Methylene Blue: What is it?
Methylene Blue: What is it?
A miracle according to some :)
I stumbled onto MB while investigating Ray Peat’s philosophy on food, healing, metabolism. It’s one of the essential supplements along with sugar, niacinamide, aspirin, and progesterone … Haha, he had me at sugar.
Quickie update: you CAN remove that blue stain with rubbing alcohol!
History
Methylene Blue (MB) was first formulated in 1876 and it was the first synthetic drug to be used in humans. It was originally used as a dye for cotton straining, and is still used as a dye in laboratory settings.
It was experimentally used to treat schizophrenia in the early 19th century. At this time a peculiar side effect of Methylene Blue (MB) was noted: it will turn urine blue. Eventually it was used side by side with other psychiatric medications to ensure drug regimen compliance. If a patient wasn't peeing blue, they weren't taking their meds.
It was also used extensively by World War II by allied forces in the south pacific for malaria, who used to joke "Even at the loo we see, we pee, navy blue".
Why Methylene Blue?
Fatigue: researchers consider it an important, in many cases essential, supplement to increase mitochondrial electron transport efficiency and your production of cellular energy currency or ATP. In simpler terms, most anyone who is fatigued or tired will benefit from using methylene blue.
Improves memory
Relieves depression
Has demonstrated significant reversal of Alzheimer’s symptoms
Medically approved for urinary tract infection (many say it is the essential treatment), malaria, methemoglobinemia, cyanide poisoning, and hypoxia.
Why We Use MB
So far, it’s one of our “nothing to lose” cures along with aspirin, supplements, Fenbendazole (to prevent/cure cancer), Ivermectin, a few others. No side effects, can’t OD, and all studies/signs say they help. Nothing to lose.
The two most important MB benefits for me and Hal is memory — we’re still sharp, just looking to stay that way — and mood. After the last 3 years, mental and emotional wellness is tops on our list!
We just started using this, 20 drops = 10 mg a day. Working up to 20 mg each. We’re liking it fine, no ill effects. I do feel energized by it and more alert. I will assume it’s the MB since I’m not doing anything else fancy :)
Other Possible Benefits
MB is being researched for help in diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, depression, and aging.
Septic Shock: It is thought that the sudden release of Nitric Oxide is responsible for the cardiovascular problems associated with septic shock. THIS STUDY: Methylene Blue has been found to be a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, one of the three enzymes involved in nitric oxide synthesis. However, the exact impact MB can have in sepsis is inconclusive.
Skin Aging: As we age, the combination of accumulated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the body’s reduced ROS scavenging capacity leads to increased oxidative stress. Collagen is a protein responsible for providing skin structure and forming connective tissue. The overabundance of ROS decreases collagen synthesis and increases collagen breakdown.
According to this ROS theory of skin aging, skin products with antioxidants are used to suppress or neutralize excess ROS. Vitamin C and Vitamin E being the most well known antioxidants in skin products. Methylene Blue, acting as an antioxidant, is able to deactivate superoxide, a potent ROS. THIS STUDY & THIS ONE.
Malaria: As already mentioned, MB was heavily used for malaria before being replaced by other antimalarials which didn't turn urine blue. In 2014, a study showed that intravenous MB was just as effective as the standard malaria treatment method, intravenous artesunate.
Cancer: A study from 2017 shows that MB was able to differentially kill tumor cells in culture when used in conjunction with photodynamic (light) therapy.
Antimicrobial: MB is often used as an anti-fungal in aquariums. It's often used to treat fish eggs to ensure they're not lost to fungal overgrowth.
Alzheimer's: The most promising research on MB is being done in Alzheimer's patients. MB seems to be able to "untangle" the neurofibrillary tangles that are a common hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. A researcher who noticed this, Claude Wischik, founded a company called TauRx, which created a modified and patentable form of MB called LMTX. In a recent drug trial, subjects taking LMTX deteriorated significantly more slowly than those on placebo, and in some cases had improved cognitive function.
