Activated charcoal may sound like a funny thing to put on your plate or lather on your face, but recently, it’s been appearing in everything from waffles and smoothies to face wash and toothpaste. Why?
Many users believe the black powder can brighten teeth, temper body odor and help the body detox.
How effective is it?
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
The effectiveness ratings for ACTIVATED CHARCOAL are as follows:
Possibly effective for…
- Poisoning. Activated charcoal is useful for trapping chemicals to stop some types of poisoning when used as part of standard treatment. Activated charcoal should be given within 1 hour after a poison has been ingested. It does not seem to be beneficial if given for 2 or more hours after some types of poisoning. And activated charcoal doesn’t seem to help stop all types of poisoning.
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…
- Diarrhea caused by cancer drug treatment. Irinotecan is a cancer drug known to cause diarrhea. Early research shows that taking activated charcoal during treatment with irinotecan decreases diarrhea, including severe diarrhea, in children taking this drug.
- Reduced or blocked flow of bile from the liver (cholestasis). Taking activated charcoal by mouth seems to help treat cholestasis in pregnancy, according to some early research reports.
- Indigestion (dyspepsia). Some early research shows that taking certain combination products containing activated charcoal and simethicone, with or without magnesium oxide, can reduce pain, bloating, and feelings of fullness in people with indigestion. It’s unclear if taking activated charcoal by itself will help.
- Gas (flatulence). Some studies show that activated charcoal is effective in reducing intestinal gas. But other studies don’t agree. It’s too early to come to a conclusion on this.
- Hangover. Activated charcoal is included in some hangover remedies, but experts are skeptical about how well it might work. Activated charcoal doesn’t seem to trap alcohol well.
- High cholesterol. So far, research studies don’t agree about the effectiveness of taking activated charcoal by mouth to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
- High levels of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphatemia). Early research shows that taking activated charcoal daily for up to 12 months appears to reduce phosphate levels in people with kidney disease, including those on hemodialysis who have high phosphate levels.
- Wound healing. Studies on the use of activated charcoal for wound healing are mixed. Some early research shows that using bandages with activated charcoal helps wound healing in people with venous leg ulcers. But other research shows that activated charcoal does not help treat bed sores or venous leg ulcers.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of activated charcoal for these uses.
How does it work?
Are there safety concerns?
When applied to the skin: Activated charcoal is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when applied to wounds.
Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Activated charcoal might be safe when used short-term if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, but consult with your healthcare professional before using if you are pregnant.
Gastrointestinal (GI) blockage or slow movement of food through the intestine: Don’t use activated charcoal if you have any kind of intestinal obstruction. Also, if you have a condition that slows the passage of food through your intestine (reduced peristalsis), don’t use activated charcoal, unless you are being monitored by your healthcare provider.
And while there may be truth to some of those claims, not every charcoal product is safe to use.
Many people are looking for ways to reduce inflammation and detox, so there’s a huge market for these products. The problem is, there’s no agency overseeing the safety or effectiveness of activated charcoal, and it’s not governed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Breaking Down the Facts on Activated Charcoal
Before you slip some activated charcoal in your morning protein shake, it’s important to note that activated charcoal is not the same as the charcoal you buy at Home Depot for your backyard barbeque, nor is it made from the same stuff as the char on your overdone toast. Instead, it comes from burning specific types of wood — including bamboo, birch and balsam — at super-high temperatures, then oxidizing it.
The particles left behind are almost pure carbon, so they’re able to suck up moisture and chemicals. But that doesn’t mean using it is safe or should be done without medical supervision.
Here are six facts you should know before you purchase anything with activated charcoal:
- It draws out impurities. Charcoal has a rich history as a medical treatment. Its porous texture binds to toxins and prevents your body from absorbing them. That’s one reason it’s a staple in hospital emergency rooms. Doctors commonly use it as an antidote for food poisoning and drug toxicity.
- Putting it in food can be dangerous. There’s no way of knowing what is in an activated charcoal product. It’s a completely uncontrolled industry, so it’s best to leave it out of your diet.
- It’s abrasive. While activated charcoal is marketed as a tooth-whitening agent, it can be abrasive and ruin tooth enamel, particularly if it’s used on a regular basis.
- It can bind to medications, vitamins and minerals. Activated charcoal does bind to chemical toxins to flush them out, but it also binds to nutrients. Take too much and you could compromise your nutrient status or interfere with the way your body absorbs medication. It can make blood pressure medication and even birth control pills less effective.
- It can help patients with kidney disease. For patients with end-stage renal disease, activated charcoal may be a viable alternative to dialysis. The reason: It binds to urea and other toxins, reducing the number of waste products that filter through your kidneys. If you have kidney disease, talk to your doctor.
- It can minimize body odor. For people who suffer from something called Fish Odor Syndrome, activated charcoal can bind to the stinky compounds the body produces and help reduce unpleasant odors.
The Bottom Line
Activated charcoal is still a largely unstudied and misunderstood compound and as far as safety goes, consumers are at the mercy of the manufacturer. Any chemical that has the potential to do good also has the potential to harm. Only use activated charcoal under the direction of a medical professional, particularly if you’re planning to ingest it.
