Activated Charcoal
Activated Charcoal Paste
Activated charcoal has a many uses. Some are for medical purposes. Hospitals rarely pump one’s stomach if they suspect poisoning because they treat the patient with activated charcoal. Other uses include treating stomach upset and other problems associated with the bowels.
I bought activated charcoal in capsule form when I was going through a seven day detoxification process. It supposedly absorbs the toxins so that they can be eliminated efficiently and effectively. Since then I have occasionally used activated charcoal if my stomach was upset.
Months ago I read an article in Beeyoutiful’s catalog about this form of charcoal. I was intrigued by the author’s successful use of charcoal in fighting off the infection of a brown recluse spider bite. After caring for herself, she also helped out a friend with the same problem. Activated charcoal in powder form was key in restoring their health.
Well a few weeks ago my husband noticed a spot on his hand was becoming infected. He does not know exactly when or how it happened. He gets cuts and scrapes all the time. At first, Lane cleaned it with soap and water. Then he cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial ointment. Lane is always suspicious of anything natural and/or homeopathic.
My husband's mysterious wound.
By looking at the photograph of his hand, you can tell that his hand was really infected. Whether he likes to admit it or not, it bothered him, too. I asked him if I could try making an activated charcoal paste. He relented, so I know he was getting desperate.
I opened a capsule and added a little water to the powder. I stirred it up. Then I applied the paste to the infected area. I covered it with a large bandage so that he did not have to worry about smearing the paste all over the house. After several hours, I removed the bandage and rinsed off the paste. All of the puss was gone. Instead, a small crater was in the skin.
Lane remarked how gross it looked. He also thought that the paste might have eaten away his skin. I told him that he was being ridiculous. The infection was gone and the paste just showed how deep the infection had gone. We doctored it one more time.
His hand has completely healed. There is just a little mark on his skin which shows where the injury or bite occurred. Now I am not a doctor or a nurse, but I do like to read about natural healing. This is our experience with activated charcoal. Beeyoutiful recommends a book called, Charcoal Remedies.com, by John Dinsley if you would like to read and research the subject thoroughly.
For myself, I know that activated charcoal capsules is one of many items that I will take with me while traveling, add to my first aid kit, etc. In my opinion, it is a necessity.
If you have an experience with activated charcoal or use it differently than I have shared here, please let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me directly to lndehaven@aol.com.
Hi Lara,
Thanks for the valuable information. I’ve often wondered about activated charcoal and bought some for my son to take to Haiti with him, but have never really researched it or tried it for anything except on the goats.
I wanted to add to your medicine chest…honey. Not knowing about charcoal, I would have put honey on the wound. I have had great success with it drawing out infection and foreign bodies. I wrote an article for BackHome Magazine (Sept/Oct ’09) about the history of the use of honey in wound healing. The research was fascinating. It can also be used on diabetic wounds (even gangrenous ones) with excellent results without effecting the person’s blood sugar.
Now, I will definitely be looking into the charcoal.
Have a great week,
Carol
We keep these around the house as well. I have never used it externally on a wound, but a lot for internal tummy upsets. Trevor is a firm believe that this will settle any issue going on with his tummy. We have never noticed it causing any sluggish GI reaction as I have read happens with others.
If you even fear food poisoning taking this is the first line of defense.
Much to my dismay….we have found several brown recluse in our house!!! Any ideas of how to get rid of these. My first thought is to be diatomaceous earth and sprinkle it through out the attic and then in the closets and on window sills. Any thoughts?
I looked in my book. He really only gives practical ways for killing spiders and not repelling them unless you want to hang pantyhose filled with cedar chips all over your house. I don’t think that will go with your motif.
To kill brown recluses naturally without getting too close, he suggests spraying them this mixture. One quart of water, one drop of tea tree oil, and 5 tbsp of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap. I usually use the heel of my shoe; it is pretty effective, too.
I don’t know if I gave you any good information, but brown recluses love wooded areas, woodpiles, and attics.
Lara
Laura,
I began working on preparedness supplies about a year ago. While I am much further, one area I am lacking in homeopathic medicines. I appreciate this and other information on great natural and homeopathic information that can be used any time, but especially in case of emergencies!
I like the cedar chips in pantyhose idea. This will work really well in the kids closets. Sadly, brown recluse like closets, paper, cardboard, and to hide under anything, even clothing.
We had an apartment when we lived in St. Louis that had a terrible infestation of them.
I have a healthy fear of these little buggers. Once you have seen one you never forget their look that is for sure. Craig always asks if I am sure it is a brown recluse. So after I kill it I show him the upside down fiddle…
I don’t mind bugs, I just do not want them in my house! I am also hopeful dusting the attic with diatomaceous earth may help as well.
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Laura,
Since I got sick with C-Diff (pseudeomembraneous collitis) an intestinal issue where the bad bacteria in your gut overpower the good, I’ve suffered off and on with skin infections. I recently got my worst one, just under my left ear. Remembering this article, I had purchased activated charcoal. I asked my MD about it. I have to admit he scoffed, but he told me that it couldn’t hurt me. It just arrived in the mail today. I’m looking forward to being able to use it tonight in hopes of ridding myself of this thing for once and for all. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Karen,
Please let me know how the charcoal works for you. Praying for healing.
Lara
Great, Perry, thanks.
Lara
Hello Lara!
Last week, my 5 year old son developed a large, oddly shaped scrape on his leg that had been slow to heal. It is in the worst possible location (constantly bumping into it when he’s playing, his socks creep up and rub the wound, etc). We continued to clean it with peroxide and treat it with antiobiotic ointment, but to no avail. It seemed that after play-time when he was especially sweaty, the wound would be pussy and the edges bright red. He also complained that he “could feel his heartbeat in the bobo.” I opened a capsule of activated charcoal and made a paste. After several hours, the wound was dry and after a few days (with repeated application) a nice scab developed and it is healing nicely. It has also decreased from its original size. What a great find! I’m now adding activated charcoal to my medicine cabinet permanently.
Thanks for sharing this tip. Last week when I was considering bringing him to the doctor, I remembered having this read this article. I so appreciate your blog. I get so many wonderful, useable ideas! We are beginning our very own homestead/homeschool journey, so it’s nice to have a resource.
Thanks again!
Danielle
Danielle,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I hope that it will be an encouragement to others. I am also very happy that your child’s wound healed.
Lara