Cognitive Function: Studies have shown that MB increases cellular oxygen consumption and glucose uptake in the brain. MB increases CMRO2 (the cerebral metabolic rate) through improved performance of the Electron Transport Chain.
THIS STUDY: Twenty-six healthy participants, between the ages of 22 and 62, were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to measure the effects of MB on the human brain during working-memory and sustained-attention tasks. The participants were given a single low-dose of MB. Participants who took MB had a 7 % increase in correct responses during memory retrieval. This is an hour after only a single low-dose.
Resources
Here’s what I’ve been reading and hearing (in order of most recent find).
Orthomolecular on Methylene Blue — excellent!
This was particularly exciting for us because of Hal’s clot: Methylene Blue Effects Against Micro Robots and Rubbery Clot Development - A Possible Hopeful Adjunct Solution? by Dr. Ana Maria Mihalcea, MD, PhD
Methylene Blue – a phenomenal anti- aging molecule in my most favorite color – helps with long COVID symptoms too by Dr. Ana Maria Mihalcea, MD, PhD
Methylene Blue: A molecule made for this time? by Dr. Tess Lawrie, founder of World Council for Health (about Dr. Lawrie, I’m a huge fan)
Cellular and Molecular Actions of Methylene Blue in the Nervous System (science)
The books are here. I have not read them yet. EVERYONE recommends Mark Sloan’s book.
In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ron Hunninghake, MD, talks to Dr. Thomas Levy, MD, JD, and member of Riordan Clinic Board of Directors, about methylene blue. Originally created as a dye, methylene blue has been found to have powerful antioxidant properties beneficial in medical uses. Antioxidant Power of Methylene Blue March 2023 Episode, 23 minutes:
In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Hunninghake and Dr. Levy revisit the topic of methylene blue. They address the themes of some of the nearly 400 questions and comments received after their March episode, including how methylene blue works, how to take it, and general suggestions for dosing. A Second Look at Methylene Blue, October 2023 Episode, 22 minutes:
Dr Levi recommended Orthomolecular.org article "Resolving Colds to Advance COVID with Methylene Blue", Volume 19 #8.
What Is Methylene Blue? by Ryan Heeney
Georgi Dinkov is an expert on the Ray Peat methodology. I listen to a LOT of Danny Roddy’s (Ray’s acknowledged protégé) podcasts with Dinkov and I think Georgi might actually be a genius, sounds like he remembers everything he reads and can put it all together. Dinkov’s website is haidut.me and his “handle” is Haidut. All of
’s Methylene Blue posts on the ray peat forumAnti-Aging Potentials of Methylene Blue for Human Skin Longevity (science)
Top 6 Benefits of Methylene Blue + Dosage & Side Effects at SelfHacked
Methylene Blue is good for the brain says nootropics expert
What is Methylene Blue? Benefits, Side Effects, Interactions
Mechanism of Action (The Science)
MB does not work on the receptor-ligand model, like many other drugs do, it works by directly increasing mitochondrial respiration through the Electron Transport Chain. The Electron Transport Chain is series of four proteins complexes that sit in the membrane of the mitochondria and are responsible for Oxidative Phosphorylation (OxPhos). OxPhos is the main method through which ATP is produced, the "energy currency" of the cell.
MB can easily cross biomembranes, just as Nitric Oxide does. It permeates into the mitochondria, where it acts on the Electron Transport Chain as an electron transporter. It is first reduced to MBH2 by the NADH that comes from the Electron Transport Chain complex I and then re-oxidized back to MB by complex IV. The cycling between these two forms facilitates electron transportation for ATP synthesis and increases the performance of the Electron Transport Chain. This is true even in hypoxia.
ATP is energy. Anything that improves or increases that is a benefit.
Mitochondrial impairment is implicated in many disease states (Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, etc).
