Activated charcoal: A must have for any stay-at-home mom

July 14, 10:52 PMBurlington Stay-at-Home Moms ExaminerRebecca Vickery

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There seems to be a stomach bug going around Burlington.  This is particularly the case at my address.  My week started early Sunday morning with the sound of my daughter crying from the bathroom.  Up like a flash, there I was beside my very sick daughter at 5:30 in the morning.  And whether it was an actual tummy trouble on my part or an empathetic one, as soon as I had put my daughter back to bed, I went downstairs to my stash of vitamins and supplements.  Soon I had it in my hand: activated charcoal, my key to being able to stay well to take care of my family.

The small bottle contained a number of capsules leftover from last year’s bout with the bug.  It cost 8.49 at the City Market Coop.  I heard about it from a number of women on the mommy board that I frequent.  They are full of remedies that prevent or speed up an illness.  Interestingly enough, activated charcoal is used in water filters and is given in hospitals to patients who have been poisoned.  The concept is the same with the stomach bug.  Activated charcoal works as a filter in your body and the cavities in the charcoal adsorb or “capture” the toxins in your blood stream and keep you from getting sick, or sicker.

At the first signs of sickness (you may have strange gurgles, or cramping), it is important to start taking the activated charcoal so that it has a chance to work before the virus takes its toll.  We learned the hard way that once you’ve started vomiting, if you are not able to keep anything down, the activated charcoal will only serve to make things black.  If you don’t take it consistently enough, you will likely have cramping and even nausea associated with the stomach flu, but you may at least be spared the vomiting. 

So far, the people in our household who have been fortunate enough to start taking the activated charcoal on time have not experienced anywhere near as much trouble as those who did not start it early on.  The nice part about Mommy having been one to take it early is that she is then able to take care of everyone else, including Daddy who may now be rethinking his position on activated charcoal. 

Here are some things to remember if your household is being affected by the stomach bug:

• Have a supply of activated charcoal ready to dispense hourly as soon as the first person starts showing symptoms. 
• Keep everybody well hydrated as water is what will flush the activated charcoal, toxins and all, out of your system.
• Try to get as much rest as possible—this goes double for you mom—avoiding the stomach bug won’t be much of a consolation if you get a head cold because you haven’t slept much tending everyone else.   Remember, it’s OK to nap when your kids nap, and to stay on the couch snuggled (or unsnuggled) to play games or watch movies together.  Think of it as a couch holiday.

Now, honestly, I hope that none of my readers are going to need to use this advice.  I hope that you will all be blessed with great health and that you are not even aware of any stomach bug going around Burlington, except by mention.  But, just in case, please do go get some activated charcoal.  If a stomach bug hits home, you’ll be happy to have it on hand.  

For more info: Here's a newsletter on Activated Charcoal, and here's a list of health food stores in Vermont so you can call beforehand to make sure they have Activated Charcoal in stock (we got ours at City Market).  Stay prepared and well!!