Can anyone tell me a little about activated charcoal. I took some before a dental appointment and couldn't believe how quickly I recovered. Usually, it takes the whole day with me in bed even though he is a mercury free dentist.

This time, however, I took activated charcoal the day before and the morning of the dental appointment and was amazed. Can one continue to take it or is it something that you only take when you are planning to go to the dentist?

And do you know it's role in the chelating/detoxing process? I know that it isn't a chelator, but wonder how it supports the process. Any help is appreciated.

I found this link by a doctor on Charcoal and it's uses, I think you'll find this makes good reading. It seems good stuff to use

http://www.vrp.com/art/327.asp

Though it can interfere apparently with the absorption of some medications, so you have to be careful when you take it. Maybe you could take it a few days at a time, break and do it again? Just in case it interefers with some nutrient absorption also.

Other than that, it's harmelss and helpful.

Thank you, Bex. I'm glad that we can count on you on this forum to make the chelation process more understandable. That link was just what I was looking for. Great reading!

I knew that I felt better after taking it, but didn't understand why.

i took it for 1 week and felt great. Then I had terrible mercury symptoms and panic attacks. I don't know if the charcoal was causing this but I am not sure if it is good for long term use. Maybe it killed candida and i had a herxheimer reaction. I don't know. It took me 20 days to recover from this. I stopped taking it for that reason.

Algin is very absorbant too and seems to be safe for long term use.

Here's some info on Activated Charcoal that may help.

Activated Charcoal

I've mostly used it to prevent food poisoning. If I take it soon enough after having eaten something that starts to make my stomach feel upset, I can avoid the "fun" of being sick for 24-48 hours. It works like a charm <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Of course, I usually take Colloidal Silver also, to make sure any bacteria that doesn't get absorbed by the Activated Charcoal gets killed off by the Colloidal Silver.

My dentist also used Activated Charcoal (and chlorella powder) during my amalgam removal (he poured the mix under my tongue) as a preventative measure - if any amalgam particles or "dust" worked its way beneath the rubber dam, then the charcoal and chlorella would absorb it.

Personally, Activated Charcoal is something I think everyone should have on hand. Not only is it great for food poisoning, but hospitals use it if someone has a medication or drug overdose. You can even use it with animals, in the event you think they might have eaten something they shouldn't have.

Hope this helps!

Yes, everyone, it really did help. Thanks for replying.

The reason it may have caused problems, is if you have fast liver phase I (as I do), I think if I'm not mistaken, that charcoal can speed this up even more. This could account for the panic attacks etc. Fast liver phase I usually causes anxiety anyway, speed it even more (with toxins or certain supplements) and you'll really be in trouble.

this is interesting... what is a 'fast liver phase' ?