Should You Take Activated Charcoal for a Stomach Bug (or Any Other Reason)?

When you’re scouring the supplement and home remedy aisle at your local drugstore, you’re likely to come across bottled concoctions promising to do all kinds of miracles for your health.

And if you’re down with a stomach bug, a bottle of activated charcoal may look like a legit option.

After all, hospitals use activated charcoal in emergency rooms, and you’re feeling darn-near emergency-level discomfort.

And, look, the label says to take it to ward off other belly troubles and common health concerns. Miracle elixir to the rescue!

Except — not so much, says family medicine physician Matthew Goldman, MD. Activated charcoal has a very specific purpose in the emergency department. And treating a stomach bug isn’t it.

We talked with Dr. Goldman about why he doesn’t recommend activated charcoal for a stomach bug — or any other home use.

What is activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal isn’t the same as the briquettes you might use for your summer barbecue. Activated charcoal is a powder and doesn’t include coal.

Long before people started thinking about taking activated charcoal for a stomach bug, it was (and still is) used in emergency medicine. Specifically, to treat cases of poisoning or overdose. It can be an alternative to stomach pumping in some cases.

“Once swallowed, charcoal binds to drugs and toxins in the stomach so the body can’t absorb it,” Dr. Goldman explains.

Here’s how it works.

When someone ingests a toxic substance, it makes its way to their stomach. Administering activated charcoal (typically within an hour) can help prevent the poison from being absorbed by the body. That can keep the person from getting severely ill.

Think of activated charcoal in that scenario like a bouncer at a nightclub. When trouble is brewing, the charcoal gets hold of toxins and keeps them from preventing more damage. And it escorts them out of the building (or out of your body ... as poop, in this instance). Essentially, activated charcoal limits the damage.

The issue? Activated charcoal doesn’t necessarily know which substances in your body are harmful and which aren’t. It can’t distinguish between people just having a fun night out on the town and the ones who are causing a ruckus. So, it kicks them all out. Shuts the place down.

That means, along with binding to the toxins and poisons that could be dangerous, activated charcoal also keeps your body from absorbing the healthy nutrients your body needs. Vitamins, minerals, good bacteria — they all get kicked out.

The tradeoff (under the care of a health professional) can be worth it in cases like poisoning or drug overdose, which can be life-threatening.

But for a stomach bug, gas or bloating? Not worth the risk, Dr. Goldman states.

What does activated charcoal claim to do?

Outside of emergency situations, activated charcoal products are marketed as over-the-counter supplements and remedies for a host of gastrointestinal needs (and more). That includes things like:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Gut health
• Reducing cholesterol
• Hangover prevention

Gummy and liquid versions marketed for children’s use are also available.

Outside of health uses, activated charcoal is also used in products like water filters and odor neutralizers.

Is it safe to take activated charcoal for a stomach bug?

When it comes to treating a stomach bug, bloating, gas and other conditions that activated charcoal is marketed for, you have better options.

“Evidence supporting the use of activated charcoal outside of hospital uses is limited,” Dr. Goldman says. “Activated charcoal’s effectiveness in the emergency department is proven. But there are conflicting results related to its ability to relieve gas, bloating, nausea and diarrhea. And no studies support its use for lowering cholesterol or preventing hangovers.”

Remember: Activated charcoal doesn’t know the difference between what your body needs and what it doesn’t. So, your body can lose important nutrients when you take activated charcoal products. And those nutrients, like electrolytes, vitamin C and other substances may be just what your body needs to feel better.

“Regular or excessive use can lead to constipation and reduce nutrient absorption,” he adds. “And in children in particular, misuse could lead to gastrointestinal blockages.”

Other side effects include:

• Black tongue
• Black poop
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lowered effectiveness of other medications

Activated charcoal administered by a healthcare professional for emergency use is carefully given to try to limit unwanted effects while still being effective in combating poisonings.

But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate activated charcoal supplements. Other supplements and herbal remedies aren’t either. So, how much you’re taking and what exactly those products contain can be a mystery.

What to do for stomach bugs and upset stomach instead

Dr. Goldman advises talking with a healthcare provider before taking activated charcoal for a stomach bug or other use.

Instead, they’ll likely recommend research-backed strategies:

• Treat stomach bugs at home by keeping hydrated with things like broth and electrolyte solutions. Seek medical care for vomiting that lasts more than two days.
• Relieve gas and bloating with medications like simethicone (Gas-X®) or using peppermint oil.
• Encourage a healthy gut with a balanced diet rich in fiber and probiotics.

You want to feel better. We get it. No one wants to be down with a stomach bug or dealing with gas pain. You want relief. And you deserve it.

But unless you’ve been poisoned, activated charcoal isn’t the answer.