activated charcoal

While charcoal has been used since ancient times for poisonings, activated charcoal has been used since the 1900s. For those who don’t know, activated charcoal is a medication used to treat poisonings that occurred by mouth such as phenobarbital and carbamazepine. It does not, however, work for poisonings by cyanide, corrosive agents, iron, lithium, alcohols, or malathion. As a matter of fact, activated charcoal has a variety of proposed benefits, ranging from lowering cholesterol to whitening teeth and curing hangovers. Basically, it works by trapping toxins and chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption. Fortunately, the charcoal's porous texture has a negative electrical charge, which causes it to attract positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases. This, of course, helps it trap toxins and chemicals in the gut. In order to make activated charcoal effective, it should be used within a short time of the poisoning occurring. Remember to get emergency medical help if you have any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.