Activated Charcoal Benefits

Dr. Martha works as an Emergency Room (ER) physician in a Kentucky hospital.
“I use charcoal routinely for [food] poisonings and drug overdoses… If I want to give it to little ones for diarrhea, I may mix it with mashed bananas. I always have it on hand in the home as an antacid or for any number of common problems…”
Ben was, for years, a long-distance trucker traveling all over North America.
“I didn’t go anywhere without charcoal. If I got an upset stomach or had gas or diarrhea from something, I always had it on hand as a faithful quick remedy. I simply carried a bottle of [charcoal] tablets with me, or I’d fill some capsules with the powder if I couldn’t get the tablets. We keep it right at hand here in the kitchen.”
Oh yes, Ben and Martha share the same kitchen.

Do you have activated charcoal pills in your kitchen? You should.

Unconsciousness

Years later, while doing development work in Nepal, the small clinic where I worked hosted a one-week “health camp.” A group of American doctors, dentists, and their spouses made the exhausting six-hour hike up and down and finally over into the Huwas valley. Before trekking out, Joyce, the medical director’s wife, took a group on a walk to the river. As they passed one of the shrines, they noticed a young family having a picnic. Returning through the village an hour later, they passed the government health station and saw the same little boy from the picnic lying unconscious on the ground. Joyce, herself a nurse, tells what happened:

“Among the group was a pediatrician. Unable to diagnose the cause, he gave a large dose of antibiotic by injection. While we waited for some response, I described a similar case, but it had been from poisoning. The baby hadn’t been treated and had died. I suggested giving charcoal. Knowing no other option, the doctor decided that charcoal was worth a try.

“I quickly went to gather some coals from the nearest cook fires. We pulverized them as best we could and mixed the gritty powder in a four-ounce glass with water. We strained the mixture through a cloth and administered it through a small tube because the child could not swallow. We were able to get some down, and the child began to struggle against it. That encouraged us to keep trying, and eventually, we were able to get about two ounces down. Getting it into the child was difficult because it was gritty, and the tube was too small. As the others worked, another woman and I quietly offered a prayer.

“Very soon, the child’s breathing, which had been shallow and irregular, returned to normal. We removed the tube, and before the child refused to take anymore, we got one more ounce down. By then, the boy was completely alert. From the time we were able to get the first bit of charcoal down to the time he was back up and running around was no more than five minutes. We were all absolutely amazed! The doctor insisted it had to have been the charcoal because the antibiotics couldn’t possibly have worked so quickly.”*

Emergency Room

Pauline was director of the ER at large city hospitals in California, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Korea. She’s witnessed charcoal used for food poisoning and drug overdose and can testify to the rapid and powerful action of charcoal.

While in Hawaii, Leo and Pauline purchased a country property some distance from the city and began clearing it for their new home.
Pauline writes: “This past Monday, Joshua, our six-year-old, got stung on his ear by a honeybee. He screamed and screamed. We knew he’d been very sensitive to bug bites and were concerned he might have an anaphylactic reaction. While I tried to calm him, Leo went over to the fire pit and got a piece of charcoal. He quickly ground it up and made it pasty with some water. We plastered that on Joshua’s ear. He was still screaming up to that point, but soon after the charcoal was applied, he calmed down. The swelling stopped, and he had no other bad effects.”*

It’s understandable that Pauline, working in an ER where medicinal charcoal is always available, might forget to take some with her camping. However, in an emergency, the primitive form of charcoal is still an excellent first aid.

What’s activated charcoal used for in modern hospitals?

Here’s a short list:

• Drug overdose
• Food poisoning
• Poisonous plants
• Kidney and liver dialysis machines
• End-stage kidney failure
• Pruritus (itching)
• Second-degree burns [German military]
• Breast cancer surgery
• Wound dressings [MRSA infections and gangrene]
• Anemia of cancer
• In ostomy bags for odor control
• Chron’s disease
• Pouchitis
• Renal disease
• Laser surgery
• Covid

Uses for Activated Charcoal

Now, your question may be, “What are some first aid uses for activated charcoal in the home?”

The more common include:

• Accidental drug poisoning
• Infant colic
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bad breath
• Poison ivy
• Venomous insect bites and stings – bees, wasps, ants, ticks, spiders, mosquitos

Activated Charcoal Benefits in First Aid

Activated charcoal is well known to adsorb or bind thousands of natural and artificial toxic chemicals to itself, which neutralizes their effects. Whether they’re prescription or street drugs, microbial endo/exotoxins, plant poisons, venom, or any number of industrial or military chemicals, activated charcoal renders them inactive, allowing the body to heal itself as it’s designed to.

Why is activated charcoal in military first aid kits? Why do EMTs carry activated charcoal? Why is activated charcoal listed as “Essential Medicine” by the WHO?

Simply: Because activated charcoal works so well — for poisoning, pain, and infection.

Do you have activated charcoal pills, capsules, and activated charcoal powder in your home first aid kit, glove compartment, backpack, or travel luggage? You should!

John Dinsley is the author of “CharcoalRemedies.com The Complete Handbook of Medicinal Charcoal & Its Applications” [2005]. He and his wife Kimberly are owners of Charcoal House, offering the widest selection of commercial, industrial, and retail activated charcoal products. Together, they travel domestically and internationally, conducting workshops on the prevention and treatment of common diseases using simple natural remedies.

© 2023 John Dinsley