"These findings provide evidence that methylene blue, the redox dye currently used as an antidote for encephalopathy associated with alkylating chemotherapy, uncouples oxidative phosphorylation and acts as an electron transfer mediator to stimulate mitochondrial respiration." (Visarius 1997)
FIND YOUR DOSE
You find your dose by starting with 1 drop a day and checking your urine a few hours later. If it's blue-ish or green-ish, then you've found your starting dose. After a couple of days, if there's no color, add another drop.
Two drops = 1 mg. So 40 drops for 20 mg* which is a typical daily maintenance dose. That is our goal. We are at half that now.
Methylene Blue hack: you can ditch the blue color by adding a scoop or two of Vitamin C powder to 4 oz water, add the methylene blue, wait a few minutes and the water turns clear. No more blue tongue :) Still tastes yucky but it’s only 4 ounces. Or toss in the smoothie!
As you will hear/read at the resources below, studies in Alzheimer's, depression, cancer and malaria use high doses of 150mg+/day.
Products
This is the Methylene Blue we are using.
This is another brand lots of people recommend: Health Natura
Most affordable way to buy is bulk powder. If you purchase 1 ounce (25 grams) and take 20 mg/day (a typical maintenance dose), it can last one person over three years. I just ordered this kit to try the powder. The reviews are very helpful.
One reviewer said that he called the company, Quantum Innovation Labs, and they will sell bulk directly for very good prices.
You can also check out this site to purchase bulk powder. It comes highly recommended by this Methylene Blue Telegram group.
Safety
It should not be taken with an SSRI.ʳ UPDATE: THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE. Please do your own research on this point. Personally, I recommend weaning off the SSRI and just doing the MB. But that’s me. Not medical advice. Bear in mind I’m a wacko bio-hacker.
It should not be given to babies.ʳ
If you have a G6PD deficiency.
Don't take the ones they sell at the fish store. Only purchase USP grade MB that has been analyzed for trace metals.
Rare symptoms can include stomach pain, chest pain, dizziness, headache, sweating, confusion, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, accelerated heartbeat, tremor, skin turning blue, urine turning blue or green, reduction of red blood cells, or jaundice (only reported in infants).
Methyloene Blue is a very old, very safe supplement with some pretty amazing claims. I’m all for amazing claims. Feedback, please :) Are you taking it? What have you found? What else are you reading?
The Smoothie
The smoothie is my meal replacement shake (part of my build-health lose-weight system), get it here.
Probiotic in the smoothie: use this in the vanilla shake, this one in the chocolate.
Raw milk resources are here.
40 Mule Team Borax is available at Dollar stores, Walmart, lots of places. 1/8 tsp is 50 mg which is a lot — 3-6mg is the recommended dose and works for lots of people. But a) I’m a nut and b) in a lot of health groups where lots of people take LOTS, like 100 mg/day. I figure a pinch is about 25 mg and we’ve been taking this for a couple of years, no problems… here’s some good info on Boron as well as alternative ways to take it.
You can get copper in pills here. We take 10 mg/day so bought a bag of the powder and make our own liquid. Comment below (or hit reply if this is in your email) and I’ll explain how to make the drops.
xo Sally
Great post, Sally. I tried the Oxidal drops and I do think they work as described but caused some bladder irritation that wasn't worth it. I am sensitive in this way and expect most people won't have this issue.
Wow, you wrote a very helpful article with links to lots of useful information -- thanks! I wonder what you think about Dr. Mercola's recent comments about methylene blue wreaking havoc with the gut microbiome by destroying bifidobacteria. It's not clear to me whether his concerns are based on only a single conversation with the gastroenterologist he mentioned in his Dec. 21, 2023 podcast or whether the comments from the gastro doc added to misgivings Dr. Mercola already was developing. Importantly, Dr. Mercola did say he continues taking a very low dose of MB himself (i.e., 2 mg every other day).