āAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.ā ā Benjamin Franklin
Whenever I feel leg cramps creeping in…
Whenever acid reflux tries to ruin my day…
Or whenever I feel that scratchy throat that whispers, āA cold is coming…ā
I reach for my secret weapon.
Itās small. Itās simple. Itās a tiny black capsule filled with… activated charcoal.
And I swearāit stops those things in their tracks.
As with all of these tips, this is my personal opinion of what works for me. I’m not a doctor, so check with your medical professional on anything I say here.
šŖ Why I Started Using Activated Charcoal
This isnāt some trendy health hack. This is a time-tested, natural tool thatās been around for thousands of years.
I first tried activated charcoal years ago when someone told me, āItās what hospitals use for poisoning.ā I figured, āIf it can pull poisons out… what else can it do?ā
Turns out, it helps me with:
- š„ Leg cramps
- š„ Acid reflux
- š¤§ That first tickle of a cold
It doesnāt fix everything. But it feels like a cure-all for a some things.
š§ How It Works (The Simple Science)
Activated charcoal is basically burnt plant matterācoconut shells, bamboo, or woodāturned into a super-porous black powder.
- 50 mg of activated charcoal can adsorb roughly 5 to 50 times its weight in various toxins, gases, or impurities, depending on what itās binding to.
āļø Example Estimates:
- Gases (like hydrogen sulfide, methane, etc.):
Up to 25ā50 times its weight.
ā 50 mg can hold 1.25 to 2.5 grams of gas. - Toxins and impurities in water (like chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals):
Typically 10ā30 times its weight.
ā 50 mg absorbs 500 mg to 1.5 grams of impurities. - Organic chemicals (e.g., gases, toxins, micro-particles alcohols, some bacteria):
Variable but often around 5ā20 times its weight.
ā 50 mg can hold 250 mg to 1 gram depending on the molecule.
Think of it like a tiny sponge made of millions of holes. It grabs onto toxins, gases, and junk in your gut before they get absorbed into your body.
āļø It doesnāt go into your bloodstream.
āļø It traps the bad stuff… and flushes it out.
Simple. Powerful. Natural.
āļø The Surprising Things It Helps Me With
š¤¢ Acid Reflux Relief
- Charcoal absorbs the gas and bile that fuel reflux.
- My heartburn fades fast when I take it.
- I open the capsule and swallow it after mixing it with saliva. In the stomach it settles the problem at its source.
š¦µ Leg Cramp Defense
- Not magic, but it helps. When gas or gut issues are triggering tension, charcoal calms things down.
- Cramps back off.
- For this situation, firstly I open the capsule and swallow it after mixing it with saliva. If that doesn’t handle it within 30 minutes, I swallow an unopened capsule as well. I’ve never had to take a third one.
š¤§ Fighting Off Colds (Or Trying To)
- I pop some the second I feel a cold creeping in.
- Does it kill viruses? Nope. But it seems to help mop up the junk my bodyās trying to fight.
- I open the capsule and mixing it with saliva. I then lay on my back and slowly, one small swallow at a time, direct the mixture over whatever part of my throat is hurting. The relief is instant as it encapsulates whatever is attacking me. I haven’t had a flu or cold continue past this handling in the last three years!
šØ Gas & Bloating Relief
- Itās the best for this. Hands down.
- Same as for Acid Reflux Relief.
š Food Poisoning Saver
- If something dodgy hits my stomachācharcoal to the rescue.
- Same as for Leg Cramp Defense.
š¦· Teeth Whitening Bonus (Topical)
- Not health, but heyānice smile! š
- I dip my toothbrush in a small pot of activated charcoal once I’ve added the toothpaste, then I brush me teeth as normal. I only do this once a week, but I’ve already noticed whiter teeth in this first month. It can get pretty messy, so allow more time on the day you choose to do this. I do it on a weekend day, so I’m not under the added pressure, to rush to work.
There are a lot more things to do with activated charcoal, such as poultices and such, but these are the five I’ve tried so far. And when I need it, it’s amazing how this little capsule handles stuff that would hurt me a lot more than without it.
āļø Pros & Cons (Letās Be Real About It)
| ā Pros | ā ļø Cons |
|---|---|
| Natural detoxifier | Can block meds & supplements if taken together |
| Calms gas, reflux, bloat | Can cause constipation |
| Inexpensive & widely available | Overuse may deplete nutrients |
| Emergency use in hospitals | Not a cure for colds or crampsājust support |
| Feels like a reset for my body | Needs lots of water to avoid digestive slowdown |
š© How I Use It Safely
- š When: Only when needed. Not daily.
- š¢ Dose: Usually 500ā1,000 mg (check your label).
- ā° Timing: Take it 2 hours away from meds, supplements, or food you want to absorbāit grabs everything!
- š° Water: Drink lots. Prevent constipation.
- ā ļø Check with your doctor if pregnant, nursing, on lots of meds, or have serious health conditions. Check anyway!
š” What The Experts Say
Doctors agree:
- š„ Charcoal saves lives in poisoning cases. This is what they use it for in hospitals anyway.
- āļø Itās great for gas and bloating.
- ā For cramps, reflux, and viruses? The science isnāt solidābut anecdotal users like me love it.
(Sources: Healthline, Mayo Clinic, WebMD)
š„ My Rule:
Itās not magic. Itās maintenance. I donāt rely on it every day. But itās part of my personal toolkit, just like:
- š„© A nutrient-dense diet (Carnivore for me)
- š¶āāļø Daily movement
- š“ Good sleep
- š§ Hydration
- šæ A weekly deep clean
- āØ And yes… activated charcoal when my body says, āHey buddy, I need a hand.ā
š„ Big Takeaway:
Activated charcoal isnāt a cure. But for me, itās a lifesaver in those little momentsāwhen reflux flares, cramps hit, or sickness knocks. Used wisely, itās one of the simplest health hacks Iāve ever found.
š Your Turn:
Got gas, reflux, cramps, or that funky feeling starting? Or just a bad feeling stomach? Try activated charcoal the smart way. It might just become one of your favorite health tools too.
š And donāt forgetācheck back tomorrow. Iāve got another health trick coming thatās made my 60s feel like my 40s… or better!
See You Tomorrow! š
Warmly,
Paul
