THE UNIVERSAL ANTIDOTE AND DETOXIFIER: Activated

Charcoal

JOURNAL OF THE MEGAHEALTH SOCIETY

MegaHealth Society - July 1989
THE UNIVERSAL ANTIDOTE AND DETOXIFIER THAT EXTENDS LIFE:
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
by Richard C. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Activated Charcoal is a highly absorbent gritty black material that is
commonly found in air and water filters. Activated Charcoal is created by
carbonizing organic matter in a kiln under anaerobic conditions and
activating the material with oxidizing gases like steam or air at high
temperatures. This oxidative process erodes the charcoal's internal surfaces
and increases its adsorption capacity by creating an internal network of very
fine pores. Usually bone char, coconut shells, peat, coal, petroleum coke,
and sawdust are the starting materials for making Activated Charcoal.
EARLY USE OF CHARCOAL
The medical uses for charcoal date back to the Egyptian Papyrus of 1550
B.C. During the time of Hippocrates (400 B.C.) physicians treated epilepsy
and anthrax with charcoal. In the 1700's charcoal was often prescribed for
bilious problems (excessive bile excretion). After the development of the
charcoal activation process (1870 to 1920), many reports appeared in
medical journals about Activated Charcoal as an antidote for poisons and a
cure for intestinal disorders.
CONTEMPORARY CHARCOAL USE
Modern research has validated most of the early uses for charcoal and
discovered exciting new applications. This article will discuss the many
important therapeutic uses for Activated Charcoal;
1. Universal antidote for drugs, chemicals and poisons.
2. Systemic clearance of drugs and intoxicants.
3. General detoxification.
4. Anti-aging and life extension.
5. Reducing cholesterol, coronary disease and arteriosclerosis.
6. Counteracting pathogens.
7. Intestinal complaints.
ANTIDOTE FOR DRUGS, CHEMICALS AND POISONS
Activated Charcoal has the well-earned reputation of being a universal
antidote. It can adsorb most organic chemicals, many inorganic chemicals
and countless poisonous substances before they can cause harm. The table
below lists different examples of the types of substances that Activated
Charcoal can counteract.
How well Activated Charcoal really works in practical situations depends on
several different factors:
1. The type of toxicant (its chemical structure and physical properties).
2. The amount and type of charcoal ingested.
3. The length of time from toxin ingestion to Activated Charcoal ingestion.
4. The contents of your intestinal fluids and intestinal transport efficiency.
As a general rule, a single large dose of Activated Charcoal should be taken
as soon as possible after ingesting a poison. The amount of Activated
Charcoal should exceed the toxic substance by a factor of eight (a ratio of
8:1). In other words, if you're poisoned with 5 grams of a chemical, you need
to take at least 40 grams of Activated Charcoal.
Other researchers recommend different dosages. Some experts believe a 10
to 1 ratio is correct. Still other experts recommend a fixed amount of 50 to
100 grams.
I recommend ingesting a minimum of 50 grams of Activated Charcoal as a
counterpoison, because ingesting large amounts of Activated Charcoal is
harmless, and taking too little is ineffective. Besides, how often in the case
of an emergency can you precisely determine the amount of the poison. The
actual effectiveness of the Activated Charcoal will vary, so take more than
you think you require.
Activated Charcoal should be taken within 30 minutes of ingesting the
poison. The longer the delay, the less effective Activated Charcoal will be.
On some poisons delaying more than 30 minutes decreases the
effectiveness of the Activated Charcoal as an antidote by up to 60%.
The bottom line is plain and simple. Keeping Activated Charcoal in your
medicine cabinet and taking it if you are poisoned could save your life, and
money as well. It has been estimated that use of Activated Charcoal for
treating poisonings could reduce the stay in intensive care from 3 or 4 days
to one, saving over $100,000,000 in health care costs and preventing
unnecessary disability and death.
