Re: activated?

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/activated_charcoal/article_em.htm


...."The charcoal is "activated" because it is produced to have a very fine particle size. This increases the overall surface area and adsorptive capacity of the charcoal. It is produced by adding acid and steam to carbonaceous materials such as wood, coal, rye starch, or coconut shells. To put this in perspective, one standard 50-gram dose of activated charcoal has the surface area of 10 football fields."

and, this is important info, I think. Activated charcoal does not absorb EVERYTHING:

"All efforts should be made to reduce adsorption of severely toxic substances, as activated charcoal does not bind as well with these substances:

* Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), strong acids and bases, metals and inorganic minerals such as sodium, iron, lead, arsenic, iodine, fluorine, and boric acid.

* Alcohol (such as ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycols, and acetone)

* Hydrocarbons (such as petroleum distillates and plant hydrocarbons such as pine oil)"