Why Keep Activated Charcoal?

The average person thinks of charcoal briquettes manufactured for use in barbecue grills when asked if charcoal is in the home. Those briquettes have chemical additives that help them hold their shape and burn evenly. . . NOT something useful for filtration, purification or medicinal purposes!

In contrast, Activated Charcoal is used widely in hospitals, clinics rural and urban settings. Because of it's versatility and availability, charcoal is an invaluable substance to have on hand for daily remedies and for disaster preparedness. [http://www.charcoalremedies.com/why_charcoal]

For more than 3,000 years Activated Charcoal has been used without adverse side effects.

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Whether you are living within easy access
of the technological advances of North America,
or hiking the trails of some developing country,
charcoal is just as modern as it was four thousand years ago,
just as universal, just as versatile, and just as powerful.
In a world being poisoned by its own near-sighted wisdom,
God the Creator has provided man with a microscopic black hole
big enough to swallow much of what ails us.
(~John Dinsley)
[http://www.charcoalremedies.com/science]

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How is this black powder used? When taken by mouth, Activated Charcoal can keep poisons from being digested and help them pass through the body without being absorbed. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon] Topically, a poultice of this powder can help relieve skin irritations, infections, abscesses and gangrene. It is a deodorant and purifier of water, air and food. [http://www.charcoalremedies.com/why_charcoal]

What is Activated Charcoal and how does it work?

Activated Charcoal is made from coal. Coal is made by removing water and other impurities from organic matter (usually wood) by slow heating without oxygen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal] One method of producing Activated Charcoal is by heating charcoal in the absence of oxygen to temperatures of at least 482 degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees Celsius). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_charcoal]

When viewed under a microscope, the surface of Activated Charcoal is seen to contain many tiny pockets. If laid out flat, the surface area of 1 teaspoon of this powder would equal that of a football field.[http://www.charcoalremedies.com/science] Those tiny pockets have the ability to trap toxins and poisons through adsorption. To adsorb something means that materials will stick to the surface of the activated charcoal and form a film. Because so many substances bond with activated charcoal, a few pellets or grains can go a long way. [http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-activated-charcoal.htm]

How to Make Charcoal
While most local pharmacies carry Activated Charcoal, it is also possible to make your own.

Click play to view video featuring Dr. Agatha Thrash speaking about recommended home remedies with activated charcoal. Learn how to make activated charcoal. Available free for personal use, recorded and distributed by owners of vegemedia.net with permission from producer 3ABN TV. 30 minutes.

You will need:

• Discarded grill lid or other heat-resistant cover
• Long-handled shovel
• Fire pit
• Cloth bag (an old pillow case will do)
• Hammer
• Old Junk Blender (one you won't be using in the kitchen again)
• Untreated hardwood, well seasoned and dry*
  * Old pallets work well for this application. They are very dry and unpainted. Businesses that deal in large shipments are often glad to be rid of them.
  

Break up your wood into pieces small enough to fit into your fire pit. Get your fire going well. When the coals are hot, use your shovel to flatten the mound of coals for more even burning. Cover them with the old top from a grill, or some other air-tight metal dome. Use your shovel to pile dirt around the bottom, creating an air-tight seal. Let the coals sit in their own heat. This will burn away any impurities and increase the porousness of the resulting coal. When the coals have cooled, remove them and place them into a cloth bag. Use the flat side of your hammer to pound the coals into peanut-sized chunks. Using your blender (outdoors!) grate these chunks into a fine powder, 2 cups at a time. This method can produce about 1 gallon of charcoal at a time. [http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/making_charcoal]

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This blog presents ideas and information designed to enrich the life of the reader. These articles are NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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