Activated charcoal uses. A must carry..

I am always telling people to carry a little activated charcoal with them for water filtration. Or even make a mini water filter with a small PVC pipe and two end  caps a rubber band and some window screen.

But did you know that it has other uses!! For 1000's of years activated charcoal has been used without adverse side effects to help with medical issues. 

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! (this info is for emergency purposes ONLY!)

I got my bits at the pet store, cheaper that way   
 (but Not everything sold in stores for use in aquarium filtration is activated carbon even though it might be black and it might even have the name activated carbon, or a close variation, on the box. Boxes of cheap black shiny bits of material are probably anthracite coal and have little to no adsorption capability.)   
You can make you own by using the charcoal a wood fire produces.  (NOT BRICKETTS!  they have additives)   
I found this page to be helpful in learning about the different type of carbon products. Click Here

Also Click here to see how to recharge your activated charcoal to get long use from it. 

Video on How to Make Activated Charcoal

But I also like the video in my Pine sap post Click here....the video is of just that pine sap,  but the process known as "Destructive distillation"  will give you a high heat level to make a most effective activated charcoal....you need high high heat the kind you get in a pottery oven. But regular fire wood will do in an emergency. 

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 Uses

- Water Filter

- Air Filter  

- Ink

- Make a cheap homemade gas mask with it Click here  Put for use in this bag you can wrap it up in a wet banana and breath threw that till you can get to a safer place.  (And don't laugh it looks funny but it really makes sense!)

- Use as face camouflage 

- Mixed in compost helps remove the toxins (so great for garden)  

- Odor remover 

- Clean food ... It can remove bacterias, pesticides and heavy metals from fruit and vegetable. Add 1 or 2 tsp of chopped up charcoal to a bowl and soak for 15 min.

Medical Uses

-Use in eye drops see my post about eye care Click Here  and its use with salt

 -Activated charcoal normalizes cholesterol and lipid metabolism.

-Activated charcoal reduces the activity of some viruses So next time you have a cold or the flu

-It is universal antidote for drugs, chemicals and poisons.

Oral Use of Activated Charcoal
Activated Charcoal can help with mild digestive upsets, stop diarrhea, viral and bacterial infections. It adsorbs toxins and can render them inert and carrys them through the digestive tract. Charcoal be digested by the human body. It is a valuable aid in the treatment of accidental poisonings. The powder can be placed in the mouth and moistened with saliva for swallowing.

Gas and Indigestion
Activated Charcoal adsorbs excess gas and bacteria that forms gas in the digestive tract. . Except if you have a blockage (do not take)

Tooth Powder
It can trap bacteria and help treat gum and tooth disease. Just by brushing your teeth with the powder. Rinse well!
  
Slurry Form Place 4 TBS of activated charcoal powder in a pint size jar of distilled water, shake it up to mix well, and use it as needed. You may want to add a bit of sugar to it to make it taste a little better.

Topical Applications -- Poultice
Topically, Activated Charcoal is a powerful poultice for skin irritations. Charcoal compresses help speed the healing of wounds and eliminate their odors. Even on spider bites!

Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of Activated Charcoal powder into a sterile glass container. Add  water to make a paste.  Place  firmly onto the skin and cover the poultice completely with plastic to hold in the heat and moisture.  Activated Charcoal draws bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice. Keep the poultice moist and warm to speed healing. . Change every 6 to 10 hours.



Absolutely not one good song for this post!!! So a random song is the game plan this go around

Herbal remedy book PDF

 This is a quick post and I will add the link to my pdf page.

 Compete Herbal Remedies book from 1814

It is over 400 pages long so it might be much to print.  It maybe cheaper to find the book and buy it. Or this just makes a good reference and learning tool for those who are trying to learn the skill of home remedies. What I do like is the last pages. They are definitely worth printing.  (Pages 411-429) Illustrated pictures of herbs for your binder or even framing. 

 Click here

 may take a min to load because it is over 400 pages

Get a 2 way radios GET ONE

First print these PDF's for your binders  Click here
It is the NOAA weather Radio info

Now onto the Radio them selves. As a person that is still kind of new to prepping (a little over a year now) This is something I keep putting aside. Why because the chances of needing it are slim in my part of the country. I prep for hyperinflation and or the grid going down. Now because of that grid going down thought I know that this is really something I should get but it is a higher priced prep so I do not want to get the wrong one!

No matter what you are preppering for having  minimal communication with the outside world is something to think about. Remember if power goes down on a larger scale you may not have cell phone use. But being on a budget I am looking to get a cheaper choice.

***First read this... GMRS vs CB......Click Here  I found it helpful GMRS are the first two radios   below..and the last on it a CB.

