5 Impressive Charcoal Uses That May Just Change Your Life
Updated: Mar. 21, 2021
We know the idea of using charcoal seems intimidating – don’t shy away just yet, there are a variety of activated charcoal uses for you to explore.
Detoxify with these activated charcoal uses
Charcoal? Yes, charcoal! This natural health and beauty ingredient may not seem so glamorous, although if used properly, it can have many benefits. Here are a few of our fave activated charcoal uses.
Charcoal lemonade: The new kale smoothie?
Did someone say, charcoal lemonade? Indeed, a lot of people are saying it. High-end juice companies are adding activated charcoal to their products because the charcoal can absorb toxins from the body and leave you feeling renewed. You’re probably wondering if this seemingly odd idea can actually help purify and energize. It can. Once you’re over the look of a bottle of black juice, you’re well on your way.
Relieve your stomach troubles
Stomach discomfort can throw off your day. Whether it’s gas pain, indigestion or a bloated belly, the symptoms are hard to ignore. As it turns out, there’s a little black tablet that may provide some relief – while it’s rising in popularity these days, it’s actually been around for longer than you may have thought.
Activated charcoal – which can be found in powder, liquid or pill form – is a natural substance used to absorb toxins from the body. In pill form, it’s a safe and easy to use home remedy for a wide variety of ailments or health issues.
Say buh-bye to teeth stains
Buying activated charcoal powder is probably the most economical way to do it. Because it weighs very little and goes a long way, buying it once should have you covered for quite a stretch. You can use the activated charcoal powder to remove plaque, whitening teeth in the process. It’s not pretty while you’re using it, but once the treatment is done, you’ll be glad you tried it.
To use activated charcoal for whiter teeth, you don’t need a special toothbrush, a regular one will do just fine. You might want to have a second toothbrush for this purpose, though, only because the activated charcoal may discolour the bristles on the brush.
Mix activated charcoal powder with water until it is a thick enough consistency that it will stay on your toothbrush (1 or 2 emptied capsules is likely what you’re looking at). Brush your teeth gently or even just dab the mixture onto your teeth. Wait 3 minutes before rinsing.
For a quicker route, add an emptied capsule of activated charcoal to a natural toothpaste of your choice and brush as usual. Rinse well after brushing.
An option that works without a toothbrush is to use equal parts water and powdered charcoal (about a teaspoon should do it) and mix. Swish the mixture in your mouth for a minute, then hold it in your mouth for about five more.
The activated charcoal is odourless and has almost no taste, but is gritty, so may be a bit of an adjustment to get used to. You can use this method daily to remove stains from teeth – but note that natural discolourations won’t go away with activated charcoal.
Cleanse those pores
Throughout the day, toxins from the world around us clog our pores. When your pores aren’t clear, neither is your complexion. Activated charcoal – when used in a face mask – binds to and helps pull the dirt out of your pores, making them less visible (it’s the oil and dirt that makes them appear bigger). This leaves your face feeling fresh. (Use it with an exfoliating scrub to get the dead skin off and experience an even deeper clean.)
Rid your hair of toxins
Activated charcoal, when used on your hair, can pull out oil, dirt and toxins – just like it does for your skin. You can find regular and dry shampoos that contain activated charcoal. If you have very light hair, you won’t want to use the dry shampoo, as it may stain. In any case, try a test patch before using it on all of your hair at once. If you want to try activated charcoal on your hair, but aren’t sure you want to buy a bottle of a pre-made product just yet, you can make your own as you go. Just empty a capsule or add a teaspoon of activated charcoal to your regular shampoo and use as you normally would.
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