The web is abuzz with tributes to a liquid chemical known as methylene blue this is being bought as a well being complement.
Over the last 5 or 10 years, methylene blue has come to be touted on-line as a so-called nootropic agent – a substance that complements cognitive serve as. Distributors declare that it amps up mind power, improves reminiscence, boosts center of attention and dispels mind fog, amongst different meant advantages.
Well being influencers, equivalent to podcaster Joe Rogan, have sung its praises. In February 2025, in a while ahead of he used to be showed as well being and human services and products secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seemed in a video squirting a blue liquid broadly presumed to be methylene blue into a pitcher – despite the fact that he by no means verbally counseled the substance.
As a researcher finding out irritation and most cancers, I examine how dyes have an effect on human well being. Claims about methylene blue are alluring, and it’s simple to shop for into its promise. However up to now, proof supporting its well being advantages is scant, and there are some critical dangers to the usage of the substance outdoor of clinical apply.
What’s methylene blue?
Methylene blue used to be first synthesized within the nineteenth century by means of scientists on the German chemical corporate BASF.
Museo di Chimica dell’Università di Genova by means of Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Methylene blue is an artificial dye that exists as a dismal inexperienced powder and takes on a deep blue colour when dissolved in water. My paintings and that of others recommend that many manmade dyes broadly utilized in meals and drugs can cause doubtlessly damaging immune machine reactions within the frame. However in contrast to regularly used meals dyes – one in all which used to be not too long ago banned by means of the U.S. Meals and Drug Management – methylene blue isn’t derived from petroleum, sometimes called crude oil. As a substitute, it comes from a unique circle of relatives of dyes, which isn’t concept to have those well being considerations.
Methylene blue used to be first synthesized in 1876 as a dye for textiles and used to be valued for its intense colour and skill to bind smartly to materials. Quickly after, German doctor Paul Ehrlich came upon its talent to stain organic tissues and to kill the parasite that reasons malaria — making it some of the first artificial medication utilized in medication.
The chemical didn’t acquire popular use as a malaria remedy as it used to be not more efficient than quinine, the usual treatment on the time. However within the Nineteen Thirties, the dye discovered a brand new use in checking out the security of uncooked or unpasteurized milk. If its blue colour light briefly, the milk used to be infected with micro organism, but when it remained blue, the milk used to be thought to be rather blank.
This protection check now could be in large part out of date. But it surely works due to methylene blue’s chemical superpower, which is that its molecules can change electrons with different molecules, like a tiny battery charger.
How do docs use it lately?
That very same chemical superpower allows a few of methylene blue’s clinical makes use of. Most importantly, docs use it to regard an extraordinary blood dysfunction known as methemoglobinemia, wherein hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in pink blood cells that carries oxygen, takes on a unique shape that may’t do the process. Methylene blue restores hemoglobin’s serve as by means of moving an electron.
Docs additionally now and again use methylene blue to regard the consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning, septic surprise or toxicities from medication equivalent to chemotherapy. Additionally it is used as a surgical dye to focus on particular tissues equivalent to lymph nodes, or to spot the place tissue is leaky and subsequently is also broken.
How does methylene blue have an effect on the mind?
Methylene blue can input the mind by means of crossing the protecting tissue barrier that surrounds it. Researchers have additionally discovered that the chemical can offer protection to and give a boost to mitochondria, cellular buildings which are continuously described because the powerhouses of the cellular. Methylene blue would possibly assist mitochondria generate power for cells to make use of. For those causes, researchers are finding out methylene blue’s impact at the mind.
To this point, maximum of what’s identified in regards to the substance’s results at the mind comes from research in rats and in cells grown in a lab dish – now not in other folks. For instance, researchers have discovered that methylene blue would possibly reinforce finding out, spice up reminiscence and offer protection to mind cells in rats with a situation that mimics Alzheimer’s illness.
Methylene blue is in fact darkish inexperienced in powdered shape.
Adam Rędzikowski by means of Wikimedia Commons
Research in rodents have additionally discovered that methylene blue can offer protection to the mind from harm from mind harm. Different research confirmed that methylene blue turns out to be useful in treating ischemic stroke in rats. Alternatively, no analysis up to now has tested whether or not it protects peoples’ brains from aggravating mind harm or stroke.
A handful of scientific trials have investigated the consequences of methylene blue in treating sides of Alzheimer’s illness in other folks, however a 2023 overview of those trials notes that their effects were combined and now not conclusive. A small find out about of 26 other folks discovered {that a} unmarried low dose of the chemical boosted reminiscence by means of about 7% and higher mind process all the way through considering duties. Some other find out about by means of the similar researchers discovered that methylene blue modified how other portions of the mind hooked up, despite the fact that it didn’t reinforce considering talents.
Even if some research in other folks have proven hints that methylene blue is also really helpful for some brain-related problems, equivalent to ache control and neuropsychiatric problems, such research up to now were small. This implies that whilst there is also affected person instances the place methylene blue is really helpful, researchers have now not but pinned down what the ones are.
Is methylene blue secure?
Methylene blue is typically secure when used below clinical supervision. Alternatively, the chemical has some critical dangers.
For something, it could actually engage with broadly used medicines. Methylene blue inhibits a molecule known as monoamine oxidase, whose process is to damage down the most important mind chemical, serotonin. Many regularly used medicines for treating anxiousness and despair goal serotonin. Taking the complement at the side of those medications may cause a situation known as serotonin syndrome, which may end up in agitation, confusion, prime fever, fast middle price, muscle stiffness and, in serious instances, seizures and even loss of life.
In other folks with an extraordinary genetic deficiency of an enzyme known as G6PD, methylene blue may cause a perilous situation wherein pink blood cells damage down too briefly. At prime doses, the chemical too can carry blood force or purpose middle issues. Additionally, it’s thought to be unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding ladies as a result of it will hurt the fetus or child.
General, whilst scientists have discovered hints of a few attention-grabbing houses of methylene blue, a lot higher, longer trials are had to know if it in reality works, what the appropriate dose is and the way secure it’s over the years.
