Carbo vegetabilis – vegetable charcoal powder

Ground into a fine black powder, activated charcoal is renowned for its natural absorbent properties. It has been used since ancient times in various traditional medicines for its cleansing properties, both internally and externally. Very light and effective in small doses, it is often blended with other plants or natural ingredients.

Description

Very fine black powder, light texture, odorless. Neutral in taste, but messy. Handle with care.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Activated charcoal, activated charcoal
• Latin name: Carbo vegetabilis
• Family: Processed plant product (non-taxonomic)
• Part used: Calcined plant material (wood, shells, etc.)
• Form: Powder
• Origin: Europe, Asia, America (depending on raw material)
• English name: Activated charcoal
• Name in German: Aktivkohle
• Name in Spanish: Carbon vegetal
• Name in Italian: Vegetable carbon
• Name in Arabic: فحم نباتي (Faḥm nabātī)

Main virtues

Activated charcoal is commonly used in digestive wellness treatments, purifying treatments (masks, natural toothpastes), or to clarify preparations. It is also valued in homemade cosmetics for its absorbent and cleansing properties.

Main constituents

Pure microporous carbon (adsorbent surface > 1000 m²/g), mineral ash depending on the raw material.

Use and dosage

• Internal use: 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of water, to be consumed occasionally away from meals or medication.
• External use: as a purifying mask, homemade toothpaste or plant poultice.
• Filtration: Can be used to purify water or clarify homemade liquids.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• May interact with medications if taken at the same time (minimum 2 hours apart).
• Not recommended in cases of intestinal obstruction or severe constipation.
• To be used occasionally, as a short course of treatment.

History and origin

Activated charcoal has been used since ancient Egypt to purify water and as a remedy for digestive disorders. Its modern, activated version, which is very fine and highly absorbent, is now used in natural medicines, cosmetics, and even innovative plant-based foods.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: Protect from humidity and air, tightly closed.
• Packaging: airtight jar, opaque resealable bag.
• Appearance: matte black powder, very light.
• Odor: neutral.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional European Pharmacopoeias
• Scientific literature on plant adsorbents
• Corpus of ancient remedies and herbal practices

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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