Activated Charcoal powder

Activated charcoal can bind to toxins through a process known as adsorption, where the surface of one particle sticks to another. This is different from absorption, where one substance mixes into another (like when rice or pasta soaks up water during cooking).

Here’s an example of how activated charcoal works:

If you or your child accidentally swallowed too much medicine, a doctor or nurse in the emergency room might give you water mixed with activated charcoal. The main goal is to “adsorb” the toxins before your stomach can absorb them. Because when the chemicals cling to the charcoal, they can’t go through your gut to the rest of your body.

In some cases, repeated doses of activated charcoal can also speed up your body’s ability to get rid of certain drugs even after you absorb them.