Japanese Activated Charcoal
Like the Himalayan salt, activated charcoal is best known for its purification and detoxification properties. In the water vessel assemblage, activated charcoal serves dual purposes of filtering water for drinking and for subtle air balancing by adding negative ions to the air in the vicinity of the charcoal.
Well known uses of activated charcoal include super fine filtration of air by absorbing odors, allergens, pollutants and bacteria, as well as dehumidifying; and for water filtration, absorbing the same pollutants while neutralizing the pH and the taste and feel of the water. As a fine powder, activated charcoal is used for internal body detoxification, as well as in bath towels and soaps for the skin. The benefits of its use are numerous and well known in Japan, where most of the activated charcoal has traditionally been made in Kishu by slowly drying oak tree branches, heating them to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling them until they transform into carbon.