**please note these are my personal experiences, I am not a doctor. Always consult with your healthcare physicians before beginning any type of supplementation**
Charcoal is one of nature’s most common substances. However despite its commonality, it has numerous extremely valuable uses in health, beauty, and wellness. Now when I talk about charcoal, don't go chomping on the bricks you toss in your grill!
I'm talking about the more refined form of charcoal known as activated charcoal. This charcoal is typically derived from plant matter, such as coconut husks, and is heated to extremely high temperature to cleanse and purify it.
In the medical industry, activated charcoal is widely known as a great anti-toxin agent, with an uncanny ability to trap and neutralize various toxins in the body. Because of this, its a common antidote used to treat victims of poisonings and overdoses. However, outside of this it has far more uses than previously thought. While many of the uses of charcoal are fairly well known, there are many more amazing uses you may not be aware about.
Check these out below!
1) Teeth Whitening!
Activated Charcoal is an effective natural teeth whitener when used regularly. Because of activated charcoals ability to bind and neutralize minerals, it is able to bind and remove particulate matter known to discolor teeth. Substances like coffee, tea, wine and other common dental discoloring agents can be removed from teeth with regular use of activated charcoal, leading to improved white coloration.
Activated Charcoal’s abrasive texture also makes it great to assist in removing debris from tooth surfaces.
Speak with your dentist during your next check-up and discuss whether adding activated charcoal to your regular oral regimen is ideal for you.
2)Skin irritants
Activated charcoal is an excellent substance to treat skin ailments associated with bites from mosquito, insects, and small snakes. Activated charcoal is able to bind the toxins secreted by these creatures and remove them, thereby reducing the inflammatory response associated with contact with these insect. Simply mixi some activated charcoal and coconut oil and apply on skin affected
Poison ivy and other sap secreting plants known to cause skin inflammatory reactions can also be treated effectively with activated charcoal based creams.
3)Hangover Assistance
While activated charcoal can't prevent your hangover, it can help keep some of the "after effects" at bay
The idea is that the activated charcoal will filter out the toxins from your body, and that will, in turn, reduce your hangover. There are articles in the scientific literature that date back to the 1940s, examining the absorption power of activated charcoal,
One of the most commonly cited studies of activated charcoal’s ability to soak up alcohol is a 1981 study called “Effect of activated charcoal on ethanol blood levels in dogs,” in which six laboratory dogs were given alcohol, followed by activated charcoal. The researchers found that the charcoal prevented the full absorption of the alcohol into the dogs’ bloodstreams, and the logic extended to humans.
4)Stomach Upset/ Bugs
Whenever I have any of my kids come down with that dreaded "24 hour bug" I immediately begin taking activated charcoal! Although it's never a guarantee to work I can say from personal experience I've managed to dodge it quite a few times. With its natural absorption properties it works to get in and absorb anything going on in your intestines. It can also assist with symptoms of diarrhea and nausea.
5)Underarm Detox and speed up the detox when switching to natural deodorant
Using deodorant changes your body’s bacteria over time, which is why when you stop using it, you stink more. That’s also why when you switch to a natural deodorant, you think it doesn’t work. That’s not true though. The initial stink is your body detoxing from the long-term, repeated use of conventional deodorant. This is where doing an armpit detox can help that transition period move along a bit quicker.
It's natural to have a higher body odor while your body adjusts to a natural deodorant because your lymph nodes and all of those underarm glands are detoxing all of the harmful ingredients that have been layered on your skin for years like almunium, parabens, and phthalates.
Making a paste with activated charcoal and water can help pull those toxins out even faster and reduce the amount of time of your detox. Simply add 2 tablespoons of warm purified water to 2 tablespoons of activaed charcoal and mix. Using your clean hands, spread the mixture evenly over your underarms and allow to dry for approximately 10-15 minutes. It's easiest if you shower after this so you can just rinse all of the black paste down the drain.
After your shower feel free to cleanse your armpits with some pure witch hazel and allow them to rest completely over night. Repeat the cleanse every day during your transition to natural deodorant period (up to five days) And every couple of months to purfiy your lymph nodes.
Activated charcoal can be used for so much more, like making your own skin scrubs, and even mixing it in to make fun drinks like charcoal lemonade!
You can find it in encapsulated form already, or just as a powder and mix it in as desired.
Activated charcoal should only be used in moderation and for short term use. Regular intake of activated charcoal may even cause nutrition deficiency or malnutrition. As always consult with your primary care physician before utilizing any supplement/health care products to see if they are a right fit for you.
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)
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