Charcoal as a Remedy

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Using Charcoal as a Remedy

Summary: Learn more about charcoal and how you can use this natural product as a healing remedy.

Naturally produced, Natural Elements USP grade Activated Charcoal is a wood carbon that has no properties. It is an odorless, tasteless powder that is able to thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and chemicals, often making them ineffective. Every private home should have charcoal on hand as a ready antitode for poisoning, and as a cleansing agent in infections and various metabolic disturbances. Orally administered charcoal is effective in preventing many intestinal infections. All studies show that charcoal is harmless when ingested, when inhaled and when it comes in contact with the skin.

Substances absorbed by Charcoal
Antimony	Hemlock	Methyl	Pesticides
Arsenic	Hydrochloride	Morphine	Phenol
Aspirin	Kerosene	Narcotics	Radioactive Substances
Cocaine	Lead Acetate	Nicotine	Silver
Digitalis	Mercuric Chloride	Opium	Tree Tobacco
Gasoline	Mercury	Penicillin	Valium

+ many others!

A few of Charcoal's many uses include:
Aspirin overdose	Eye and ear infections	Poison ivy
Bad breath	Fever	Poison ingestion
Cancer pain	Gas	Rash
Chemical ingestion	Indigestion	Sore
Cuts and burns	Liver disorders	Sore throat
Diarrhea	Mouth lesions	Sprained joints
		Spider/Snake bites

Suggested Use

Internally: For adults, take between 1-3 heaping tablespoons of charcoal powder in a large glass of water (mixed well) until symptoms are alleviated. Drink one more glass of water after each glass. If using tablets, take a minimum of 6-10 as there is generally less charcoal in tablet form. Drink water with tablets to avoid constipation. (Ground up flax seed can also be added to avoid constipation. Repeat this process every 6 hours until relief. In addition, be drinking 2.5 litres or 8 glasses of water throughout the day). Children under 12 should take half an adult dosage. Activated charcoal should not be taken regularly for more than 6 weeks at a time. Please consult a physician if symptoms persist.

Externally: To make a poultice, mix 3 tablespoons of ground flax seeds or cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of activated charcoal powder in 3/4 cups of hot water. Stir until blended and cool to room temperature. Place mixture generously on a strip of gauze large enough to cover the area and tape the sides so that the mixture does not leak. Leave on 3-6 hours or overnight.

Other Uses: Activated charcoal helps to eliminate bad breath by cleansing the mouth and digestive tract, relieves symptoms of nervous diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea (Turista), spastic colon, indigestion, and . For these discomforts, between 1 and 1 1/2 tablespoons of powdered charcoal stirred in a glass of water up to 3 times a day is normally effective. It is most effective when taken between meals, as food may reduce its effectiveness.

Charcoal may adsorb and inactivate other medications. Usually you can take charcoal two hours before or after other drugs. Check with your physician before beginning treatment with charcoal if you are taking prescription drugs. You may take charcoal intermittently for long periods or regularly for up to 12 weeks. However, it should not be taken regularly for extended periods of over 12 weeks. Do not give charcoal to an unconscious person.

Activated charcoal may be used as an antidote in poisoning from most drugs and chemicals. However, DO NOT USE WITH THE FOLLOWING: Cyanide, mineral acids, caustic alkalines, alcohol, or boric acid. Other antidotes are more effective. Charcoal is not effective in every poisoning situation so consult a Poison Control Center or a physician immediately for instructions in any poisoning emergency.

NOTE: USP grade Activated Charcoals is for internal use. Regular Activated Charcoal is for external use only and is not intended for internal use.

Source: Natural Health Corner Inc.

Ahead to Activated Charcoal.

Ellen White on the Uses of Charcoal

CCharcoal has many uses in the home, as explained by the following quotes from Ellen White:

Charcoal for Bad Breath

That offensive breath must be purified. Get pulverized charcoal, soak it in water, and drink this water freely. Eat no vegetables. Eat fruit, and plain well-baked bread. Take light exercise, and at night wear a charcoal compress over the liver and abdomen (E. G. White Letter 115, 1898).

Charcoal Relieves Insect and Snake Bites

…take pulverized charcoal, wet it, and put in on as a poultice. The charcoal possesses a wonderful power of drawing poison from the system (E. G. White Letter 326, 1906).

I have ordered the same treatment for other who were suffering great pain, and it has brought relief, and been the means of saving life. My mother has told me that snake bites and the sting of reptiles and poisonous insects could be rendered harmless by the use of charcoal poultices (E.G. White Letter 90, 1908).

