Activated charcoal may help combat chronic kidney disease

(NaturalHealth365)  The kidneys are truly astonishing in their capabilities.  In their mission to screen out and neutralize waste and toxins, these hard-working organs are capable of filtering all the blood in your body – every 30 minutes.  However, when chronic kidney disease, or CKD, occurs, it can impair this vital function and cause a buildup of toxic waste products in the blood.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in seven American adults now has CKD.

New research highlights the benefits of activated charcoal for CKD.  This finely ground black powder has been used since ancient times for its purifying qualities.  In fact, its detoxifying powers are so profound that it is used medicinally to treat poisoning and overdose.  Now, a new study has confirmed that it lowers levels of waste products in the blood and helps protect against the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Activated charcoal helps neutralize toxins in patients with kidney disease

When you think of “charcoal,” you may visualize the briquettes used in a backyard grill.  But activated charcoal is a “different animal” entirely.  Unlike briquettes – which contain harmful toxins – activated charcoal has been treated with oxygen at high temperatures, causing it to be more porous and absorbent.  This process gives activated charcoal its “superpower” – the ability to filter impurities by binding to them, thereby allowing them to be flushed from the body.

In a randomized controlled trial published in 2023 in the Journal of Medical Life, researchers evaluated the effects of activated charcoal on patients with end-stage renal disease.  The participants, who were all on regular hemodialysis, were divided into two groups.  One group received oral supplementation with activated charcoal – in addition to standard care for chronic kidney disease – and the other group received standard care only.  After eight weeks of treatment, the supplemented group had substantially lower blood levels of uremic toxins, including urea and phosphorus.

Support healthy cholesterol levels naturally

Activated charcoal has long been believed to lower LDL cholesterol.  Many integrative healthcare providers maintain that it binds to cholesterol and cholesterol-laden bile acids in the gut, thereby preventing absorption into the blood.  In one older but still influential study conducted in the mid-1980s and published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet, patients with high cholesterol levels were given 24 grams of activated charcoal a day for four weeks.

The results were impressive.  Activated charcoal lowered LDL cholesterol by a hefty 41 percent while raising levels of HDL cholesterol by 8 percent.  It appeared to be safe and well tolerated, with researchers deeming the side effects “negligible.”  Clearly, new studies are needed to further explore activated charcoal’s benefits.

“Fine-tune” digestion and find relief from flatulence and bloating

Activated charcoal excels at trapping and binding to gases in the gut, making it a useful ally for those struggling with embarrassing flatulence or uncomfortable bloating.  Studies suggest that it may be particularly useful when given to patients before ultrasound procedures.  In one surprising 2012 study published in the Journal of Ultrasound, participants were given 448 mg of activated charcoal three times a day for two days before having intestinal ultrasounds – in addition to 672 mg the morning of the exam.  The researchers noted that this supplementation improved the ability of examiners to see certain parts of internal organs – some of which would otherwise have been obscured by gas.

Other research supports the ability of activated charcoal to benefit digestion and gastrointestinal function.  In one study, participants with excessive intestinal gas experienced reductions in abdominal pain after taking a combination of activated charcoal and simethicone for ten days.  Some holistic healthcare providers also advise taking it to ease diarrhea.

Reduce absorption of dangerous drugs and poisons

Even conventional (non-holistic) groups see a value in using activated charcoal.  For example, the World Health Organization has approved activated charcoal as an emergency treatment for overdoses and poisonings and can be potentially lifesaving – especially if given in the first hour after ingestion.

Research has shown that taking it within five minutes of ingestion of the drug or toxin can reduce absorption by almost 75 percent.  It is believed to be particularly effective in treating overdoses of aspirin, acetaminophen, and sedatives.

Important: Never administer activated charcoal yourself to treat suspected overdoses and poisonings.  It must be given on a case-by-case basis by qualified medical health professionals.  If you believe an overdose or poisoning has occurred, call 911 at once.

Activated charcoal is available in capsule and powder form.  Consult your trusted holistic doctor before supplementing.

Sometimes, the best treatments really are the simplest – and gentlest.  Activated charcoal’s ability to purify blood naturally and facilitate the elimination of toxins means that it works “with” the body, not against it.  As a final word of caution, be sure to always stay well hydrated as you consider any method of detoxification.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
Healthline.com
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
MedicalNewsToday.com
CDC.gov

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