The Many Wonders of Charcoal

By Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

At the mention of the word charcoal, what readily comes to mind is a porous black solid, obtained as a residue when wood, bone, or other organic matter is heated in the absence of air.

Charcoal is a household name in Nigeria and many parts of the world as it is used for numerous things but is commonly used as fuel wood consumed in developing nations for heating and cooking by individual households, although considerable volumes of fuel wood and charcoal are used for industrial purposes in some regions.

Apart from these, charcoal is used in a variety of ways as keeping the air fresh, making cut flowers last longer, keeping the soil moist and suppressing weeds.

It also helps to keep the rust off metal tools as well as soaks up dampness in stored salts.

In the medical and beauty therapy field, charcoal also performs wonders as it is most commonly utilized in medical settings to treat drug overdoses or as an emergency anti-poison remedy.

In the medical setting, the type of charcoal used is called “Activated charcoal”.

Activated Charcoal is a black, odourless, flavourless powder that has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments.

Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen at very high temperatures to make it more porous. This treatment changes its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area.

Activated charcoal is thought to offer several other benefits, including less gas and flatulence, lower cholesterol levels, and improved kidney function.

Some people claim that it helps whiten your teeth, filters water, and even cures hangovers.

Using activated charcoal can provide a variety of benefits for both your health and even beauty. Here are the top 10 ways you can use this amazing substance:

Emergency toxin removal

This is the main reason we’ve all heard of activated charcoal at some point in our lives, as the substance is touted by Poison Control as an emergency treatment for toxins. Not only is it beneficial for the accidental ingestion of substances like bleach or pesticides, but it can help to counteract the effects of a drug overdose as well.

Full body anti-ageing

Rather than using products that claim anti-ageing benefits which simply target your physical appearance, activated charcoal has the necessary components to keep your entire body fresh and alive! Working to eliminate toxins and chemicals that linger in our bodies, taking a few capsules of activated charcoal per day can flush your system. This can help to improve mental clarity, support a healthy digestive system, and can even reduce kidney and liver problems.

Cleaner drinking water

Many cities find their drinking water contains chemicals including fluoride, solvents, and toxins. Using an activated charcoal water filter to carbon filter your water will help to clean up your tap and provide you with great-tasting water!

Helping with a hangover

Activated charcoal is also reported to help reduce or even completely prevent a hangover if taken while drinking alcohol. The ability of this substance to adsorb toxins and prevent alcohol from getting into your bloodstream sounds like nothing short of a miracle. However, rather than using it as a cool party trick, medical professionals tend to rely on activated charcoal if someone has alcohol poisoning or is unconscious.

Whitens your teeth

If you browse through social media you’ll no doubt see people using activated charcoal to whiten their teeth. For the most part, it works wonderfully to latch onto the tiny particles that cause stains, yet it may not work if you have crowns or veneers. Remember, brushing with activated charcoal is not intended to replace your normal oral care routine and should only be done a few times a week to see results.

Helps to relieve gas and bloating

Many individuals suffer from digestive problems including gas and bloating after meals. If this is a common occurrence and becomes problematic, try using activated charcoal after eating. It works to bind together the elements in your meal that cause gas and bloating and helps you to eliminate them in the bathroom. Make sure to drink plenty of water with the activated charcoal right after taking it to help get it into your system for quick relief.

Detoxing from mould

Older homes, especially ones that have flooded in the past or have poor ventilation systems, can be prone to mold, and as you live and breathe in that house, the mould can enter into your system. It can be quite toxic, causing depression, vomiting, or respiratory distress, and using activated charcoal will help to cleanse your body of it

Acting as a general beauty aid

It makes sense that activated charcoal can be used for a variety of treatments, as its powerful ability to eliminate toxins has been proven time and time again. Use it on your skin to tighten pores, treat acne, heal bug bites and cuts, and balance oily skin. Rather than ingesting activated charcoal like so many other instances call for, using it as a skin mask or a topical treatment can yield fast results.

Cleanse your digestive system

You don’t need to be hungover or have bloating to take advantage of the benefits of activated charcoal in your system. Many people integrate it as part of their daily routine and couple it with plenty of water and a healthy diet. It works to remove toxins from your system that cause poor immune function and the plethora of symptoms that come along with it. Since activated charcoal can be quite dehydrating, drink plenty of water to keep things moving along.

Lower your high cholesterol

Attaching itself to cholesterol and bile acids in our digestive system, activated charcoal can help prevent these compounds from moving into the bloodstream. As with all other instances of taking this amazing substance, the elements that it binds to will pass through your body when you defecate.

Additional information from Brightlife

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group