Can I replace activated charcoal with homemade charcoal?

There's a splinter and toxin drawing salve that I'd like to make, and one of the ingredients is activated charcoal.

I like to simplify things as much as possible and use stuff that I can grow or make at home so I was wondering if there is any alternative?

If I replace the activated charcoal with either charcoal from the woodstove or food-grade charcoal for coating cheeses, will it do the same thing?

Kate Downham wrote:There's a splinter and toxin drawing salve that I'd like to make, and one of the ingredients is activated charcoal.

I like to simplify things as much as possible and use stuff that I can grow or make at home so I was wondering if there is any alternative?

If I replace the activated charcoal with either charcoal from the woodstove or food-grade charcoal for coating cheeses, will it do the same thing?

I can't believe it wouldn't do the same thing.  Charcoal is well known for drawing nutrients from the soil before it is fully inoculated.  It seems to me the process would be the same.

If you want your charcoal to be activated, more steps need to be taken. I found a detailed article here.

If charcoal is doused while it's still red-hot, the force of the water exploding into steam blows the pores wide open. I don't know if this is exactly as effective as the chemically-activated charcoals, but it's very close, and very simple to do.