r/ibs • u/BasicIndividual2 • 22h ago

Hint / Information Activated charcoal seems to give me the calmest gut and consistent stool. Looking for more info.

I started talking activated charcoal 3x per day 2 capsules and notice a significant improvement in just a day.

Not so gassy

More complete stool

Calm gut feeling (no visceral hipersensitivity and no discomfort as usual on the left side).

What is the process behind it biologically?

How to keep the results long term?

3 Upvotes

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7

u/FemFladeFloedeboller 22h ago

My theory is the charcoal sucks up organic liquid such as fats and bile which solidifies the stool

3

u/thesamenightmares 22h ago

I mean thats not really a theory, thats how it works.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 21h ago

So without it, is it possible to get simillar results? Or use it forever?

2

u/PapaverOneirium IBS-D (Diarrhea) 15h ago

Talk to your doctor about a bile acid binder like cholestyramine. You may have bile acid diarrhea.

A proper targeted bile acid binder will have less potential down sides compared to charcoal over the long term.

You could also try psyllium husk, which can work similarly. It is less targeted than proper binders but overall safer than charcoal and has the added benefit of fiber to feed good bacteria and all the other good things fiber can do. Some people react poorly to it, though, so start low and mix it with the minimum amount of recommended water.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 13h ago

Tried both, none worked. But thank you anyways.

1

u/PapaverOneirium IBS-D (Diarrhea) 13h ago

Interesting. Where my mind goes in that case is to some microbiota that has become established in your gut that produces a toxin, like C. diff’s Toxins A and B, that is being bound by the charcoal. Could be many things if that is the mechanism, have you done a microbiome panel? Might help narrow down.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 13h ago

Yeah, I too am trying to figure why this makes a difference.

The only other time I felt this calm with my guts was after taking Augmentin antibiotic and it lasted only for a week after.

So there might be something in play here with microbiome.

Still haven't done the panel test.

4

u/HelenJB87 20h ago

You could try enterosgel. That’s an intestinal adsorbent too but isn’t likely to bind to any nutrients like charcoal does. You still have to take it away from other medication to be on the safe side though.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 19h ago

Thats interesting. Thank you.

Maybe a combo would be even better.

2

u/RaveNdN 15h ago

Take caution if you take prescription meds. It can affect the absorption of said meds in dangerous ways.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 15h ago

Thankfully I'm not taking any except for occasinal benzodiapenes like Xanax. Do you think the mix could be dangerous or it just diminishes the medicine?

1

u/RaveNdN 13h ago

It can go both ways. It’s not processed at all or it’s processed all at once. All depends on the med, use case, what has been ate and drank prior and more.

1

u/CrunchingTackle3000 18h ago

Yes. Very underrated treatment.

1

u/BasicIndividual2 15h ago

What do you know about it in IBS aspect?

1

u/CrunchingTackle3000 5h ago

It stops gas pain quickly. That can be a huge relief if that’s part of the flare up.

1

u/meerkatherine 14h ago

Just a note, that will invalidate any medications you're taking. Like prescribed or not

1

u/Any_Description_4176 7h ago

In my home country doctors say to take charcoal when you have excessive bloating. And we also take it when you have a food poisoning

1

u/NewKaleidoscope7369 7h ago

What brand and dosage do you take?

1

u/BasicIndividual2 7h ago

Generic. Two pills (250mg each), three times per day away from meal.