What is CHARCOAL?
Charcoal is a substance formed by burning either wood or coconut shells in the absence of oxygen. What remains after the burning process is pure black carbon.
Charcoal has been used since 460-370 BC.
In 1813, a well-known French chemist intentionally swallowed a whole teaspoon of arsenic. This was more than 150 times the dose that would kill a person. However, he lived – and without any ill effects!! What was it that saved him? He had mixed a liberal amount of charcoal with the poison.
Medicinal charcoal comes as a fluffy black powder that has no odour or taste. It is also available in the form of tablets and capsules. Charcoal is completely safe – with virtually no potential of danger from overdosing. Never use in its loose powder form.
How does it work?
When a small particle of charcoal is greatly magnified, it resembles a sponge – containing many small holes and tunnel-like passages, thus increasing its adsorption ability a thousand-fold. Charcoal acts as an adsorbent by attracting and binding toxins, poisons, gases and even germs. Once entrapped in the charcoal, these injurious substances become harmless to the body.
Charcoal comes in two varieties – regular and activated. Activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated with high stream temperatures to greatly enhance charcoal’s adsorbing capacity.
Although this method was not developed until the early 20th Century, regular charcoal has been in use as an effective healing agent for thousands of years.
Some of the features that have made charcoal such a remarkable remedy. It is:
- Readily available and affordable
- Simple to use – both internally and externally
- Totally harmless
- Highly effective
IMPORTANT: THE FOLLOWING MUST NEVER BE USED AS A REMEDY:
- Charcoal briquettes for grilling food are not a safe source of charcoal. It contains dangerous chemical agents that ensure rapid igniting.
- Burnt toast and other scorched foods contain unhealthful substances.
When taken internally, charcoal is a medicinal wonder-worker for a wide variety of ailments.
Charcoal works best when mixed with a glass of plain water. It is easy to drink when these simple directions are followed:
- Thoroughly mix 1 to 2 large teaspoons full of charcoal with a small amount of water. Then fill the glass with additional water – stirring frequently and making sure all the powder is in solution.
- You may want to use a drinking straw when taking charcoal – it is less messy.
- Follow the charcoal drink with some plain water.
Note: Some like to mix the charcoal with warm water and fructose to taste.
The best time take charcoal is between meals and at least 2 hours after taking prescription medications – since charcoal does adsorb many drugs.
Charcoal is often used with great success for the following conditions:
- Poisoning
- Intestinal gas
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Water purifier
- External uses
Charcoal is the treatment of choice for poisoning in children, as well as adults. It is most effective when taken within 30 minutes of a poisoning or drug overdose. Most private hospitals in South Africa use charcoal for poisoning.
Here is what to do for poisoning:
- Immediately drink 4 – 10 large spoonfuls of charcoal mixed with a small amount of water.
- Then refill the same glass with water and drink the contents with the remaining charcoal sediment.
- If a person has eaten within the past 2 hours, more charcoal will be required.
- Repeat the charcoal dosage in 10 minutes, and any time symptoms worsen.
- And of course, the patient should be taken to an emergency room as quickly as possible for further treatment and monitoring.
As a general rule, treat children with one half of the adult dose.
Always keep a container of charcoal powder in your first aid cabinet so that it will be readily available. When stored in a dry, tightly covered container, charcoal powder will keep for an indefinite period of time. Use, treat and store as medicine.
A word of caution: Do not give charcoal by mouth to anyone that is sleepy, unconscious, or otherwise unable to swallow. In such cases, prompt medical attention is vital!
In the case of nausea and vomiting:
- Drink 1 to 2 large teaspoonfuls of powder in a little water after each vomiting episode. Repeat every half hour till nausea subsides.
- If the charcoal is vomited up, drink another glass of charcoal water immediately.
In the case of diarrhoea:
- For diarrhea, drink 1 to 2 large teaspoonfuls of charcoal powder in a glass of water after each loose or watery stool.
- Follow each glass of charcoal water with 1 or 2 glasses of plain water.
- Infants and small children with diarrhea are at greater risk for dehydration. So be sure to give them plenty of water along with other rehydration fluids.
Used as a water purifier:
Commonly used in commercial water purifiers and filters. This is the ideal way to purify doubtful water and especially when the option to boil the water is not available (camping, hiking).
- Add 1 heaped table spoon per 5 liter of water. Stir. Let it stand until charcoal has settled down at the bottom. It will not be totally clear as in tap water. Use a filter bag (as for coffee filter or similar) to catch possible debris. The bit of charcoal floating in the water will do no harm.
- Dirty water – 2 tsp of charcoal per 1 litre water – leave overnight – throw off top water – there will be sludge at bottom.
External uses of Charcoal:
Charcoal is also a very effective remedy when used externally.
When applied to body surfaces, charcoal adsorbs (draws out) poisons and other harmful substances that have been excreted through the pores of the skin.