I have been looking for that cheap option and found a few on Amazon. (I am not trying to sell these or make money on them because my state has ban credit for Amazon referrals).

Talking to some preppers was very helpful and many suggest Midland products and grundig ones to.

I came across a few and want to share them with you, but I am also looking for feed back on any better ideas (that are affordable).  I always suggest shopping for better prices or waiting for a sale on a deal like this.

AND REMEMBER to make a Faraday bag for the radio and small ones for walkies just in case Click Here for some basics



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UPDATE: I just found it on amazon! Sold by amazon for $64! It is not in stock yet but I pre ordered! And will add some handheld soon to keep in touch with the family! (PS I found alot of people price gouging this! So be careful!) The link below is the amazon one...that is how I just got mine...just keep checking till they get more in

Midland XT511 GMRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio  $62 they are out right now but should be in stock soon.

• Emergency radio with 22 GMRS/FRS channels and all 10 NOAA weather channels with alert function
• Includes AM/FM radio reception, a clock with an alarm function, and a 3-LED flashlight
• Features VOX automatic voice-activated operation, and a USB port for charging cell phones, radios, etc.
• Rechargeable battery can be powered by dynamo hand crank, or included AC or DC power adapters. You can power with four standard AA batteries
• Constructed to be water resistant, and backed by a manufacturer's 3-year warranty

What I like is you can reach the outside world for help. It can be used with Midland XT511 GMRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio so you can expand the set up over time.
I was looking at solar ones, which I really wanted that option but when keeping cheap I could only find solar without the 2way. You can always get a solar battery charger for the AA batterys and BAM your solar!

This is a useful review on it

 

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UPDATE: I had purchased this and canceled it right away when I found out it is not waterproof.  Still a great radio and I just found them on amazon for $74 (that is half price!)

 

Etón FR1000 Voicelink $145 (but this deal come with one handheld to)

• Digital AM/FM receiver and NOAA weather alert radio and walkie talkie with 22 GMRS FRS channels, 121 privacy codes (38 CTCSS/83 DCS)
• Selectable call alert, scan/monitor function, dual watch function, roger beep tone, silent operation, keypad lock, power hi/lo settings
• Battery meter indicator, LCD display, 12-hour (AM/PM) digital clock with alarm/snooze function
• External speaker/microphone jack, 3.5-millimeter headphone output, cell phone charging jack, AC/DC adapter charging jack,
• power source: 4 AA alkaline batteries or Ni-MH battery pack
• Includes owner's manual, warranty card, rechargeable battery, and AC adapter

Does not have the handheld mic, it has a built in one.  It actually seems to bit a bit better than the midland one

Here is a useful review on this one

 

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Midland 75-822 Citizens Band Radio  Is a CB radio and you need a licence to use it but for $79 it is an option. $77.00 (you can get your group to all get one set up a priv. channel to communicate)

40-Channel CB Radio 

The 75-822 offers 40 separate communication channels, delivering the maximum CB communication range with 4 watts of output power.Channel scan can automatically check all channels for activity, stopping on any active channel for five seconds. You can also store and instantly access up to five of your favorite channels in memory. When you flip on the device, a last channel memory feature will turn on the last channel you selected before powering off.While communicating, a built in ANL (automatic noise limiter) improves reception for weak signals, and squelch control further eliminates background noise.

Weather Radio/Emergency Channel Convenience 

The 75-822 features instant access to NOAA Weather Radio, for weather/hazard information in your area 24/7. Immediate access to emergency channel 9 and informational channel 19 is also provided. The Dual Watch feature lets you monitor channel 9 and another channel of your choice simultaneously.

Power With AA Batteries or Vehicle Power Port You can power this unit with six AA batteries, complete with a battery life extender feature. To get even more from your batteries, high/low transmit power settings are provided (4 watts and 1 watt, respectively).A mobile adapter is also included for powering directly from your vehicle's "cigarette lighter" power port.

 Easy to Use  The 75-822 boasts a large, backlit multifucntion LCD display that's easy to read, day or night. A keypad lock feature "locks in" your preferred settings, so they aren't accidentally changed. The flexible antenna with BNC connector is easily removed for transport, and an external headset jack is provided for hands-free use. 

 Now this does not have your regluar radio or phone charger on it like the other two but if you already have stuff that can cover this, I think this would be the way to go because it has mmajor distance!  

And here is a review on this one. 

 

 

Any thought PLEASE comment on this one. Cuz I will be getting mine in a few weeks and I really want to get the right ones. 

 

OK the song for this post has to be..... AM Radio Everclear (just makes me smile)