Charcoal has been used for years as a medicinal tool. It is known for its ability to absorb toxins and gases.

One of the most beneficial remedies is pulverized charcoal placed in a bag and used in fomentations. This is a most successful remedy. If wet in Smartweed tea, it is still better. I have ordered this in cases where persons were suffering great pain, and when the physician has confided to me that he thought life was about to close. Then I suggested charcoal and the patient slept; the turning point came, and recovery was the result. For bruised hands with inflammation, I have prescribed this simple remedy, with perfect success. The poison of inflammation is overcome, the pain removed, and healing goes on rapidly. The most severe inflammation of the eyes is relieved by a poultice of charcoal, put in a bag and dipped in water, hot or cold as will best suit the case (E.G. White, Manuscript 62, 1897).

20^th-Century Charcoal Case Studies

In 1972, it was reported that 20-50 grams of activated charcoal per day relieved uremic patients of oral fetor (odor or stench), anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Up to twenty months of treatments produced no ill side effects.

Conditions that have been treated by charcoal are eczema, intestinal gas, accidental poisoning and overdoses, nervous diarrhea, malodorous stools, jaundice of the newborn, infection after criminal abortion, deodorizer and healer for infected wounds, and cancer.

In 1909, Sticker reported that rapidly growing round-celled sarcomas in dogs were completely stopped from growth by the application of charcoal. In 1937, Papantonakis reported simple, rapid, and successful therapy of Leishmaniasis (a dermal sore) by painting the lesions with a ten percent mixture of vegetable charcoal.

Charcoal as a Poultice

A charcoal poultice is a charcoal-water mixture of soft composition, usually heated and spread on cloth, and applied to tender, inflamed parts of the body.

Charcoal has an adsorptive effect because of the large surface area of individual grains, with their crevices and pores. Charcoal can adsorb many times its own weight in poisons, gases, and chemicals.

Indications and Contraindications

Charcoal poultice treatment can help with the following health problems: Inflammation, insect bites, mastitis, cellulites, phlebitis, pharyngitis, hepatitis, gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcers Bad breath Internal and external infections, certain types of skin problems, eye infections, eczema, poison ivy, staph infections, infected cuts oar lacerations, and herpes simples Accidental poisoning or overdoses Gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, gas

Procedure

Equipment

• Powdered charcoal, one tablespoon or more
• Warm water, about one cup
• Deep container (size depends on size of poultice to be made) and spoon
• Three tablespoons flaxseed or two tablespoon cornstarch
• Clean muslin sheeting or paper towel
• Ace or roller bandage
• Plastic sheet
• Pins or tape

Treatment

1. Assemble equipment
2. Boil water with flaxseed for about 2-3 minutes
3. Remove from heat and add charcoal
4. Apply charcoal paste to a paper towel or muslin quickly to prevent cooling
5. Spread out to desired size and fold
6. Place poultice on area to be treated with the single thickness of cloth next to the skin.
7. Cover the body part and poultice with plastic
8. Wrap with bandage and secure in place, leaving overnight
9. The next morning, remove poultice, being careful to not spill charcoal crumbs
10. Repeat with fresh poultice if needed, allowing one hour between poultices

Charcoal Recipes

Slurry Water

One tablespoon pulverized charcoal mixed in four cups of water. Allow to... settle, then pour off the clear water (slurry water) at the top. This may be drunk freely.

Charcoal and Flaxseed

Three tablespoons of flaxseed (ground in blender or mill), one tablespoon charcoal, one cup of water. Mix and bring to a boil to thicken. Use as a poultice.

Charcoal and Smartweed:

Put a small handful of smartweed leaves in a blender with ¼ to ½ cup of water and chop coarsely. Pour this into a cup with one tablespoon of charcoal; mix and use as a poultice.