A combination of vegetables, woods and other materials make up activated charcoal. It resembles a soft, dark powder. Activated charcoal is touted to have a wide variety of health uses, including decreasing cholesterol, detoxifying the body, reducing bloating and absorbing poisonous substances, but activated charcoal is associated with certain side effects.
Common Side Effects
Several common side effects of taking activated charcoal generally no cause for alarm: throwing up, diarrhea, darker stools and constipation. These effects usually subside naturally and quickly.
Serious Side Effects
Some side effects that are potentially harmful include: allergic reactions such as chest tightness and swollen tongue, lips, mouth or face; skin rash; hives and breathing problems. Should a person experience serious side effects, he should seek immediate medical help.
Eye Side Effects
If the charcoal has any close contact with the eyes, corneal abrasions (scratches over the eye's clear portion) can occur.
Respiratory System Side Effects
Side effects to the respiratory system may include: empyema (accumulation of pus within the cavity located between the lung and the membrane around it), bronchiolitis obliterans (the plugging up of airways with granulation tissue) and Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (critical lung condition that can result in decreased oxygen levels within the blood).
Metabolic Side Effects
Metabolic side effects can also occur when activated charcoal combines with sorbitol, a kind of sugar alcohol that metabolizes slowly. These side effects include: abnormalities with the electrolytes, shock, dehydration and hypernatremia (disruption of the electrolytes caused by increased levels of sodium within the blood).
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