Something to toss into your PSK

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Since I did not get to see too many other folks PSK's at the April CT gathering, I'm not too sure how many folks might have this item in their's.

I have carried 'Activated Charcoal' in capsules in my PSK and backpacking kits for going on 25 years now. It's something that can be used to settle an upset stomach, and aid in helping to diminish a case of food poisoning, whether from prepared foods or a new to you wild plant. Capsules keep pretty fresh indefinitely I've found with reasonable storage precautions as you would most likely store them in your first aid kit as do I.

Another item I keep in my first aid kit is a small pack of cayenne pepper powder. It can be dressed onto smaller cuts and wounds to aid in clotting the wound. Sores well in small zip top bags for crafts in 1-2 oz portions. Also keep some in my food stores because I like my food spicy:D
 
I carry charcoal as well. Its great stuff! Nice idea bro.:thumbup:

Havent heard cayane pepper thing though, interesting. I have heard suger being used though for the same reason.:thumbup:
 
Interesting....

Where does one find activated charcoal capsules,.... or do you have to make these up yourself?
 
Jeff H said:
Interesting....

Where does one find activated charcoal capsules,.... or do you have to make these up yourself?
Click to expand...

My question too...I have heard you could scrounge a bit of charcoal from the fire and wash it down if you had a stomachache...never tried it though. :barf:
 
Speaking of wound dressing and food uses, how about honey?

Honey is the only food that doesn't go bad. Ever.

Even if it crystalizes(which would probably make it easier to carry in a PSK anyway...), it just needs to be heated.

Besides being delicious and high in energy, the ancient Egyptians prized it's antibacterial properties, using it to treat wounds. Microorganisms cannot survive in honey. Period.
 
Jeff -- Activated charcoal capsules can be found at a GNC store if you have one (elsewhere probably but I just don't know, but would look in the supplement aisle). While one can make charcoal easy enough, it usually doesn't qualify as "activated" charcoal (which has tremendous surface area). Both will work, just a matter of effectiveness, hence dosage, and convenience. --schlots
 
HolyRoller said:
Speaking of wound dressing and food uses, how about honey?

Honey is the only food that doesn't go bad. Ever.

Even if it crystalizes(which would probably make it easier to carry in a PSK anyway...), it just needs to be heated.

Besides being delicious and high in energy, the ancient Egyptians prized it's antibacterial properties, using it to treat wounds. Microorganisms cannot survive in honey. Period.
Click to expand...

Good point, and yes, Honey is great to have. I've used it on wounds in place of neosporin.

The only problem is that not any honey will do. It has to be unprocessed, so if you can get some right from the bee keeper, then great, but the stuff at the store is worthless.
 
Activated charcoal is, apparently, available in Pet Supply stores. It is used in aquarium filters, or so I have been telling my customers .................

Doc
 
Rockywolf said:
My question too...I have heard you could scrounge a bit of charcoal from the fire and wash it down if you had a stomachache...never tried it though. :barf:
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Well I HAVE tried this, while EXTREMELY drunk. I can't tell you much about the effectiveness of the technique though. I was EXTREMELY drunk, so drunk I passed out in a tree. I fell into some kind of shrub and my jacket got caught and I ended up kind of suspended from my jacket and I couldn't get loose and then I passed out. I woke up in pouring rain with ashes all over my face still hanging from the tree. I didn't drink again for months and months afterward.
 
I carry both to( charcoal and the C pepper ) And ahve used it for ustet tummies and to stop bleeding from wounds I have gotten. When I was over in the first gulf war my mom would send me the charcoal in small containers in bulk and in the capsules that she would make up. word got around that if you had a tummy acke to go find that guy TackleBreeden in Bravo co. he has the best cure. I remember one time that my platoon commander 1st Lt. Hicky woke me up a few minutes after 1 am. one time asking me, if he could try that charcoal stuff. I gave him some. I chatted with him at roll call the next morning and he said he felt so much better. I asked him well sir are you a believer in it. He said oh yea that stuff works just like the others have said it does. I even had a Navy corpsmen
comming to get the charcoal because he heard others talking about how great it works for tummy ackes. After he took some for a tummy acke he never took the little pills he gave out to the others who came to him with tummy ackes again while we were over there.

It is great stuff.

Bryan
 
'Activated Charcoal' is a great thing !Tomorrow I'll buy some for my PSK.I've never thought to put some in it - it's a brilliant idea.
 
HolyRoller said:
Speaking of wound dressing and food uses, how about honey?

Honey is the only food that doesn't go bad. Ever.

Even if it crystalizes(which would probably make it easier to carry in a PSK anyway...), it just needs to be heated.

Besides being delicious and high in energy, the ancient Egyptians prized it's antibacterial properties, using it to treat wounds. Microorganisms cannot survive in honey. Period.
Click to expand...

I think i might get some honey packets next time i see some at a resturaunt and toss them into the PSK. good thought :thumbup:
 
tenkara said:
Is it possible to get honey in solid form?
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Carry it still in the bee? :rolleyes:

I like the idea of the AC. I'll have to give that a try. Sounds too good to pass up. :thumbup:

But pouring pepper into a wound? I-don't-think-soooo.... Reminds me too much of the movies where some guy pulls the lead out of a bullet and dumps the powder into the wound and lights it. Un-uh... I still use Bandaids with Bullwinkle or Fred Flintstone on them. I'll stick with 3xantibiotic ointment and 5% lidocaine. :) Call me a wimp. I can take it! :D

Stitchawl
 
Doesn't activated charcoal have a life expectancy or is that just in water filters? Still, I think it's a good idea to have some in the pack...

ROCK6
 
yup activated charcoal works when you are having diaherra too.

Rock if it is seal it should last quite long especially if you keep it dry and out of the sun. i got one batch date of 2007 and expiry date of 2012.
 
HolyRoller said:
Speaking of wound dressing and food uses, how about honey?

Honey is the only food that doesn't go bad. Ever.

Even if it crystalizes(which would probably make it easier to carry in a PSK anyway...), it just needs to be heated.

Besides being delicious and high in energy, the ancient Egyptians prized it's antibacterial properties, using it to treat wounds. Microorganisms cannot survive in honey. Period.
Click to expand...

I'd be careful about using honey on woundws. Years ago I woeked in a medical lab and was told by one of the pathologists that honey was the ideal media for them to culture bacteria in. :eek:

-- FLIX
 
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