SYSTEMIC CLEARANCE OF DRUGS AND INTOXICANTS
Nowadays, Activated Charcoal is often used to clear drugs and intoxicants
that can enter the body through the intestinal tract, and even by injection and
other routes. The systemic clearance of toxic substances or detoxification by
Activated Charcoal is accomplished by taking multiple daily doses.
Activated Charcoal detoxifies the body in several manners.
1. Purifies the 6-8 liters of digestive fluids that are secreted daily which in
turn helps remove foreign substances from the blood.
2. Adsorbs the intoxicant substance and its metabolites that are excreted
into the small intestine from the biliary (bile) tract, preventing their
reabsorption.
3. Adsorbs drugs that diffuse back into the stomach and intestines.
4. Decreases the detoxification work load of the liver.
Activated Charcoal shortens the time it take an intoxicant to leave the
system and decreases the duration and intensity of symptoms. I have found
that people who take Activated Charcoal after drinking alcohol or taking
recreational drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines recover quicker. I
recommend Activated Charcoal as part of a drug recovery program to ease
withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug craving. Other nutrients that help are
the neurotransmitter precursors: L-Tyrosine, L-Tryptophan, L-Phenylalanine,
Choline and DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol).
Even experts disagree on the best way of using multiple doses of Activated
Charcoal to remove intoxicants. Most protocols are based on experience
with drug overdosages. In actual clinical situations, the Activated Charcoal
regimen is optimized to the patient. The doctor considers the type of toxic
substance, severity of intoxification, digestive functions and electrolyte
balance.
For mild overdoses and intoxification, I suggest up to 80-100 grams divided
into 4-6 daily doses of Activated Charcoal until the symptoms are eliminated.
Consult an expert who can optimize your regimen.
For a dangerous overdosage call your physician or hospital immediately.
GENERAL DETOXIFICATION
Very few health practitioners realize that Activated Charcoal is the best
single supplement for enhancing detoxification. Detoxification is an on-going
biological process that prevents toxins (from infectious agents, food, air,
water, and substances that contact the skin) from destroying health. Chronic
exposure to toxins produces cellular damage, diverse diseases, allergic like
reactions, compromised immunity and premature aging.
There are 2 ways of using Activated Charcoal in a daily detox plan that I have
found work well and recommend:
1. Use Activated Charcoal on 2 consecutive days each week. Take 20-35
grams each day divided into 2 or 3 doses. Take in the morning, at midday
and before bed on an empty stomach. Avoid excessive calories or unhealthy
foods on those days.
2. Take about 20 grams a day of Activated Charcoal in divided doses for
several months. Follow Activated Charcoal usage by a 1 month break and
resume the cycle. If you plan on using Activated Charcoal daily, consult your
physician.
In addition to Activated Charcoal, the ideal detoxification prescription
includes sauna baths, exercise, a special diet, and supplements (unsaturated
fatty acids, vitamin C, niacin, proteolytic (protein digesting) enzymes, and a
comprehensive multiple nutrient formula.
ANTI-AGING & LIFE EXTENSION
Dr. V. V. Frolkis, a famous Russian Gerontologist, and his colleagues have
discovered that Activated Charcoal is a potent life-extending agent.
Activated Charcoal has been found to increase the mean lifespan of older
test animals by approximately 50% and their maximum lifespan by
approximately 34%.
1. Activated Charcoal decreases the age-related increase in the brain's
sensitivity to drugs and toxins.
2. Activated Charcoal keeps cholesterol and lipid metabolism under proper
control.
3. The regular use of Activated Charcoal improves the adaptive functioning
of essential organs (the liver, kidneys, and adrenals). That translates into
better defense mechanisms.
NOTE: See Abstract below.
Microscopic tissue analysis shows that Activated Charcoal prevents many
cellular changes associated with aging-decreased protein synthesis, lower
RNA activity, atherosclerosis, and organ fibrosis. So the cumulative effects
from Activated Charcoal are longer life and improved overall health. The
recommended protocol for anti-aging and life extension benefits is the same
as for general detoxification.
