine – it can “grab” toxins, poisons or drugs in the stomach and prevent them from being absorbed into the blood. Most often, it for poisoning , but there is little precise data on its effectiveness in other conditions.
In recent years, so-called has appeared on pharmacy shelves . Despite the name, this is not coal in the usual sense. It from silicon dioxide – that is, essentially, from sand. Therefore, the adsorbent properties of this product are even higher than those of classic activated carbon. At the same time, it does not stain teeth and tongue black, which makes it popular in cosmetology and for detox procedures.
Does activated carbon work
In some cases, activated charcoal can actually help with poisoning, but it is important when and what exactly the person was poisoned with.
Studies on animals and volunteers that charcoal can absorb some poisons, such as pesticides , excess antidepressants in the stomach and prevent them from entering the blood. But this does not work with all substances. For example, it is of little help in cases of poisoning by alcohol, acids, alkalis and other very active compounds.
In laboratory conditions, if charcoal immediately – within 5 minutes of poisoning – it can retain almost all of the poison. Even after an hour, it was useful and reduced the absorption of the poison by half or slightly more.
When doctors used charcoal in hospitals, the results were not so impressive: the benefits of taking the medicine were almost zero. But there were side effects.
Other benefits are more complex. For example, small studies suggest that charcoal may:
- a little with diarrhea or dysbacteriosis after antibiotics;
- cholesterol levels – but this data is mainly from the 70s and 80s, and there is no modern confirmation yet;
- help in treatment when used as a dressing or topical agent.
But it is important: in almost all of these cases, the research is small, of varying quality, and sometimes the data is contradictory. So you shouldn’t seriously count on charcoal as a remedy for various diseases.
Sometimes charcoal with a laxative to reduce the absorption of poisons. But it is not recommended to use such a combination at home in case of poisoning, especially when giving charcoal to children: it can cause aspiration, that is, particles getting into the respiratory tract, which is why there is a risk of suffocation.
Should You Drink Activated Charcoal Before a Party?
No. The thing is that charcoal alcohol from being absorbed and does not stop intoxication in any way. And the drug is even more useless if you want to sober up: ethanol has its effect when it has already entered the blood and turned into acetaldehyde . And charcoal will definitely not get it from there.
Also, if you have been drinking and decide to take charcoal to help treat poisoning from a chemical, pill, or food, the alcohol will interfere with the drug and its effectiveness.
