Four Incredible Ways To Use Activated Charcoal

My love for activated charcoal does not stop! Healing and detoxing are just the beginning of how you can use this trendy ingredient. It doesn’t only draw bacteria, oil and toxins out of your body, but also makes pores smaller and cleaner! And today, I want to tell you about four other amazing uses for activated charcoals.

1. Whitens teeth

I know the thought of putting black charcoal in your mouth doesn’t look appealing. And, it certainly doesn’t look like a remedy for whitening teeth… Activated charcoal can chemically attract those tea, coffee and wine stains away from the enamel of your teeth.

How to use it: Open up a capsule or two of activated charcoal and place into a cup. Add a tablespoon of water to form a paste. Then, use your finger or a small brush to dab the paste onto your teeth. You shouldn’t scrub the paste. Leave it on for two or three minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat daily.

2. Treatment for acne and breakouts

When you think of a hot, sweaty day with extra sunscreen usage, you know that spells “break outs” in capital letters. For this, you need a simple face mask with clay and charcoal to help absorb excess oil and clear out clogged pores. The mask will also calm irritated skin while whisking away impurities and dead skin cells.

How to use it: Mix a tablespoon of each bentonite clay and activated charcoal. Then, add in a few drops of apple cider vinegar to form a paste. With clean fingers, spread the mixture over your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, rinse with cool water, apply your regular moisturiser, and voila! Clear, beautiful skin.

3. To cure bloating

I’m sure you’ve seen this ingredient pop up more and more in juice and smoothie recipes. Am I right? Anyway, there’s good reason behind it! Activated charcoal is a well-known remedy for absorbing toxins in the stomach. It also does wonder for gas and bloat. Heavy foods seem to especially weight your tummy down in the summer. When I wake up feeling groggy and, well, just gross, I add two activated charcoal capsules to my morning smoothies.

How to use it: My go-to smoothie is a blend of 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1/4 avocado and a handful of kale. Add in 1 to 2 charcoal capsules as needed. If you take any prescription medication, have a chat with your doctor to make sure the charcoal won’t interfere with the absorption of your meds.

4. Soothe and heal cuts, bites and skin irritations

Whether you had a cut from the kitchen or were stung by a bee, this can end up infected. Activated charcoal helps relieve the symptoms and speed the healing. For minor skin ailments such as insect bites, cuts, stings, scrapes and minor infections, you can apply activated charcoal topically. The activated charcoal, when applied as a paste, can help absorb infection and venom. It will also reduces swelling and lessen pain.

How to use it: Slowly add water to a bit of activated charcoal powder and mix until it is a spreadable consistency and apply to infected area.