HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Activated Charcoal

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/15/2018 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone tried this for an oncoming flare or during a flare?

I notice when a flare is kicking up my BMs and gas start to smell really putrid, like something is toxic in there. Could soaking it up with activated charcoal work maybe?

How much do you use?
Posted 3/15/2018 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
No.... what meds are you on?

Are you on probiotics?
q
Posted 3/16/2018 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
It probably can't hurt to try, but that whole idea that it's going to soak up something in there and make your UC better sounds like wishful thinking. Wouldn't that be great if something could just soak up all the mucus and poop and make it all better? They sell activated charcoal all over and there are dosage instructions and reviews. Perhaps you can give it a go. There are also old threads here with info.
Posted 3/16/2018 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I've used it before for food poisoning and it does work. I just wonder if it could really get into the colon by eating it like it would for stomach stuff. I will definitely try it I just wanted to see if others had experienced this.
Posted 3/16/2018 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
it always helps me get rid of unwelcome colon critters -
Posted 3/16/2018 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
There's been a few posts about it being used for UC over the years. Sounds like snake-oil to me, as it cures everything under the sun. Try it if you're so inclined but with a healthy skepticism.

I did a search on the site and pulled up a few older posts:

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=895928

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3850331

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2210725
Posted 3/16/2018 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
yes, pretty sure hospital ER's don't use this "snake oil" stuff - certainly not a real treatment for anything -

rolleyes
Posted 3/16/2018 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
If you look on amazon, or google, there is quite a bit of good feedback. I don't know whether it's useful for UC, but it can probably be useful for general stomach and intestinal ailments. I would try it if I were suffering with stomach upset. Probably can't hurt.

/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_charcoal_(medication)
It's actually used for treating poisoning

Somebody said...
Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is a medication used to treat poisonings that occurred by mouth. To be effective it must be used within a short time of the poisoning occurring, typically an hour. It does not work for poisonings by cyanide, corrosive agents, iron, lithium, alcohols, or malathion. It may be taken by mouth or given by a nasogastric tube. Other uses include inside hemoperfusion machines.

Common side effects include vomiting, black stools, diarrhea, and constipation. The more serious side effect, pneumonitis, may result if aspirated into the lungs.Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is safe. Activated charcoal works by adsorbing the toxin.

Posted 3/16/2018 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have used it for stomach bugs for sure. It does block the absorption rate of meds, though. I don't think it has done much for my UC, however. It is great at getting rid of gas, though.
Posted 3/16/2018 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to those who have tried it who replied. The rest isn't very useful to me because I've already read it on google. There are skeptics for everything but you never know til you try. Not sure why it's being called snake oil when it has a proven medical use. I used it for food poisoning before so already knew. I'd like to hear from more people who've tried it for UC.

I'm trying it today will let folks know what happens.

Post Edited (Chiron) : 3/16/2018 1:39:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/16/2018 7:40 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
No.... what meds are you on?

Are you on probiotics?
q

Sorry quincy I didn't see this til now. I am on prednisone. I take probiotics off and on sometimes they help and other times they make me worse.
Posted 3/16/2018 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
there is a bottle on my kitchen counter right now - "cheated" a bit much lately due to winter diet and not getting enough fresh produce in me -

i usually take 6-8 in the first few hrs and then 2-4 every day for a few days depending on how things go -

this is what i'm using this time > Nature's Way Activated Charcoal 560mg

i also use Solaray brand -
Posted 3/16/2018 8:16 PM (GMT 0)

TroubledTurds said...
there is a bottle on my kitchen counter right now - "cheated" a bit much lately due to winter diet and not getting enough fresh produce in me -

i usually take 6-8 in the first few hrs and then 2-4 every day for a few days depending on how things go -

this is what i'm using this time > Nature's Way Activated Charcoal 560mg

i also use Solaray brand -

Does it help your UC symptoms or is it just stomach stuff? Like what does it do for you?
Posted 3/16/2018 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
There is a search box on the upper right of the forum. There is actually a lot of information about people who have tried it, even people with UC.

