Edgar Cayce's recommendations of charcoal tablets
I had my 5-gallon drum of activated coconut charcoal out last week while putting together a Radial Appliance Kit order. I thought of Cayce's recommendations for charcoal, so I put a couple tablespoons of these charcoal granules into a little glass and sent them to my stomach with water (juice also works).
Edgar Cayce often recommended charcoal tablets for 'gas' and other gastrointestinal problems. Charcoal binds and/or destroys some of the substances that cause problems for humans when they're in our digestive system.
'Toxin' is the generic term for substances which aren't so good for humans. Most plants have toxins in their leaves to prevent insects and animals from eating them. Some plants are made more-edible for humans when their toxins are deactivated with heat: "cooking" (spinach, kale, etc).
Problematic bacteria in our intestines produce endotoxins (Lipopolysaccharides - @wikipedia), some of which are absorbed into the bloodstream, then deactivated by the liver. Deactivating endotoxins is one of the liver's highest priorities, and also a source of liver injury. Reducing the amount of endotoxin and endotoxin-producing bacteria in our intestines - by eating foods with anti-bacterial properties (mushrooms, carrots, bamboo, etc), by consuming charcoal, by eating prebiotic fibers (such as the inulin found in jerusalem artichokes / sunchokes), and by eating less fiber overall (orange juice instead of oranges, etc) - frees up our livers to work on its other important jobs: removing steroids from the blood, activating thyroid, storing sugar as glycogen for later use, etc. Activated charcoal absorbs bacterial endotoxin and other toxins that are in your intestines.
Activated Charcoal: Conventional Super-Medicine
Activated Charcoal is a conventional medical treatment for patients who poison themselves, either intentionally or unintentionally. For example, Tylenol poisoning is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the modern world, but a tylenol overdose caught early enough can be treated with activated charcoal:
Oral activated charcoal is often used to treat drug overdose. [...] Paracetamol absorption can be reduced by 83% by activated charcoal administered within five minutes. [...]
-Effectiveness of delayed activated charcoal administration in simulated paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose [NIH.gov]
Charcoal Manufacturing
Wood is turned into charcoal when it is heated in a low-oxygen environment. The surface area of charcoal is dramatically increased through physical and chemical processes called Activation [wikipedia link]). Coconut shells and bamboo are also good for turning into Activated Charcoal.
"Charcoal" briquets, as commonly used for BBQ cooking, are a mix of coal, charcoal from wood, lighter fluid and glue.
Cautions for Charcoal Consumption
Activated Charcoal can also bind/destroy vitamins, so it should only be consumed occasionally - no more than 1/3 the month at most. The fine print on Activated Charcoal capsules sold on a mega-pharmacy chain's website says "Not to be taken at the same time as medications or other dietary supplements. If pregnant or nursing, consult a healthcare professional before use. This product is not intended as a treatment for accidental poisoning. Keep out of reach of children."
I think granules are slightly better than activated charcoal powder: Persorption is the problematic phenomenon whereby relatively-large particles of food get through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. I think large charcoal granules are less likely to cross the intestinal wall than charcoal powder (but I haven't read any research about the best size of charcoal granules).
Edgar Cayce's Charcoal Recommendations
Cayce recommended Battle Creek Sanitarium charcoal tablets, but this Sanitarium has long been out of business. I don't know if these tablets were "activated" or not. Willow charcoal was given as an alternative to the Sanitarium's charcoal tablets. The Meridian Institute has a page about Willow Charcoal.
Here are some mentions of "Charcoal Tablets" from Cayce's Readings:
10. (Q) The digestion in this body has not been good. There's been a lot of gas in the past week.
(A) This, as has been seen - and as has been given - is a result of the over-activity of that which may be called the psychic or the imaginative, or the forces in system that prevent the proper assimilation. At times when these occur, we would after the meal give one to two tablets of charcoal. This will reduce this.
(264-13 F 40)
7. (Q) Was the recent diagnosis of an ulcer in the duodenal area, another on the underside of stomach, correct?
(A) No. These, as we find, have been lacerations and the better the condition will be if there is the following of those suggestions that have been made, making more milk in the diet where it is practical. Keep away from fats and oils, and it will be better. Do use occasionally the Charcoal Tablets prepared by Kellogg's. These are the better absorbents and will protect the area. Use the Saffron Tea also. Put a pinch of the American Saffron (between thumb and forefinger) in a teacup and fill with boiling water. Let it stand for thirty minutes, strain and drink. Do this once a day, preferably in the evening when ready to retire. This will be well for the condition.
(270-49 M 59)
John Harvey Kellogg ran the Battle Creek Sanitarium from 1876 to 1943, and was a bit of an inventor. They came up with a process for making flaked cereal. The cereal company now using the Kellogg name was founded by John Kellogg's brother, Will Kellogg, after John didn't want sugar added to their cereals (wikipedia).
15. (Q) What causes the severe headaches occasionally?
(A) The improper digestion in the system, or the lack of perfect coordination in eliminating and assimilating forces in system. Well that the body take Charcoal Tablets occasionally, such as that prepared by the Battle Creek Sanitarium.16. (Q) I seem to have trouble digesting sweets, but have a craving for them. How may I overcome this?
(A) Supply the system with those things necessary to meet the needs. Hence this just given - Charcoal Tablets.
(283-2 F46)
Do any of you use Charcoal? Activated Charcoal? What do you notice?
Thanks,
James Knochel
https://radialappliance.teslabox.com/shop/
P.S. My Radial Appliances are still listed as 'backordered', as the company that sold me the square brass tube I used didn't respond to my requests for more brass tube. Phil Thomas said I should use copper for my cases - he gave some hints that I hadn't figured out yet.
In the meantime I've been using plastic water bottles for cases... Respond to this email if your interested.