Activated charcoal cleanse

Activated charcoal cleanses, also known ascharcoal detoxes, are apseudoscientificuse of a provenmedical intervention. Activated charcoal is available in powder, tablet and liquid form. Its proponents claim the use of activated charcoal on a regular basis willdetoxifyand cleanse the body as well as boost one's energy and brighten theskin. Such claims violate basic principles ofchemistryandphysiology. There is no medicalevidencefor any health benefits of cleanses or detoxes via activated charcoal or any other method. Charcoal, wheningested, will absorbvitaminsandnutrientsas well asprescription medicationspresent in thegastrointestinal tractwhich can make it dangerous to use unless directed by amedical doctor.
Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon is commonly produced from high carbon source materials such as wood orcoconut husk.It is made by treating the source material with either a combination of heat and pressure, or with a strongacidorbasefollowed bycarbonizationto make it highlyporous.This gives it a very largesurface area for its volume, up to 3000 square metres pergram.It has a large number of industrial uses includingmethaneandhydrogenstorage,air purification,decaffeination,gold purification,metal extraction,water purification,medicine,sewage treatmentandair filtersingas masksandrespirators.
Activated charcoal is used to detoxify people, but only in life-threateningmedical emergenciessuch asoverdosesorpoisonings.As it is indigestible it will only work on poisons or medications still present in thestomachandintestines.Once these have beenabsorbedby the body the charcoal will no longer be able toadsorbthem so early intervention is desirable.Charcoal is not an effective treatment foralcohol,metalsorelementalpoisons such aslithiumorarsenicas it will onlyadsorbcertainchemicalsandmolecules.It is usually administered by anasogastric tubeinto the stomach as the thickslurryrequired for maximum adsorption is very difficult to swallow.
Activated charcoal, as used in cleanses or detoxes, became popular around 2014 after it was brought to mainstream attention byGwyneth Paltrow'sGoopcompany where it was described as "one of the best juice cleanses".Since then, it has become a popular additive to many different types of foods and drinks including juices,lemonades,coffee,pastries,ice cream,burgers,pizzasandpet food.TheCity of New Yorkhas banned activated charcoal in food products unless approval for their use is granted from theFDA.Activated charcoal, excluding products designed for emergency medical interventions, is available in manypharmacies,wellnessand health food stores intablet,capsuleandpowderforms.
Proponents of charcoal detoxes claim that it will cleanse the body by aiding in the removal of excess toxins that the body is unable to get rid of by itself.Other claims made include that the use of activated charcoal providesanti-ageingbenefits, will increaseenergy, brighten skin, decreasewindandbloatingand aid weight loss.It is also said to be an ideal product in skincare products for improving acne and scarring.
Scott Gavura ofScience Based Medicinewas highly critical of the use of activated charcoal in the wellness industry. In his 2015 article "Activated charcoal: The latest detox fad in an obsessive food culture", he said:
Sophie Medlin, a lecturer innutritionanddieteticsatKing's College in Londonsuggests avoiding the use of activated charcoal cleanses for a number of reasons:
Jay RaynerofThe Guardiancontacted a manufacturer of activated charcoal lemonade to ask about its detoxifying properties. He was told that they make no claims at all about the product. When he then asked how the product detoxes the body, he was told that he was confusing the term "detox" with the medical term "detoxification".
Carrie Dennett ofThe Seattle Timessaid of activated charcoal:
Charcoal is also used as an alternative to whitening products intoothpastes, but was found to not be as effective in whitening the teeth as regular products such ashydrogen peroxide.