What Is Activated Charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a type of charcoal that's processed to make it more porous. This porous texture is what distinguishes it from other types of charcoals, including the type used for barbecuing.

How Activated Charcoal Works

Activated charcoal's negatively charged, porous texture helps trap toxins, preventing your body from absorbing them.

Activated Charcoal – Emergency Poison Treatment

Activated charcoal can bind a variety of drugs and toxins, preventing their absorption into the body. It's often used as an anti-poison treatment or to treat drug overdoses.

Kidney Function

Activated charcoal may help improve kidney function by promoting the elimination of toxic waste products. This may be particularly useful in cases of kidney disease, but more studies are needed.

Cholesterol Levels

Activated charcoal seems to help reduce cholesterol levels. However, more recent studies may help strengthen this conclusion.

OTHER USES
Activated charcoal is also a popular home remedy with multiple uses. Its most well-known home uses include:

Gas reduction:

Some studies report that activated charcoal may help reduce gas production following a gas-producing meal. It may also help improve the odour of gas.

Water filtration:

Activated charcoal is a popular way to reduce heavy metal and fluoride content in water.

Tooth whitening:

Using activated charcoal to brush your teeth is anecdotally said to whiten them. It's said to do so by absorbing plaque and other teeth-staining compounds.

Hangover prevention:
 

Activated charcoal is sometimes used as a hangover cure.  

Skin treatment:  

Applying this charcoal to the skin is touted as an effective treatment for acne and insect or snake bites.