Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewMechanism of ActionHow It’s MadeMedical UsesAlternative UsesSafety and Risks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Mechanism of Action
How It’s Made
Medical Uses
Alternative Uses
Safety and Risks
Other uses have been claimed to be effective, particularly in health and wellness. However, there is very little evidence to support the anecdotal claims.
This article covers the different ways it can be used, the potential benefits associated with each, and the risks that come with the use of activated charcoal.
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What Is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal, or activated carbon, is a fine black powder. It is a porous material, meaning there are empty spaces or pores within the substance. These pores trap other chemicals and substances when ingested orally.
Several materials are used to make activated charcoal, including:
Early use of activated charcoal dates back to 3750 B.C., when Egyptians would use it to create bronze. It was also used to treatwound infectionsandintestinal issues, and as an ink for writing on papyrus. Other historical uses include:
What’s the Difference Between Charcoal and Activated Charcoal?Activated charcoal goes through processing that changes its makeup. Regular charcoal does not.
What’s the Difference Between Charcoal and Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal goes through processing that changes its makeup. Regular charcoal does not.
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How Does Activated Charcoal Work?
When ingested, the charcoal enters the stomach, and the pores made during processing trap the substances that could cause harm, ensuring that they do not get absorbed into the bloodstream.
That is why it is most notably used to treat narcoticsoverdosesandchemical poisoning. That said, it has also been used in various other applications, including:
While activated charcoal is used alternatively, the mechanism of action and evidence to support its use for the aforementioned ailments has not yet been determined.
The Evidence on Alternative Uses
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How Is Activated Charcoal Made?
It is then exposed to argon and nitrogen and reheated to 1,200 degrees C (about 2,200 degrees F). During the second heating, the charcoal is exposed to oxygen and steam. The pores created in this process are what give it its medicinal use.
Can You Make Activated Charcoal at Home?It’s possible to make activated charcoal at home. That said, it can be a lengthy and dangerous process if you are unsure what you’re doing. Before making your own charcoal at home, enlist the help of an expert or someone well-versed in the use of dangerous chemicals, such as calcium chloride.
Can You Make Activated Charcoal at Home?
It’s possible to make activated charcoal at home. That said, it can be a lengthy and dangerous process if you are unsure what you’re doing. Before making your own charcoal at home, enlist the help of an expert or someone well-versed in the use of dangerous chemicals, such as calcium chloride.
Medical Uses of Activated Charcoal
The two main uses of activated charcoal are to treat poisoning and overdoses. Extensive research has backed these uses, confirming that the benefits outweigh the risks. When a person overdoses or ingests poisonous chemicals, the chemicals can get into the bloodstream and can wreak havoc on a person’s body. In the worst cases, death can occur.
To ensure that doesn’t happen, emergency healthcare providers use activated charcoal. The pores in activated charcoal can trap chemicals and other substances when the charcoal comes into contact with the chemicals in the stomach. This hinders the drug or chemicals from absorbing into the bloodstream, where it can travel to organs and tissues and cause damage or worse.
Activated Charcoal Timeline for Overdoses and Chemical PoisoningActivated charcoal must be administered within the first hour of ingesting a harmful substance, such as drugs or chemicals, to be the most effective. While it may still work after an hour, it does lose its ability to absorb toxins over time, so quick administration is best.
Activated Charcoal Timeline for Overdoses and Chemical Poisoning
Activated charcoal must be administered within the first hour of ingesting a harmful substance, such as drugs or chemicals, to be the most effective. While it may still work after an hour, it does lose its ability to absorb toxins over time, so quick administration is best.
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What Else Is Activated Charcoal Used For?
Activated charcoal has grown popular for its medicinal properties and possible cosmetic applications. Aside from treating poisoning or overdoses, there are several possible uses of activated charcoal, although there is very little evidence to back these up.
Some possible uses include:
Evidence for Alternative Uses
According to research, some ailments mentioned above can benefit from the use of activated charcoal, such as:
Is Activated Charcoal Safe?
Activated charcoal is generally considered safe when taken orally or used on the skin. However, some risks are associated with the substance if you have preexisting ailments or conditions.
For example, using activated charcoal may not be a good fit for people who have an intestinal blockage. Activated charcoal can be safe if you arepregnant, but you should avoid using it until you speak to your healthcare provider.
Since activated charcoal reduces the body’s ability to absorb certain chemicals, you may also want to avoid using it while taking certain medications, such as:
Drinking alcohol with activated charcoal may also prevent the body from absorbing poisons, so mixing the two should be avoided.
Summary
Activated charcoal is mainly used to treat chemical poisoning or drug overdoses. However, more uses have surfaced in recent years, such as in toothpaste and other cosmetic products. There is little to no scientific evidence to support claims that it can help with anything other than poisonings or overdoses, so it should be used cautiously.
The substance is considered safe to be ingested and used on the skin, but it can reduce the body’s ability to absorb medications. Because of that, you should always speak to your healthcare provider about what you intend to use activated charcoal for and whether or not it will affect your medication regimen.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2019 May 3;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311Medline Plus.Activated charcoal.Al Jumaan MA.The role of activated charcoal in prehospital care.Med Arch.2023 Feb;77(1):64-69. doi:10.5455/medarh.2023.77.64-69General Carbon.Facts About Activated Carbon: FAQs.Burchacka E, Pstrowska K, Bryk M, Maciejowski F, Kułażyński M, Chojnacka K.The properties of activated carbons functionalized with an antibacterial agent and a new SufA protease inhibitor.Materials (Basel).2023 Feb 1;16(3):1263. doi:10.3390/ma16031263
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2019 May 3;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311Medline Plus.Activated charcoal.Al Jumaan MA.The role of activated charcoal in prehospital care.Med Arch.2023 Feb;77(1):64-69. doi:10.5455/medarh.2023.77.64-69General Carbon.Facts About Activated Carbon: FAQs.Burchacka E, Pstrowska K, Bryk M, Maciejowski F, Kułażyński M, Chojnacka K.The properties of activated carbons functionalized with an antibacterial agent and a new SufA protease inhibitor.Materials (Basel).2023 Feb 1;16(3):1263. doi:10.3390/ma16031263
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2019 May 3;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311Medline Plus.Activated charcoal.Al Jumaan MA.The role of activated charcoal in prehospital care.Med Arch.2023 Feb;77(1):64-69. doi:10.5455/medarh.2023.77.64-69General Carbon.Facts About Activated Carbon: FAQs.Burchacka E, Pstrowska K, Bryk M, Maciejowski F, Kułażyński M, Chojnacka K.The properties of activated carbons functionalized with an antibacterial agent and a new SufA protease inhibitor.Materials (Basel).2023 Feb 1;16(3):1263. doi:10.3390/ma16031263
Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F.The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2019 May 3;116(18):311-317. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311
Medline Plus.Activated charcoal.
Al Jumaan MA.The role of activated charcoal in prehospital care.Med Arch.2023 Feb;77(1):64-69. doi:10.5455/medarh.2023.77.64-69
General Carbon.Facts About Activated Carbon: FAQs.
Burchacka E, Pstrowska K, Bryk M, Maciejowski F, Kułażyński M, Chojnacka K.The properties of activated carbons functionalized with an antibacterial agent and a new SufA protease inhibitor.Materials (Basel).2023 Feb 1;16(3):1263. doi:10.3390/ma16031263
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