The Benefits of Activated Charcoal Purification

Activated Charcoal Benefits & Purification

From facial cleansers and scrubs, to tablets, beverages, and even food; it seems as though everywhere we turn these days, we’re faced with two buzz words: ‘activated charcoal’. While you’d be forgiven for being skeptical of activated charcoal’s benefits, we’re here to dispel the myths. You see, when it comes to your health and the purification of your surroundings, this humble little substance packs a powerful punch.

The first documented use of activated charcoal goes as far back as 3750 B.C., when it was used by the Ancient Egyptians for smelting ores to create bronze. Over the centuries that followed, civilizations began to use it for a wide range of things, including purifying water, aiding intestinal disorders, and treating a number of ailments such as epilepsy, vertigo, ulcers, nosebleeds, and more.

Today, we’ll be turning our attention to the purification properties of activated charcoal. So, whether you’re seeking household odor elimination, the removal of harmful substances from the air, a car air freshener, pet odor removal, or mold and moisture control – activated charcoal can do all of this and more. Keep reading, because we’re going to tell you how!

Firstly, What is Activated Charcoal and How Does it Work?

In order to understand the benefits of activated charcoal, it’s important to first know exactly what it is, as well as the unique way in which it works.

Activated charcoal is the by-product of burning a carbon source, such as wood, coconut shells, or bamboo. According to The British Pharmacological Society, the charcoal is “activated” by high temperatures, removing all the oxygen and changing its chemical structure to create much smaller particles with more surface area. This new substance has millions of tiny, microscopic openings which capture, bind, and remove poisons, heavy metals, chemicals, and other toxins.

This process is known as adsorption (not to be confused with absorption), which Dr John Axe explains, is “the chemical reaction where elements bind to a surface”. It is important to note that these elements are not soaked into or assimilated with the surface; they merely stick to it. Dr John Axe further discusses the benefits of activated charcoal in this YouTube video.

The Different Methods of Using Activated Charcoal

Remember how we mentioned earlier that activated charcoal seems to be everywhere and in everything these days? Not only does activated charcoal have so many beneficial uses, but it can also be used in a range of ways, depending on what you want to achieve.

These include:

Consumption

Whether in tablet form or in food or beverages, activated charcoal can be consumed to help you reap the numerous health benefits it offers. The substance has been known to aid with detoxification, relieve digestive issues such as gas and bloating, bind drugs, chemicals and poisons before they harm your body, assist with anti-aging, and lower cholesterol levels (as revealed in a 1986 study published in The Lancet).

When consumed, activated charcoal can also be an effective hangover remedy, according to some sources. Marra St. Clair, a board-certified nutritional consultant, health coach, and co-founder of Project Juice explains: “[Activated charcoal] is a highly absorbent material with millions of tiny pores that capture, bind, and remove up to 100 times the charcoal’s weight in toxins, including those that we ingest after drinking alcohol.”

Application

There’s no doubt you’ve also seen countless beauty products boasting activated charcoal as a main ingredient. When applied to the skin in the form of a cleanser, scrub, mask, strip, or more, the substance uses its unique adsorption powers to draw oil, dirt, other harmful substances from clogged pores. When used in the form of a toothpaste, activated charcoal is said to remove toxins from the teeth and gums, leaving the user with a whiter and brighter smile.

Purification

One of the latest trends in healthy, natural living is to use activated charcoal in the form of purifying bags – and for plenty of good reasons too! When placed around your home, in your car, wardrobe, or anywhere else your heart desires, activated charcoal purifying bags have the ability to absorb odors, trap toxins and other harmful airborne substances, and prevent mold, mildew, and excess moisture.

In fact, activated charcoal in purifying bags is one of the most effective ways to use this substance to protect you and your family from many of the nasties we cannot see, as well as to improve your health, wellness, and quality of life. We delve into the life-changing benefits of purifying bags below!

Activated Charcoal Purifying Bags: Benefits and Uses

Odor Elimination In The Home

Odors are a part of everyday life, but they don’t have to be. If you notice unwanted smells around your home, then the quickest, safest, and most effective way to get rid of them is by using activated charcoal purifying bags strategically placed around your abode.

Unlike chemicals and other toxins which are commonly used to mask odors, these purifying bags only have charcoal substances inside of them, making them a safer and more natural alternative for your home. The bags also contain a hole or flap from which they can be hung up high (i.e. on a wall hook or clothes hanger in the wardrobe), placing them out of the way of curious little hands and paws.

It’s also worth mentioning that the charcoal itself doesn’t give off an odor (unlike deodorizers), nor is it simply designed to mask the smell. Instead, activated charcoal purifying bags neutralize unwanted odors, as the porous charcoal adsorbs odor-causing pollutants and particles, making them a thing of the past.

Pet Odor Removal

Activated charcoal purifying bags are also extremely effective at removing pet smells, especially when placed near the pet’s sleeping area, litter tray, or food bowls. Just keep in mind that it’s best to place these bags somewhere where your pet can’t get to them, as you don’t want a curious critter tearing the bags apart or trying to eat their contents.

Some of the most offensive pet odors include their faeces, urine, or the infamous “wet dog” smell. While odors from toilet time can easily be explained, many of us often scratch our heads at the science behind that musky, unpleasant odor we can smell when our dog’s fur is wet from rain, washing, or humidity.

