Fancy charcoal for detox?

Charcoal is always been associated with mining, industrial purposes, barbequing food to paintings. But did you know that charcoal is also allegedly used to detox naturally, relieve digestive problems, alleviate skin ailments, body odour and bad breadth too? The charcoal in question here is activated charcoal, which is similar to common charcoal, but is made especially for use as a medicine. (Do not attempt using common charcoal!) Activated charcoal is prepared by heating common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop pores, and these pores help activated charcoal trap chemicals. We spoke to experts on how useful activated charcoal supplements can be.

Uses
Activated charcoal is used to treat certain types of poisoning cases, removing harmful compounds – toxins from the body, reducing intestinal gas or flatulence, prevent hangovers and treat bile flow problems during pregnancy. It is also used to lower cholesterol, coronary disease and arteriosclerosis. It can counteract certain germs and current research suggests that it helps extend life and ease common age-related problems. In recent days activated charcoal is being used in complete detoxification of the body, says health consultant Dr Parul R Sheth.

"Very few studies shows that it helps to reduce gas and cholesterol. Few researches suggest that certain drugs containing activated form of carbon may be used in treatment of cancer like advance pancreatic cancer. We feel that further more research is required in order to understand the efficiency of activated carbon in therapeutic treatment," says nutritionist, fitness consultant and founder of Selfcare, Suman Agarwal.

Does it help to detox?
"Taking activated carbon is like swallowing a spoonful of odourless, tasteless form of ash that adsorbs and not absorbs, which means the activated charcoal does not soak up other substances but it holds substances in a thin film on its outside surface. The activated charcoal therefore is known to possess a detoxifying effect; flushing out the toxins stored in your body, opnines Dr Sheth.

"Activated carbon is available in tablet and powder form. Basically, it is activated charcoal. The only recommended use of activated charcoal is in certain poisonings especially drugs and flatulence. There is no medicinal property of activated charcoal except to adsorb (it works by binding i.e. adsorbing chemicals, thus reducing their toxicity). Hence, it is used in poisonings. Otherwise it has no digestive or detoxifying properties. But because it has anti-flatulent properties, people think it has digestive property," says Dr Anil Ballani, consultant physician, Hinduja and Lilavati Hospital.

Who shouldn't take them?
Only when you take it for a long time, you may suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting or constipation. If you have constipation and you are taking drugs for the problem, do not take activated charcoal, the combination can cause electrolyte imbalance. Also, if you are on certain medications such as tricyclic depressants, acetaminophen etc. it is best to avoid activated charcoal as a supplement, warns Dr Sheth.

Activated charcoal is safe. There's no harm taking it in small doses except that it can cause constipation and black stools. "People with reduced intestine mobility should avoid taking activated charcoal. I have come across few patients taking activated charcoal for gas and flatulence. I have used large doses of activated charcoal (50 to 100 gms) in acute poisoning cases. We do not use activated charcoal for poisonings with strong acids or alkalies because of the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Also, activated charcoal can be dangerous if it goes into the lungs. The only scientific use of activated charcoal is for extreme flatulence in small doses on regular use. Activated charcoal has no nutritional value and is not recommended for any deficiencies," says Dr Ballani.

"We would like to recommend activated charcoal, but only after researching further in detail. Individuals who have fructose intolerance, having obstruction in intestine should avoid consuming activated charcoal. It will not help in treating person who has swallowed a strong acid or alkali. It needs to be avoided by people taking certain medication like: syrup of ipeac and sorbitol," says Agarwal.

Do not self medicate
Though activated charcoal is usually safe and health experts suggest taking 20 to 30 grams of activated charcoal in powder form, mixed into a liquid, divided into doses throughout the day, it's best not to self-medicate. Do take a doctor's advice before taking it.