Activated charcoal is a fine, odorless, black powder often used in emergency rooms to treat overdoses. Its toxin-absorbing properties have a wide range of medicinal and cosmetic uses, though none are scientifically proven.

Superheating natural sources of carbon, such as wood, produces activated charcoal. The black powder stops toxins from being absorbed in the stomach by binding to them. The body is unable to absorb charcoal, and so the toxins that bind to the charcoal leave the body in the feces.

What is activated charcoal?Activated charcoal is available in different forms, including powder. Activated charcoal is not the same substance as that found in charcoal bricks or burnt pieces of food. One teaspoon full of activated charcoal has more surface area than a football field.

Possible uses of activated charcoal

1. Kidney healthActivated charcoal may be able to assist kidney function by filtering out undigested toxins and drugs.Activated charcoal seems to be especially effective at removing toxins derived from urea, the main byproduct of protein digestion.

2. Intestinal gasActivated charcoal powder is thought to be able to disrupt intestinal gas.Liquids and gases trapped in the intestine can easily pass through the millions of tiny holes in activated charcoal, and this process may neutralize them.

3. Water filtrationPeople have long used activated charcoal as a natural water filter. Just as it does in the intestines and stomach, activated charcoal can interact with and absorb a range of toxins, drugs, viruses, bacteria, fungus, and chemicals found in water.

4. DiarrheaActivated charcoal may treat diarrhea.Given its use as a gastrointestinal absorbent in overdoses and poisonings, it follows that some people might propose activated charcoal as a treatment for diarrhea.

An individual must take or be given activated charcoal within 1 to 4 hours of consuming a toxin for it to work. The charcoal cannot work if the person has already digested the toxin or drug and it is no longer in the stomach.

No one should ever try to treat an overdose or poisoning at home.

5. Teeth whitening and oral healthDozens of teeth-whitening products contain activated charcoal.Many oral health products that contain activated charcoal claim to have various benefits, such as being:

antiviralantibacterialantifungaldetoxifyingActivated charcoal’s toxin-absorbing properties may be important here.

6. Skin careResearchers have reported that activated charcoal can help draw microparticles, such as dirt, dust, chemicals, toxins, and bacteria, to the surface of the skin, to make removing them easier.

7. DeodorantVarious activated charcoal deodorants are widely available. Charcoal may absorb smells and harmful gases, making it ideal as an underarm, shoe, and refrigerator deodorant.

Activated charcoal is also reported to be able to absorb excess moisture and control humidity levels at a micro level.

8. Skin infectionAround the world, many different traditional medicine practitioners use activated charcoal powder made from coconut shells to treat soft tissue conditions, such as skin infections.