To clear-up the confusion, Andy Brunning from Compound Interest explains the science behind this most annoying and stubborn pet odor:

“Wet dog smell stems from microorganisms living in dog hair. They produce bad-smelling volatile organic compounds. Adding water helps these compounds break free from the hair as the water evaporates, increasing their concentration in the air.”

The good news is that purifying bags containing active charcoal are most effective at safely neutralizing and removing wet dog smell. Even in the worst odor cases, users have reported that the bad smell completely disappeared within just days – whilst staying away the entire time the charcoal purifying bag was being used.

As pet owners, we often become accustomed to the smell of our furry friends, however our visitors are anything but. Keep a few activated charcoal purifying bags around your home and your guests won’t have anything to scrunch up their nose at!

Car Air Freshener

It’s not just our home which can accumulate foul odors from time to time. Whether you use your car every day or once in a while, it can still attract unwanted odors due to a range of causes, including food smells, musky odors from dampness or mold, chemical smells, and more.

Activated charcoal purifying bags can also work to neutralize and eradicate these smells, plus they can easily be placed in your dashboard, underneath a seat, or anywhere else that won’t obstruct your vision.

Removing Harmful Substances From The Air

Our homes are our sanctuary, but did you know that they can also harbor hundreds of harmful substances in the air, potentially making us ill? Known as Toxic Home Syndrome, this condition can see the air inside of our homes containing more pollutants than the air we breath outside. Eek!

“Toxic Home Syndrome occurs when individuals and families are exposed to a potent mix of airborne pollutants within the home, arising from poor ventilation, causing respiratory and skin diseases to occur more frequently,” explains Southampton University professor of allergy and respiratory medicine Peter Howarth, speaking on behalf of BEAMA’s My Health My Home campaign.

Just some of these common toxins found in the home include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, fungal toxins (i.e. mold), phthalates and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), dioxins, heavy metals, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and chloroform.

Before you start to fret, we’ve got some good news. Activated charcoal purifying bags are highly effective at doing just that – purifying! The millions of microscopic openings and caverns in the activated charcoal easily trap many of the toxins, pollutants, and allergens which exist in your home. Once adsorbed by the charcoal, it prevents these harmful substances from floating around in the air or residing on household surfaces, minimising the chances of them entering yours and your family’s respiratory system or bloodstream.

In combination with using activated charcoal purifying bags around the home, you can also substitute the chemical-laden products in your abode (i.e. insecticides, air fresheners, cleaning products, etc.) with natural, eco-friendly products. That ought to make you and your family feel a lot better!

Mold And Moisture Control

If you’ve ever noticed dark patches in your shower, around your sink, on moisture-affected carpet, or on your ceiling, then we hate to break it to you: you have mold in your home. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors. While this unsightly muck might seem harmless, we urge you to think again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains:

“In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.”

If you’ve noticed mold or excessive moisture in your home, then you’ll be pleased to hear that activated charcoal purifying bags can remedy these issues for you. The substance is able to absorb excess moisture and control humidity levels at a micro level, therefore treating and effectively preventing mold and excess moisture around your home.

We recommend using natural cleaning products to remove the mold, then place activated charcoal purifying bags and an air purifier in or near the space to work their magic. It’s the best way to save you and your family from mold and moisture related health problems both in the present and into the future.

How to Extend the Life of Your Activated Charcoal Purifying Bags

Now that we’ve covered all of the benefits of using these purifying bags in and around your home, you’ll certainly want to know the best way to look after these bags so they can be as effective as possible.

The most important instruction to follow with your purifying bag is that it requires direct sunlight from time to time, as the UV from the sun is what activates the charcoal. We recommend putting your bamboo charcoal pouch outside under direct sunlight for 2-3 hours per side every 30 days. The UV causes the charcoal’s pores to expand, therefore releasing the trapped odors, toxins, and moisture. Once this occurs, the charcoal is recharged and ready to re-use again. Keep in mind that placing the purifying bag indoors by a window may not work because the window blocks out UV rays.

If you notice your purifying bag becoming heavier over time, don’t worry. This is just because the charcoal beads expand as they capture substances, particularly moisture. Once the charcoal pouch gets recharged under direct sunlight, its weight should return to normal.

When proper care instructions are followed, you can expect your purifying bag to last anywhere from 1-2 years.

Conclusion

Now that you know everything about activated charcoal and its purification properties, particularly in the form of activated charcoal purifying bags, you’re ready to easily and effectively remove your surroundings of potentially harmful toxins, pollutants, and allergies. If you’re interested in doing some further research, we’ve even rounded-up the best activated charcoal purifying products right here.

Remember, activated charcoal isn’t just a natural and safe product to use around your home, but the majority of its benefits have also been backed up by meticulous scientific research. Instead of reaching for chemical-laden products to assist with odor removal, air purification, or the elimination of mold and excess moisture, why not remedy these problems with a product you can truly feel good about?

Simply place activated charcoal purifying bags in your bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, car, pet area, or more and they will do the hard work for you! And if you’re feeling generous, we have an inkling your friends and loved ones would like to receive these purifying bags as a gift to be utilised in their homes as well. After all, sharing is caring!

How do you like to use your activated charcoal purifying bags? What problems have they remedied so far for you? We’d love to hear from you in the Comments section below.

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