REDUCING CHOLESTEROL AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
You can help your heart and circulatory system by taking Activated
Charcoal. Activated Charcoal lowers the concentration of total lipids,
cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood serum, liver, heart and brain. In
one study that was reported in the British journal Lancet on patients with
high cholesterol, 8 gm.. of Activated Charcoal taken three times a day
lowered total cholesterol 25%, lowered LDL cholesterol 41% and doubled
their HDL/LDL (high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol
ratio. Microscopic tissue examination studies have shown that a daily dose
of Activated Charcoal may prevent sclerotic changes in the heart and
coronary blood vessels.
To help your heart and blood vessels, I suggest the following: 12-17 grams of
Activated Charcoal twice a day for 1 month under the guidance of a
physician who can measure cardiovascular improvements and cholesterol
levels.
COUNTERACTING PATHOGENS
Activated Charcoal reduces the activity of some viruses. So if you catch a
cold or the flu, try Activated Charcoal. You may suffer less and heal faster.
Activated Charcoal also prevents the poisonous activity of many harmful
bacteria in the human body by adsorbing the toxins and enzymes that they
generate. Studies have shown that Activated Charcoal is an effective
treatment for dysentery, cholera, and many infectious conditions of the
digestive tract.
SYSTEMIC CANDIDIASIS
Activated Charcoal can be an effective adjunct to any regimen for the
treatment of systemic Candida albicans infections.
1. Activated Charcoal adsorbs much of the toxins that Candida produces that
otherwise would be absorbed by the blood and carried throughout the body.
These toxins produce pathological changes in tissues and organs and
interfere with proper immune function. Candida toxins cause allergic
reactions and are responsible for the debilitating symptoms of Candidiasis.
2. Activated Charcoal suppresses the growth of intestinal-based yeasts.
3. Activated Charcoal counteracts the Herxheimer reaction - a severe, short-
term exacerbation of Candida symptoms caused by the copious amount of
toxins produced by dying yeast cells as a result of a successful treatment.
The Herxheimer reaction is often so unpleasant that patients abandon
treatment before completion. Activated Charcoal is one method for
alleviating the symptoms of yeast die-off so people can continue their
treatment and not suffer.
I suggest 20-35 grams of Activated Charcoal a day in divided dosages on an
empty stomach until the problem is eliminated. The larger amount is taken
for more severe situations.
Again, a reminder: do NOT take required medications within 2 hours of
taking Activated Charcoal.
INTESTINAL COMPLAINTS
Activated Charcoal has been used by physicians since the last century to
treat various intestinal complaints. Abdominal distension (bloating) and
flatulence respond favorably to treatment with Activated Charcoal. Diarrhea
caused by food poisoning, bacteria, nervousness and other factors is
usually alleviated by taking Activated Charcoal. Some physicians have used
Activated Charcoal to stop bleeding from ulcerative colitis and calm spastic
colons.
Activated Charcoal is the best intestinal deodorant available. Taking
Activated Charcoal counteracts decomposition products from food (such as
beans) that cause flatulence and diarrhea. Individuals with malodorous
stools should reach for Activated Charcoal capsules. Travelers to foreign
countries would be wise to pack Activated Charcoal. In my opinion,
Activated Charcoal is the most practical way to effectively counteract food
poisoning.
To alleviate intestinal disorders with Activated Charcoal, I recommend the
following: as an antidote for food poisoning, take 4-12 grams of Activated
Charcoal 3 times daily; for other intestinal complaints, take 4-10 grams of
Activated Charcoal twice daily.
CHARCOAL IS SAFE
Toxicology studies have proven that Activated Charcoal is basically
harmless. Ingesting high dosages does not interfere with sleep, appetite or
well being - or cause major problems. There are several undesirable effects
of using Activated Charcoal that can be avoided by complying with the
following directions.
