My Doc wants me to take 15 charcoal caps a day for a week

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:38 pm

My allergist has been doing a lot of research on non-celiac gluten-sensitivity and she says that to speed up the elimination of any gluten in the body for recovery or if you are glutened you need the charcoal to help remove the sticky glob of gluten (she says the G.I. docs she sends people to for scopes have noticed the glob)

She also said that leaky gut is the real problem for those of us with mc.

Oh yeah, she said to take the charcoal 1 hour after eating because you will have digested the good food and the charcoal will work on the food that you have a problem with as it would any toxic material. ER Depts. give people charcoal when they have ingested something toxic, but my doc said the amounts are huge, not just 15 caps.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:29 pm

If you use the search function of this forum and search on 'leaky gut' you will see quite a bit of discussion about leaky gut.

This is why focussing on low inflammation healing eating plan and lifestyle is important, the medications that help MC do not help to heal leaky gut.
and why (in my opinion) one should not rush to try new ingredients before good healing has had the chance to occur.

based on the discussions on this forum 'good healing' can take 12 months or more.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:30 pm

Is there a difference between being in remission and healing then?

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:45 pm

I have tried doing searches on this site, but it never works which is why I probably ask questions that have been asked previously.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:47 pm

yep
as per some other discussions in other threads - it depends on how you define 'remission'

remission for some is symptom free without meds
remission for others is symptom free and back eating gluten and all the foods they used to eat
remission for others is next to no symptoms and the eating plan and medication plan that works for them

in my opinion and based on what i have observed in others that have contributed their journeys on this forum, you can have next to no Mc symptoms (like D) but still have villi damage, leaky gut, liver issues, gerd, etc

for some, taking some type of medication continually can be 'masking' the symptoms a bit, and they may never remove the inflammation and heal 100%.
as soon as they stop or reduce the medication, symptoms return.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:49 pm

The glob of gluten thing is very interesting to me. Is there evidence on the charcoal's ability to remove it?

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:53 pm

Mcnomore-- I have never heard of the charcoal cap treatment to get gluten out of the system. Are you going to try it? If so let us know how it goes. Is there any research that goes with this theory that the charcoal can discriminate a food that is toxic from one that is okay? Just curious.

Carol

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:09 pm

Ukelele Lady-Yes, my allergist said that the G.I. docs would complain about the glob when do a scope on a patient of my allergist and then the patient would do the charcoal thing and go back for another scope and the glob was gone.

Here's an excerpt from a post on Celiac.com:

My doctor, who is also a celiac, told me to take Activated Charcoal after an accidental glutination (signaled by a sleeping problem, or headache, or GI symptoms, etc). I use the Solaray brand which comes in 280 mg. capsules. I'm sure any brand will do. When I can't sleep, I'll take one or two capsules, maybe a couple of advils, and a lot of water, and then I sleep well through the night. This works so much better for me than Ambien, Lunesta, Ativan, and every other sleeping pill they have thrown at me. Activated Charcoal works by soaking up the molecules of gluten hanging out in your intestines, and letting your immune system calm down from overdrive.

My doctor did hasten to add that usage of Activated Charcoal is no excuse to cheat on the diet, because while it soaks up the bad stuff (gluten) from your intestines, it also soaks up the good stuff, like vitamins and other nutrients. Use it only infrequently. Also, don't take it with milk products, which lessen its effectiveness.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:11 pm

I should add that you should not take charcoal within an hour of any food or meds.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 3:07 am

All very interesting! Thanks for the info.

So when are you taking them, throughout the day, 3 or 5 caps at a time?

I wonder if they would help me sleep, too, as I'm lying awake at 4. But I'm having a hard time tolerating any supplements, so I'm. To sure if I will pursue it.

Best of luck and report in on progress, please!

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:01 am

My doc said to take 10 twice a day or 15 all at once. It's the activated charcoal in capsules.

She claims that you won't really be gluten free unless you take them. Also, remember you take them for ONE week only. Then later only if you think you have been glutened by cross-contamination or whatever.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:45 am

Thanks for clarifying. But, are you taking them at night? Just wondering.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:01 am

I took 5 yesterday for the first time at around 2pm. This morning I had one rather urgent black from the charcoal loose bm and then another normal one that wasn't black, but I don't know if the urgent one was connected to taking charcoal or not.

The first urgent bm reminded me of when I first went GF which was similar to candida die off as others describe it anyway.

I'm afraid to take the amount she wants me to take. Even if I have a reaction to the charcoal it may be worth it if it gets the gluten out of my body I think. Still researching the issue.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:30 am

Spoke with the manufacturer of Solaray Activated Charcoal and the capsule is made from beef or pork or both which is why I may have had a reaction this morning. If I get up the nerve I will take the charcoal out of the capsule and stir it in water and take it that way.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:03 pm

I think that's a good idea, just take care not to inhale the dust.

I bought some charcoal from Natures Way today, and I took three in the afternoon and another three at night. I did not have a negative reaction so far, even Though the last two days have posed a little setback for me. I think stress related.