Mold Sickness: Will Activated Charcoal Help?

History of Activated Charcoal

The earliest known use for activated charcoal was recorded in 3750 B.C. It was during this period of earth’s history that Egyptian and Sumerian metallurgy was revolutionizing the metal works industry with the introduction of bronze—an alloy of tin, zinc, and copper dependent upon carbon, or activated charcoal, for the purpose of atomic oxygen-reduction and elemental extraction.

In that same period, known as the Bronze Age, Egyptians discovered another use for charcoal—as a preservative. When scorched-black wood was used for construction along the Nile river, it was later revealed that the wood did not rot, despite the high moisture content in the surrounding soil. Mold had already established itself among Mesopotamian civilizations as quite the formidable foe. The only course of action of that time was to burn any material affected by mold—including entire homes. Thus, it was quite profitable to the Egyptians to discover an anti-microbial method by which they could protect their residential and watercraft building materials.

Because of its source-diversity (meaning: it can be produced from a great variety of raw, carbonaceous materials, such as bituminous and sub-bituminous coal, lignite coal, bamboo, coconut husks, and wood—among other cellulosic materials), multiple uses for activated charcoal were discovered over time by even the most primitive of civilizations. For millennia, it was used as a water filtration method, a blood purifier, an emergency toxin removal, and a cure for the common hangover. By the twentieth century, it was engineered into powder form and commercialized for the purpose of decolorizing sugar and improving the taste and odor of city and well water. During the first World War, the efficacy of military gas masks was contingent upon activated carbon granules for protective air purification.

Today, the various uses and benefits of activated charcoal have far surpassed the imaginations of the Bronze Age woodworker. Currently, this special carbon is employed in a wide range of applications, such as a teeth whitener, an anti-aging ingredient, an aid against bloating, gas, and even high cholesterol, and a potent ministration in the treatment of mold sickness.

How Activated Charcoal Works

The “activation” of the charcoal involves a treatment of oxygen, which causes tiny holes all throughout the carbon. These highly-porous features result in a significantly large surface area of 300–2,000 m2/g, which makes the now-activated charcoal more permeable to chemicals and organic particles in either liquid or gas form. The exposed carbon interacts with these particulars and binds to them, thus reducing or obliterating completely, the risk of toxic absorption into the body.

Activated Charcoal vs. Mold

There are many who have claimed activated charcoal aids or cures fungal overgrowth in the body. This is only partially true. What is often misunderstood is that, when it comes to mold or yeast, this charred carbon is best suited only for the absorption of fungi’s secondary metabolites. What this means is that activated charcoal will not remove or kill the mold. This extraordinarily absorbent property does, however, bind itself to mold’s mycotoxins—the very cause of symptomatic discomforts throughout the body.

If the debilitating symptoms can be controlled or hindered, then the body’s natural inflammatory response will work more efficiently and any other supplementary or dietary aid, such as Mycozil or a candida cleanse, will be more effective and possibly have quicker results.

Usage Suggestions

If you decide to begin a regimen of activated charcoal use, please be mindful that activated charcoal has the potential to bind itself to some nutrients and minerals in the food you eat, as well as to any medication or supplement. The best solution is to take activated charcoal—

—Just before sleep; 1 hour or more after the last meal or intake of medicine/supplements
—Upon waking; 1 hour or more before the first meal or intake of medicine/supplements
—Any time during the day; Allowing enough time between the intake of food/medicine/supplements

For first-time exposure or daily work-environment exposure to mold or yeast, consider taking activated charcoal before symptoms arise or on a regular basis—before, during, and after possible exposure times—if daily work-related exposure is imminent. This is especially important for farmers.

Drink plenty of water throughout each day and be patient for results. Remember, this is not to remove or kill mold, but to hinder the painful and devastating effects of mold’s mycotoxins on the body.

For more information regarding mold, mold prevention, and mold solutions, please check out the rest of MoldBlogger.com.

 

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mold-related condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this or any other website.

 

Related Articles

The Effects of Mycotoxins
Occupational Respiratory Diseases: The Farmer, His Lungs, and Mold

 

About the Author: TheWife is the mother and personal chef of two boys, the domestic technician of a three-bedroom desert home, and occasionally, a freelance writer and editor. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @TheWifesLife