#I know personally activated charcoal is harmful for me. particularly with my more common meds.

[exhausted-archivist]

I saw this reblog and had to do a little research, because medical misinformation concerns. I'm certainly not immune to it, and I wanted to correct myself as needed.

What I found is that this post did make the important distinction between oral and non-oral meds. A distinction I should have made, I knew it was only oral but didn't think to specify that, which I clearly mucked up that. Apologies.

Another thing is that while the linked post in the previous reblog has very good points, and well laid out - the addition to it is the crucial point of the need for caution. Their links and the multiple sources in my research - which the science and history of its use to be really interesting - all carry the very real factor that charcoal, especially activated charcoal is concern with oral medication.

An aspect that the linked post points out, and really a whole other can of worms to consider is: you might not know what type of charcoal you're getting.

As it's labeled as a health product most times there might not be as much regulation over it - especially in the US - for anything labeled a supplement. This means you don't know what grade you're getting and there for you can't be sure that it is just regular charcoal or activated charcoal.

Like with all medical things, it's important to do your own research first and for most. But in regards to the concern with activated charcoal, yes there is some misinformation about it and the concern with it might actually be lower than with others.

But here are the TLDR facts I found:

Overall it is not likely to impact your if you're consuming activated charcoal for a limited time - prolonged use has concerns of side effects like constipation and dehydration but can also impact how your body processes medication.

It only effects oral medication and medication that processes in your intestinal track.

Like the linked post above says, if you do eat these aesthetic foods, you should make sure you aren't taking it within a certain time period after your oral medication. (minimum of 1 hour for non-time released medication)

The type of meds you're taking impact the window of when it will decrease their efficacy - time release vs immediate.

The oral medication you are taking might be affected by it. It depends on your meds.

Always discuss things with your doctor or pharmacist. Every medication is different.

And to elaborate on the comment on the window of difference in time for when it is deemed reasonably safe to ingest activated charcoal after meds:

Non-time releases is recommended a minimum of 1-2 hours but recommends 4 hours for the least amount of interference.

Time release recommends 6 hours minimum in some sources, others say the 4 hour minimum.

Sources and research points to start at:

NIH - Activated Charcoal

NIH - Activated Charcoal for Acute Poisoning

British Pharmaceutical Society - Activated Charcoal for Acute Overdose: A reappraisal

Medline Plus - Activated Charcoal

The 79 known medications that Activated Charcoal interacts with

Known interactions on RX list

Good RX - Activated Charcoal

When it comes down to it, you need to make informed medical decisions with your own research and your medical provider or pharmacist.

On a note of substitutes if you want to still make the recipe these are things I've seen in the tags and was digging for myself to adapt the recipe:

Gel food dye

Black sesame

Dark cocoa powder

Blackberries

So PSA about the Dragon Age Official Cookbook

They have a recipe for lichen bread that uses activated charcoal.

If you are on any medication you should not consume anything with activated charcoal.

I was hoping there was a disclaimer on the recipe but there wasn’t, and given that this is also spooky season it’s more relevant.

Use food dye if you want to achieve the dark black look. But please be safe and make sure the recipes are safe for you.