Listen here:
Today, we are taking a new looking at Mother Nature’s Darkest Secret.
And, no, it has nothing to do with General Mkhwanazi or any Commission of Enquiry.
(Nor the inner workings of the MK Party.)
Activated charcoal (AC) has been around longer than the skincare industry. It has been around longer than wellness influencers. It has even been around longer than Cameroonian president Paul Biya and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put together. About 3,000 years longer, in fact. Ancient civilisations used it to filter water, treat wounds, and neutralise poisons long before modern medicine existed. Today, we use it for everything from digestive relief to reducing toxic load in the body and, yes, even whitening teeth.
This unassuming black powder has one superpower: it grabs onto toxins and refuses to let go. A bit like a politician and a tender.
Let’s dive into why AC deserves a spot in your natural medicine cabinet, how it works and how to use it without turning yourself into a dehydrated raisin.
What Makes AC “Activated” (And Why It Matters)
Before you get any wild ideas: No, you cannot munch the leftover charcoal from your Sunday braai and call it detox. AC is made by heating natural carbon sources – usually coconut shells or hardwood – in a low-oxygen environment. This process creates billions of microscopic pores in the coal, giving charcoal a massive surface area.
To put this into perspective:
Just 2 grams (~ 1 teaspoon) of AC = the surface area of a football field.
This incredible porosity makes AC cling to toxins through a process called adsorption (not absorption, which is what a sponge does to water). During adsorption, solid or fat-soluble substances stick to each other
Once charcoal traps toxins, the body can safely eliminate them via the bowels. AC is not absorbed into the blood.
Hospitals use AC as an emergency detox treatment in cases of overdose. If doctors trust it to bind poisons, it can handle whatever your gut throws at it.
1. Detox Support: Your Internal Trash Removal System
Every day, we’re exposed to herbicides (RoundUp, we’re looking at you) pesticides, plastics, household cleaners, sketchy air fresheners and food additives that belong on Dr Mengele’s lab shelves, not dinner plates. AC is the one-stop shop when it comes to binding and trapping these toxins.
AC can latch onto:
* Pesticides, herbicides and industrial pollutants
* Mould toxins and bacterial by-products
* Chlorine, fluoride and other impurities in drinking water
* Certain medications and chemical compounds
In laboratory studies, AC has been shown to reduce toxic load by about two-thirds when used correctly and consistently (link).
Fun fact
When a massive industrial benzene spill contaminated the Songhua River in China and threatened the drinking water of 10 million residents, the Chinese government used AC to filter the water.
Spoiler alert: it worked.
2. Digestive Support and Gas Relief (Because Bloating Isn’t a Personality Trait)
If your stomach has ever turned into a rock-hard balloon after eating the “wrong thing,’ AC might be your new BFF.
Inside your gut, AC binds to:
* Fermentation gases
* Candida and yeast toxins
* Parasites and harmful bacteria
* Chemicals that irritate the digestive tract
When used properly, it can help reduce:
* Bloating
* Gas
* Nausea
* Digestive discomfort
Hospitals call AC the “universal antidote” because of its ability to bind poisonous substances before the body absorbs them. And, unlike some harsh detoxes, it doesn’t disrupt the gut lining.
Just remember: AC works best when you drink enough water.
If you don’t, things slow down … dramatically.
3. Inflammation Control: Inside and Outside the Body
Toxins => Inflammation
The more toxins in your body, the higher the levels of inflammation. Fortunately, most toxins cycle from the blood to the gut and back to the blood again via a mechanism known as the “entero-hepatic cycle”. AC interrupts that cycle by sticking to toxins in the gut, preventing their re-absorption.
This phenomenon, known as back diffusion, is why AC is used both internally and topically (on skin).
Topical benefits include:
* Relief from bug bites (yes, including spider bites)
* Faster recovery from skin irritation
* Adsorption of toxins from rashes and environmental exposure
Internal benefits include:
* Reduced inflammatory reactions in the gut
* Less immune stress
* Lower systemic inflammation
Translation:
AC acts like a bouncer for your body, escorting unwanted chemicals out of circulation.
4. Cholesterol Support Without the Fear Tactics
Cholesterol fears are overblown. Having cholesterol isn’t the problem – oxidised cholesterol is more problematic.
AC supports cholesterol balance by binding to bile acids (which are made from old cholesterol). The body then pulls more “old” / oxidised cholesterol from the bloodstream to make new bile, which results in naturally lower LDL and VLDL levels.
A 1989 study (link) found that participants taking AC experienced:
* 41% reduction in LDL cholesterol
* 29% reduction total cholesterol
(Note: the participants took up to 32g of AC daily, which few of us mere mortals will attempt. However, even 4g a day has a measurable impact on blood cholesterol.)
Bonus: removing old bile also reduces oxidative stress in the gut and helps maintain a healthier microbiome. It may also help reduce the risk for bile stones, though no clinical data for this exists.
How to Use AC (Safely and Effectively)
AC is powerful, but because it binds to everything, you have to use it the right way.
Do This:
* Take AC on an empty stomach or 3 hours after eating. This enables maximum detox effects.
* Drink LOTS of water with your AC. This prevents constipation and helps flush toxins out the kidneys.
* Eat fibre with every meal. This keeps the bowels moving for better detox of fat-soluble toxins.
* Use AC short-term or intermittently. After all, it’s a detox tool, not a daily forever supplement.
Avoid This:
* Do not take AC with medication or supplements. It will bind to them and reduce their effectiveness.
* Do not use AC without hydration. Your rear end will regret it.
* Do not assume “more is better”. Start low and let your body adjust first.
Dosage
Recommended starting dose: 500–1000 mg / day
Higher doses only when guided by a wellness practitioner or for short-term detox events (e.g., food poisoning or accidental exposure to toxins). A typical food poisoning dose would be 1500 – 2000 mg at a time, repeated every couple of hours until the problem subsides.
When To Consult a Professional First
* Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
*Anyone on essential daily medication
* Anyone with chronic constipation or dehydration
Activated Charcoal is a tool, not a fashion trend.
Used strategically, it can transform how your body handles toxins.
Summary: Why AC Belongs in Your Wellness Toolkit
1. A powerful detoxifier
2. A gut health supporter
3. A natural inflammation reducer
4. A cholesterol-balancing aid
Always keep a bottle of Mother Nature’s Darkest Secret in the dark recesses of your medicine cabinet.
To your (enlightened) health!
The Team at Integrow Health