Here are some of its external uses:
- Infection or inflammation of the skin and joints
- Eye or ear infections
- Lesions from poisonous plants
- Bee stings and other insect bites (multiple bites – put person in charcoal bath)
- Venomous spider and snake bites
- Brilliant for bedsores, septic wounds, wounds that won’t heal. Cleans out dead tissue (slough) and assists with development of healing granulation tissue. Replace twice a day until wound healed.
- Fever
- Arthritis
- Detox
- Deodorizer
- Potting & garden compounds
- Fertilizer & insecticide for roses
- Adsorption of pesticides and herbicides
For external conditions, charcoal can be used as a bath or applied as a poultice.
The charcoal bath is useful for treating large body areas. It is quite simple: just add 2 cups of charcoal powder to a tub of water. The entire body may be immersed in the charcoal water.
The charcoal poultice is a moist compress applied to the skin, and is useful for treating smaller or more localized body areas.
Directions for preparing and applying a poultice at home:
- Mix 2 heaped tablespoons charcoal with one cup of ground linseed (can use oats porridge or mashed potato in an emergency). When well mixed, add two cups of boiling water. Stir rapidly to make sure no lumps form. You may need to add more water to ensure that the mixture remains runny. Has gluey / jellylike consistency. Not watery.
- Spread the paste 5-7mm thick on one half of a folded paper towel or loosely woven cotton cloth (old sheet ideal). Size about 30x40cm. Leave 2cm clear on sides and top to prevent poultice from leaking out when folded.
- Then cover the paste by folding over the other half of the paper towel or cloth. Next place the charcoal poultice on the affected body part – making sure it completely covers the area.
- Cover the poultice with plastic bandage to keep it from drying out. When available plastic food wrap works well. If the charcoal dries out, it will not be able to adsorb.
Linseed binds the charcoal but also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
POULTICES CAN BE FROZEN FOR 4-5 MONTHS. Reheat about 1 min in microwave. Poultice works best if applied warm.
To treat localized infections or inflammation, poisonous plant lesions, bee stings and insect bites, do the following:
- Wash the skin as good as possible, use soap and water if you can – depending on circumstances
- Apply the poultice and leave it on for several hours, or better yet, overnight.
- Then remove and discard the poultice.
- Prepare a new poultice each time another application is needed.
- Bee sting – make paste and smear on.
Treatment of multiple bee stings, spider and snake bites:
A word of caution: multiple bee stings, allergic reactions to bee venom, as well as poisonous spider and snake bites, are all medical emergencies that need immediate attention!
Whether you’re in the great outdoors, the office, or on the road, charcoal can be at hand when you need it, if you keep it in your backpack, purse or car. Be sure to keep charcoal nearby at all times, especially if you are in an area that has poisonous pests.
DIRECTION FOR TREATING VENOMOUS BITES AND STINGS
- Immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Then submerge the affected body part in a cool charcoal bath for 30 minutes to 1 hour – using ½ cup of charcoal to 4 litres of water.
- After the bath, apply a large charcoal poultice directly over the bitten area, or even the entire extremity. Cover the poultice with plastic to keep it moist.
- Change the poultice every 30 minutes until pain and swelling are gone.
- In addition, take charcoal by mouth – 2 large spoonfuls of charcoal in ½ glass of water every 2 hours for 3 doses. Each charcoal dose should be followed by 2 glasses of water.
- If in the outdoors and no bath available: clean with water the best you can. Apply poultice.
Charcoal works best when applied to any bite or sting as soon as possible, before significant swelling occurs.
Should pain and swelling progress, add ice packs to the area and consider seeking further medical help.
Charcoal has saved many lives, especially in cases where medical help was unavailable. Over and over again, charcoal has proven itself to be a remedy of the highest value. In many cases the simple remedies of nature, when used properly, are far more effective than the high tech wonders of modern medicine.
Hint for hikers & campers:
- Remember the charcoal powder as part of First Aid Kit.
- Take ground linseed with you – keep it with First Aid Kit.
- Use gauze and/or paper towel to make poultice.
- Use any plastic material (black bag, bread bag – light to carry) to cover poultice to prevent it drying out. Use selotape to keep plastic over poultice in place.
The Scriptures declare that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty”. 1 Cor 1:27 (NKJV)
Toothache and tooth abscess:
Have a piece of linen about 1 x 4cm. Wring cloth out in cold tap water. Fold in half lengthwise – out some dry charcoal powder on one half and fold the other half over the powder. Place over painful area between gum and cheek. You will know when to replace it. Good idea to put poultice on stomach as well as to prevent other toxins being drawn to that small area.
Removal of Wisdom Teeth:
Make a poultice wide enough to fold over angle of jaw and long enough to extend from ear to ear over jaw angle. On coming out of hospital, apply warm poultice to jaw. Replace twice daily. If correctly done, no pain, no bruising or swelling will be experienced. Repeat for 4 days (or longer if necessary).
Attach to face by means of cling wrap wound around jaw and over back of head. Pinch cling wrap over head area so that it forms a ‘rope’ and no longer covers entire head area.
(The above notes taken from: Be Free Lifestyle Seminar Module I) Jean Wright & Arnold Neuhoff