Activated charcoal is a fine, odorless, black powder often used in emergency rooms to treat overdoses. Some people claim it can also reduce flatulence, promote kidney health, and lower cholesterol levels.
Superheating natural sources of carbon, such as wood, produces activated charcoal. The black powder stops toxins from being absorbed in the stomach by binding to them. The body is unable to absorb charcoal, and so the toxins that bind to the charcoal leave the body in the feces.