Charcoal Removes Inflammations and Poison

I have not time to relate the wonderful cures wrought, not by dosing with drugs, but by the application with water. We use charcoal largely, making it into poultices. It destroys inflammation, and removes the poison (E.G. White Letter 90, 1908).

Charcoal as a Healing Agent

...pulverized charcoal...use it freely. Mix it with sweet (cooking) oil. thus it can be taken with less difficulty than if mixed with water. I think that you would obtain benefit from the use of charcoal compresses, pulverized charcoal moistened, put in a flannel bag and placed over the affected part. When my husband was sick, I had recourse to many remedies, and I know the value of charcoal as a healing agency. I have worked for my husband with marked success when his life was in great peril (E. G. White Letter 75, 1904).

Charcoal has been used for years as a medicinal tool. It is known for its ability to absorb toxins and gases.

One of the most beneficial remedies is pulverized charcoal placed in a bag and used in fomentations. This is a most successful remedy. If wet in Smartweed tea, it is still better. I have ordered this in cases where persons were suffering great pain, and when the physician has confided to me that he thought life was about to close. Then I suggested charcoal and the patient slept; the turning point came, and recovery was the result. For bruised hands with inflammation, I have prescribed this simple remedy, with perfect success. The poison of inflammation is overcome, the pain removed, and healing goes on rapidly. The most severe inflammation of the eyes is relieved by a poultice of charcoal, put in a bag and dipped in water, hot or cold as will best suit the case (E.G. White, Manuscript 62, 1897).

20^th-Century Charcoal Case Studies

In 1972, it was reported that 20-50 grams of activated charcoal per day relieved uremic patients of oral fetor (odor or stench), anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Up to twenty months of treatments produced no ill side effects.

Conditions that have been treated by charcoal are eczema, intestinal gas, accidental poisoning and overdoses, nervous diarrhea, malodorous stools, jaundice of the newborn, infection after criminal abortion, deodorizer and healer for infected wounds, and cancer.

In 1909, Sticker reported that rapidly growing round-celled sarcomas in dogs were completely stopped from growth by the application of charcoal. In 1937, Papantonakis reported simple, rapid, and successful therapy of Leishmaniasis (a dermal sore) by painting the lesions with a ten percent mixture of vegetable charcoal.

Charcoal as a Poultice

A charcoal poultice is a charcoal-water mixture of soft composition, usually heated and spread on cloth, and applied to tender, inflamed parts of the body.

Charcoal has an adsorptive effect because of the large surface area of individual grains, with their crevices and pores. Charcoal can many times its own weight in poisons, gases, and chemicals.

Indications and Contraindications

Charcoal poultice treatment can help with the following health problems: Inflammation, insect bites, mastitis, cellulites, phlebitis, pharyngitis, hepatitis, , colitis, Bad breath Internal and external infections, certain types of skin problems, eye infections, eczema, poison ivy, staph infections, infected cuts oar lacerations, and herpes simples Accidental poisoning or overdoses Gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, gas

Procedure

Equipment

Powdered charcoal, one tablespoon or more
Warm water, about one cup
Deep container (size depends on size of poultice to be made) and spoon
Three tablespoons flaxseed or two tablespoon cornstarch
Clean muslin sheeting or paper towel
Ace or roller bandage
Plastic sheet
Pins or tape

Treatment

1. Assemble equipment
2. Boil water with flaxseed for about 2-3 minutes
3. Remove from heat and add charcoal
4. Apply charcoal paste to a paper towel or muslin quickly to prevent cooling
5. Spread out to desired size and fold
6. Place poultice on area to be treated with the single thickness of cloth next to the skin.
7. Cover the body part and poultice with plastic
8. Wrap with bandage and secure in place, leaving overnight
9. The next morning, remove poultice, being careful to not spill charcoal crumbs
10. Repeat with fresh poultice if needed, allowing one hour between poultices

Charcoal Recipes

Slurry Water

One tablespoon pulverized charcoal mixed in four cups of water. Allow to... settle, then pour off the clear water (slurry water) at the top. This may be drunk freely.

Charcoal and Flaxseed

Three tablespoons of flaxseed (ground in blender or mill), one tablespoon charcoal, one cup of water. Mix and bring to a boil to thicken. Use as a poultice.

Charcoal and Smartweed:

Put a small handful of smartweed leaves in a blender with ¼ to ½ cup of water and chop coarsely. Pour this into a cup with one tablespoon of charcoal; mix and use as a poultice.