I apologize, but a lot of the negativity about it is because we had a spammer who posted about it constantly for a while, and it left everyone with a bad taste.

Anything that helps eliminate gas is a positive in my opinion smile
Posted 3/16/2018 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I did find healingwell posts on google but a lot of them were the same, like people replying what they thought about it even though they never tried it themselves. THat's all I want is opinions based on first hand experience. If I waited for science to say OK to everything I would be dead already.

I'm noticing already that it does help with gas and bloating.
Posted 3/17/2018 2:03 PM (GMT 0)

Chiron said...

TroubledTurds said...
there is a bottle on my kitchen counter right now - "cheated" a bit much lately due to winter diet and not getting enough fresh produce in me -

i usually take 6-8 in the first few hrs and then 2-4 every day for a few days depending on how things go -

this is what i'm using this time > Nature's Way Activated Charcoal 560mg

i also use Solaray brand -

Does it help your UC symptoms or is it just stomach stuff? Like what does it do for you?



controlling my UC is 100% diet - no meds in the last 5+ years - so as i mentioned before, if my diet gets wonkey and my innards do the same, i right the ship via AC - it usually takes a week or 2 for things to get back to normal - then i focus on making better food choices -

winter foods just don't make my colon nearly as happy as summer foods - my diet in general is pretty protein heavy, but summer produce balances things out quite nicely -

and i'm sure there are other things like more sun and activity that help too -
Posted 3/17/2018 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. Your UC sounds completely different than mine... I can't eat greens at all or I bleed heavily. Even when I'm in remission I can't eat greens. I was told that was a Crohn's thing but they won't re-diagnose me.
Posted 3/17/2018 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
If you bleed at all, there is an issue.....Crohn's or UC....and one is not in remission if one bleeds no matter when (excluding hemmies and fissures)
q
Posted 3/17/2018 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know if that's true.

Some flares are gone, like my calprotectin is normal along with CRP and scope but my gut lining is still takes a long time to heal. Eventually I can eat more things but if I jump right into fiber it injures me.

I know lots of ppl with IBD Crohn's or UC who can't high fiber in remission. Depends on the person.
Posted 3/18/2018 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Then what would you be bleeding from?

q
Posted 3/18/2018 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
I actually just ordered activated charcoal as in bad flare with cramps all the way up into the stomach.
Outch. Will let you know how I go.
I also just started CBD oil and back on Bowellia.
Posted 3/18/2018 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
hope it works for you - just keep in mind you don't want to try multiple new things at the same time - makes it hard to know what's working or what's not -
Posted 3/18/2018 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks that's good advice. AC is the only thing different I'm doing right now.

It's funny you know, when my flares are coming on I get the worst smelling gas and BMs. Like putrid... and then when the actual flare hits when it's all just blood and mucus there's not really much smell anymore. It's like whatever the putrid thing is has died or got cleared out... too bad the flare continues though.

I wanted to try AC because maybe whatever the putrid thing is the AC can absorb before it causes the flare. I dunno just a crap shoot at this point, pun intended smile
Posted 3/19/2018 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Putrid smelling makes me think C-Diff, always make sure to check for it when your symptoms get worse!
Posted 3/20/2018 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
My cursory look didn't show anyone actually taking it, just opinions.

That said, I take it regularly. If a putrid thing is your signal of the flare (just like mine), I would wholeheartedly try. Just make sure to mix with some kind of fiber. I know this sounds counter-intuitive but you want something to mop it. I use Psyllium seed powder.

Ideally, I would not use fiber if I am about to go in a flare as it would irritate even sensitive gut lining. But if you are using it the first time, give it a try. And make sure to use copious amounts of both, along with good amount of water.

Ignore the fact that it will also mop up all nutrients for a while. You can top them up once you are well.


I make a premix of Psyllium seed powder and activated charcoal in 4:1 proportion and use approx 1.5 tbsp every time, at least 2 to 3X a week. On the other hand, my almost 10 YO son with ASD takes 3/4 tbsp 4 to 5 times a week (and nutritionally he is tip-top).

I have been using resistant starch mix along with my standard meds and lucky me, have been in remission for 5 years.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12