Activated charcoal otherwise known as activated carbon, animal charcoal, carbo vegetabilis, carbon, carbón activado, charbon actif, charbon activé, charbon animal, charbon médicinal, charbon végétal, charbon végétal activé, charcoal, gas black, lamp black, medicinal charcoal, noir de gaz, noir de lampe, vegetable carbon, vegetable charcoal. Common charcoal is made from peat, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum. “Activated charcoal” is similar to common charcoal, but is made especially for use as a medicine. To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or “pores.” These pores help activated charcoal “trap” chemicals. Activated charcoal is used to treat poisonings, reduce intestinal gas (flatulence), lower cholesterol levels, prevent hangover, and treat bile flow problems (cholestasis) during pregnancy. Activated charcoal is good at trapping chemicals and prevents their absorption. Activated charcoal is safe for most adults when used short-term. Side effects of activated charcoal include constipation and black stools. More serious, but rare, side effects are a slowing or blockage of the intestinal tract, regurgitation into the lungs, and dehydration
