Teeth whitening and oral healthĭozens of teeth-whitening products contain activated charcoal. The researchers also pointed out that activated charcoal had few side effects, especially in comparison with common antidiarrheal medications. In a 2017 review of recent studies on the use of activated charcoal for diarrhea, researchers concluded that it might be able to prevent bacteria and drugs that can cause diarrhea from being absorbed into the body by trapping them on its porous, textured surface. 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. While this shows the effectiveness of carbon filtration, it should be noted that in the U.S., adding fluoride to community water supplies of many cities has improved the oral health of millions of American citizens. Dozens of water filtration products are also designed for at-home use, using carbon cartridges to purify water of toxins and impurities.Ī 2015 study found that water filtration systems that used carbon removed as much as 100 percent of the fluoride in 32 unfiltered water samples after 6 months of installation. In commercial settings, such as waste-management centers, operators often use activated carbon granules for one part of the filtration process. 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. People have long used activated charcoal as a natural water filter. There is no set way to use activated charcoal for intestinal gas, but the EFSA recommends taking at least 1 g 30 minutes before and after each meal. The research is still limited, but a panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reports that there is enough evidence to support the use of activated charcoal to reduce excessive gas accumulation. In a 2017 study, people who took 45 mg of simethicone and 140 mg of activated charcoal three times daily for 10 days all reported a significant reduction in abdominal pain with no side effects. Some 34 percent of the participants who were given the activated charcoal to reduce their gas also had improved symptoms. It said intestinal gas would have obscured these organs before the treatment. The study showed that the examiners were able to see certain parts of some of the organs better with the ultrasound after the activated charcoal treatment. They also took another 672 mg on the morning of the exam. In a 2012 study, a small sample of people with a history of excessive gas in their intestines took 448 milligrams (mg) of activated charcoal three times a day for 2 days before having intestinal ultrasound examinations. 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. Intestinal gasĪctivated charcoal powder is thought to be able to disrupt intestinal gas, although researchers still do not understand how. They experienced improved kidney function and a reduced rate of kidney inflammation and damage. In another 2014 study, rats with induced chronic renal failure were fed mixtures containing 20 percent activated charcoal. The researchers found that the animals had significant reductions in intestinal inflammation and damage. More research is needed, but some animal studies show that activated charcoal may help improve kidney function and reduce gastrointestinal damage and inflammation in those with chronic kidney disease.Ī 2013 study saw rats with induced, chronic kidney disease given 4 grams (g) per kilogram per day of an oral activated charcoal preparation. Kidney healthĪctivated charcoal may be able to assist kidney function by filtering out undigested toxins and drugs.Īctivated charcoal seems to be especially effective at removing toxins derived from urea, the main byproduct of protein digestion. Many over-the-counter (OTC) products rely on the basic chemical principles of activated charcoal to defend their benefit claims.Ī few of the uses of activated charcoal supported by some evidence include: 1. There is not sufficient conclusive, large-scale research to establish the benefits of activated charcoal. The World Health Organization has approved activated charcoal for the emergency treatment of overdoses or poisonings.īut due to its powerful toxin-clearing properties, some advocates have proposed activated charcoal as a treatment for an ever-growing list of conditions.
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