Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is commonly used in medical settings to treat potentially fatal poisonings or overdoses.

Its production involves heating ordinary charcoal in the presence of a gas, causing the charcoal to expand and form tiny pores on its surface. These pores increase the surface area of the charcoal, making it more effective at absorbing chemicals and toxins.

Benefits of activated charcoal to the body

Activated charcoal can be found in capsules, tablets, powders, and beauty products. Its use in the health area has many positive benefits, including:

• Treats poisoning and overdose
• Reduces gas and bloating
• It treats wounds and accelerates healing
• Speeds up the healing of diarrhea due to poisoning or bacterial infection
• It whitens the skin and promotes oral health
• Reduce body odor and prevent harmful microbes from entering the body

How to take activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is available in several forms, including capsules, tablets, and powder. Here's a guide on how to consume it:

Capsule or tablet

Activated charcoal capsules and tablets can be taken directly with water. To ensure proper nutrient absorption, capsules or tablets should be taken on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after a meal.

Powder

Activated charcoal powder can be mixed into water, juice, or other beverages. Before drinking, make sure to stir well. Drinking rules are the same as those for capsules or tablets: on an empty stomach.

Emergency use

Activated charcoal is most effective in emergency situations like poisoning or overdose when consumed within the first hour of the incident.

Additional drug-related consumption

If you are taking any other medications or supplements, take activated charcoal at least an hour later. If you take birth control pills, activated charcoal should be consumed 3–12 hours before or after the pills to ensure that their effectiveness is not compromised.

Dosage for taking activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is commonly packaged in capsules or tablets with doses ranging from 250 to 950 mg. There is no standard recommended dosage for regular use of activated charcoal supplements. You can use the instructions on the back of the package label.

Activated charcoal dosage is typically recommended based on age:

• Children aged 2 to 12 years 25–50 grams
• Children over the age of 12 and adults 50–100 grams

In an emergency situation, such as a poisoning or an overdose, there are two ways to administer activated charcoal dosage: by the amount of poison or body weight. If the amount of poison consumed is known, the dose of activated charcoal is given in a 10:1 ratio to the poison. If the amount of poison ingested is unknown, activated charcoal is typically administered at a rate of 1 gram per kilogram body weight.

When used properly, activated charcoal is extremely effective at treating poisoning and overdose. The recommended dosage for regular supplement use may vary. It is always best to consult your doctor before taking any supplement, including activated charcoal. In an emergency, the dose of activated charcoal can be adjusted based on the amount of poison consumed, body weight, or age of the affected person.

Have other questions related to active charcoal? You can make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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