Activated Charcoal is highly adsorbent; when it is ingested at the same time
as medication, supplements and foods it may decrease their absorption and
utilization. Therefore, always allow 2 hours before and wait 2 hours after
using Activated Charcoal to eat, take supplements or swallow medication.
Activated Charcoal has a natural tendency to cause constipation. That can
be counteracted by taking small amounts of Cascara sagrada bark, a mild
herbal laxative, with the Activated Charcoal.
Finally Activated Charcoal harmlessly blackens your stools. Although black-
gray stools look strange, they can be used to calculate your bowel transit
time. Just measure the length of time from taking Activated Charcoal to the
appearance of darkened stools.
NOT ALL CHARCOAL IS ALIKE
Numerous companies manufacture Activated Charcoals, each of which can
have different adsorptive capacities. Different source materials and
manufacturing procedures give each brand of Activated Charcoal it's own
pore diameters and internal volume that determine its adsorption capacity.
The U.S.P. (United States Pharmacopoeia) standard for Activated Charcoal
specifies an internal surface area of 1000 m2/g (square meters per gram).
Recently, several companies have begun manufacturing Super Activated
Charcoals, with up to 3 times the internal surface area per gram and far
greater adsorption power than standard Activated Charcoal. For example,
Super Char (available from Gulf Western) has an internal surface area of
3000 m2/g. Actidose Aqua (Paddock) has a surface area of 1600 m2/g. In this
article, all the recommended dosages for Activated Charcoal are based on
the standard of 1000 m2/g. If you can obtain a Super Activated Charcoal, use
proportionately less.
POWDERS, CAPSULES, TABLETS
I prefer capsules because they are convenient and non-messy. Activated
Charcoal tablets are not effective - they take too long to disintegrate and
release the Activated Charcoal. Activated Charcoal powder is the best way to
quickly ingest a large dose, but unfortunately it is messy, tastes like a
Charcoal briquette, and blackens your teeth, gums and tongue.
IDEAL CHARCOAL PREPARATION
I have developed a special Activated Charcoal preparation called Absorb for
the Age Reduction Corporation. Absorb contains a Super-Adsorption
Activated Charcoal, a small amount of the herb Cascara sagrada (to
counteract Charcoal-induced constipation), and 13 primary Homeopathic
cleansing remedies. Absorb is encapsulated in oversized capsules, for rapid
disintegration and so fewer capsules are required than with other Activated
Charcoal capsules.
NOTE: Absorb is NOT available anymore.
Abstract:
"The effect of repeated courses of enterosorption upon the mean and
maximal lifespan and some functional and metabolic indices was determined
in 28-month old Wistar rats. Significant increase of mean and maximal
lifespan of old rats was noted at certain regimens of enterosorption. The
experimental animals demonstrated less marked age-related structural and
ultrastructural changes in the liver, kidneys, myocardium, intestines,
pancreas, as compared with control animals. Enterosorption leads to a
reduction of pentobarbital-induced sleep, decrease of content of cytochrome
P-450, blood cholesterol and triglyglycerides, cardiac and cerebral tissue
cholesterol, total lipids, liver cholesterol and triglycerides. Enterosorption
was found to increase the RNA and protein biosynthesis in the liver, kidneys
and adrenals of old animals."
*And Last Paragraph:
"Thus, the data presented suggests that the enterosorption has a potent
effect upon an aging organism. This notion can be supported by the
enterosorption-induced changes in lifespan prolongation, structural and
ultrastructural changes, shifts in protein, and RNA biosynthesis and in lipid
metabolism, in the content of microsomal enzymes, and so forth. This work
substantiates the need for a further search for regimens of enterosorption,
and combination of it with other effects, aimed at lifespan prolongation.
Currently, the question remains whether the described enterosorption
effects are related with the sorption of the known or suppsosed metabolites,
or with the changes in the content of some physiologically active substances
and subsequent regulatory transformations, or with both. The main thing is
the experiments with enterosorption persuade that altering the humoral
environment of an organism may affect the rate of aging, the biological age
of animals, and thus their lifespan."