Possible Concerns Over Charcoal

Wagner83

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Activated Charcoal Uses May Be Harmful, Possibly Cancerous?

1. Decreased absorption of vitamins


The carbon does not have a brain, it is not a living organism. To say it can choose to absorb a toxin and choose to bypass a vitamin or mineral is a questionable statement, to say the least.

The Journal of Food Quality published a study last decade where they measured the effects of mixing activated carbon with apple juice (6). The amount that was mixed in was quite low, a much lower concentration than what’s used in the ER for overdoses.

Five different dilutions were measured; 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 grams of the charcoal powder per liter of apple juice.

The results? It absorbed vitamins. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), thiamine (B1), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), and biotin (B7) wound up inside of it. Is activated charcoal safe to take everyday if it is having a negative effect on your body’s absorption of vitamins?

Given that all compounds (toxins as well as nutrients) have different molecular sizes, weights, and shapes, it is true they can have different degrees of absorption, or none at all. However, the size and structure of many beneficial compounds is not dramatically different than that of toxic compounds.

The long term side effects of using activated charcoal daily, weekly, or even monthly on nutrient absorption is largely unknown.

[...]

2. Decreased absorption of medicines

Reportedly, the carbon will (7):

…effectively prevent the gastrointestinal absorption of most drugs and toxins present in the stomach at the time of charcoal administration”

Prescription drugs, over the counter pills, and other supplements for your health may be absorbed by the active charcoal. Just a few examples include:

  • aspirin
  • dapsone, an antiobiotic
  • meprobamate, a tranquilizer for anxiety
  • phenobarbitone for epilepsy
  • phenytoin for seizures
  • dextropropoxyphene, a pain medicine and cough suppressant
  • cardiac glycosides, for irregular heart beats and heart failure
  • theophylline for asthma and COPD
  • Tegretol (carbamazepine) for epilepsy and neuropathic pain
  • oral contraceptives/birth control (8)
This is not a complete list, just a few examples of medications it has been documented as interfering with. In total, 240 drugs (1,792 brand and generic names) have been identified as being affected by charcoal consumption (9). Only 1 out of those 240 is listed as having a “minor” effect, while the rest are all “moderate.”


The most studied medical use is in a hospital environment, which is a short term dose for the treatment of poisoning. Using it everyday may not be producing noticeable side effects, but that doesn’t guarantee it’s safe; adverse side effects may by occurring (i.e. nutrient malabsorption) which cannot be easily detected by the person using it.

[...]


The question is, have PAHs in activated charcoal been measured and if so, how much is there? Not only in the charcoal itself, but also if it is absorbing them during the production process (i.e. the burning fuels used to create the heat and possibly emitting PAHs).

If it does contain PAHs or if they are absorbed during the production process, is there a danger of them being released into the body during digestion? It’s a valid question to ask, considering that for activated charcoal medication, it has been said (19):

“There is limited evidence that desorption of a toxin from activated charcoal may occur. Therefore, there is a potential for toxin readsorption and enhanced toxicity.”

.

__________________________________________________

Some alarmism but some other good points and advice that may need to be stated again (take away from drugs/food). What I'm curious about is if taken fairly regularly it could coat the digestive tract/stomach and reduce nutrients/drugs absorption more and more and for much longer. Do you have any forecast or knowledge about activated charcoal @Travis?
 
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Dr. Peat never recommends charcoal daily. Although I and some forum members use it every day.

I use it on an empty stomach hours after and before eating. Again, this isn't something Dr. Peat has recommended. He has said several times a week. I use about 2 teaspoons and only before bedtime, hours after eating and before sleeping.

I've been doing this for months now and had nothing but good results.
 

papaya

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Dr. Peat never recommends charcoal daily. Although I and some forum members use it every day.

I use it on an empty stomach hours after and before eating. Again, this isn't something Dr. Peat has recommended. He has said several times a week. I use about 2 teaspoons and only before bedtime, hours after eating and before sleeping.

I've been doing this for months now and had nothing but good results.
happy new year hamster! what type/brand of charcoal do you use?
 

Sunrise

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Dr. Peat never recommends charcoal daily. Although I and some forum members use it every day.

I use it on an empty stomach hours after and before eating. Again, this isn't something Dr. Peat has recommended. He has said several times a week. I use about 2 teaspoons and only before bedtime, hours after eating and before sleeping.

I've been doing this for months now and had nothing but good results.
May I ask Do you use powder or granule form? Havd you considered capsules or coated tablets? If not Why not?
As i see powder sticks every where I guess ssome stick in the esophagus for long period. My stoll was charcoal coloired 2 days after intake. So I think it remains somewhere inside.
 
Last edited:

Sunrise

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Jun 7, 2018
Messages
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Dr. Peat never recommends charcoal daily. Although I and some forum members use it every day.

I use it on an empty stomach hours after and before eating. Again, this isn't something Dr. Peat has recommended. He has said several times a week. I use about 2 teaspoons and only before bedtime, hours after eating and before sleeping.

I've been doing this for months now and had nothing but good results.

May I ask if you have considered capsules or coated capsules to avoid it sticking everywher in the esophagus etc. If.mot, why not?
It took me 15 min to rinse it from the mouth so I guess because mucosa in the esophagus it lingers long. I got charcoal coloured stool 2 days after intake. ....
 
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May I ask if you have considered capsules or coated capsules to avoid it sticking everywher in the esophagus etc. If.mot, why not?
It took me 15 min to rinse it from the mouth so I guess because mucosa in the esophagus it lingers long. I got charcoal coloured stool 2 days after intake. ....

I don’t use every day anymore. But are you using granules or powder? I would only suggest granules.
 

Sunrise

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I don’t use every day anymore. But are you using granules or powder? I would only suggest granules.
I started with powder. A table spoon. But now hat unread people using capsules I worry I did a terrible mistake as those particles get stuck everywhere. Or can I relax they will be flushed somehow.....? Which beam d where you using ?

I actually started with it as I have premature ejaculatiom and I read doctor peat says it is due to endotoxin....i guess it spreads from tje intestines towards the prostate.
 
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I do not think charcoal powder is unhealthy because of the persorption possibility. I think that the granules are fine and they wash down very easily without any problem simply by putting them in your mouth and chasing them with a little water.
 

Ismail

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I do not think charcoal powder is unhealthy because of the persorption possibility. I think that the granules are fine and they wash down very easily without any problem simply by putting them in your mouth and chasing them with a little water.

Hi @ecstatichamster , hope you’re well.

Are you still taking the AC every so often?

What are the greatest benefits you have personally experienced/seen?

Thanks in advance.
 
EMF Mitigation - Flush Niacin - Big 5 Minerals

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