What is Activated Carbon (Charcoal)?
Activated carbon is formed from woody substances that have been charred by fire. It has the characteristics of being able to take up toxic gases, disease germs and toxins from fluids and heavy metals. It is also called activated charcoal or activated carbon.
ADsorbs? Why do we say ADsorbs rather than absorbs? The reason is that the materials that charcoal takes up are attracted to and held by the surface of the charcoal particles rather than going inside it. That is why a finely-ground charcoal product is important. It presents much more surface area, hence greater effectiveness. Powdered activated charcoal has a very small particle size of 1-150 microns. The internal surface area is from 500 to 1500 square meters per gram.
Good charcoal is made from a good source of wood, coconut shells, etc., and is ground into a very fine powder. It can be obtained in tablet or capsule forms but the adsorption time will be longer than when using the straight powder. Note that charred toast it not charcoal. 
Safety of charcoal– Charcoal has been studied for toxicity due to ingestion, skin contact and inhalation and all studies have shown it to be harmless. The most likely side-effect with internal use, if a person is going to have any, is slight constipation at higher doses but this is easily counteracted.
Benefits of Activated Charcoal
“Charcoal is without a rival as an agent for cleansing and assisting the healing of the body. The grains of charcoal have many crevices and corners for the absorption of materials, gases, foreign proteins, body wastes, chemicals and drugs of various kinds making it a powerful assistant for the cleansing apparatus of the body. … The uses of charcoal are almost as universal as those of water.” (Thrash, Agathy Moody, M.D. and Thrash, Calvin, M.D. Home Remedies Hydrotherapy, Massage, Charcoal and Other Simple Treatments. 1981. Thrash Publications, Seale AB. 174p)
Adsorbs poisons “Charcoal is the most valuable single agent currently available for treating poisonings.” (Clinical Toxicology 3(1):1-4 March 1970)
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