What is Methylene Blue?

Methylene Blue was a breakthrough discovery by chemists working for BASF—Germany’s largest chemical factory in the 19th century. It was the first synthetic blue dye. A revolution back then because dying clothes blue was lengthy, costly and only for the rich till then.

Uses in Medicine

It is used to treat acute states of oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) and Methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is an acquired or genetic condition where red blood cells are inhibited to carry oxygen. In the past Methylene Blue was used to treat Malaria.

Now it’s trending in the biohacking community. People take it to boost energy and enhance mental clarity.

To me, purposely taking manufactured chemicals to enhance vitality sounds contradicting. Especially in times where we are dealing with so many toxins in our immediate environment and trying to avoid them.

Why Methylene Blue Gives You an Energy Boost

It acts directly on the mitochondria, the energy source of your cells. To produce energy, mitochondria rely on the transfer of electrons along their membranes. This is similar to a relay race, where runners pass a baton to each other. 

Within the mitochondria, the runners are the proteins and the batons are the electrons. The proteins hand electrons to each other to create momentum. 

In relay racing, if the baton isn't passed to the next runner, the race stops. In mitochondria, if the electrons aren't transferred from protein to protein, the momentum is disrupted and the mitochondrion cannot make energy. As a result, we feel tired and foggy. 

Here is where Methylene Blue comes in. It acts like an alternate electron acceptor and keeps the electron transfer going.

If you consider taking it, here is what I think you should know:

· Methylene Blue doesn't add true or sustained value to mitochondrial activity. It is not naturally occurring in the body and doesn't add longtime value to cells. As soon as it is excreted, the effect is gone. Methylene blue is merely a drug.

· Long-term use might come with adverse effects.

· The reason why most of us feel so sluggish and tired is because modern life is disrupting optimal mitochondrial function.

· A disrupted circadian rhythm from too much artificial light and lack of natural sunlight, toxins, weak muscles and nutrient deficiencies are reasons why mitochondria aren't working properly.

The things you truly need for your body to thrive are given by our natural environment. We just have to use them.

For optimal mitochondrial health, do this:

Get outside within the first hour after sunrise and before sunset daily. No sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses. It doesn't have to be sunny. Mitochondria are dependent on light and indoor lifestyle make them "lazy". Spend as much time as you can outside.

Get loads of B vitamins. Organ meats a great source. Eat veggie or fruit peels if possible. They contain B vitamins. Yes, you can eat banana peels. I put them in the blender for a smoothie (spray-free please).

Cardio and strength exercise. Mitochondria thrive on movement. We carry thousands of them in each of our skeletal and heart muscle cells.

Cold and heat shock. Cold and heat shock are scientifically proven to invigorate mitochondria.

Here is how to do it safely and for maximum benefits:

15 min sauna followed by 30 seconds of cold-water plunging or swimming.

Alternatively, shower a couple of minutes under very warm water (as warm as it is comfortable), turn water away from you and let it run on the coldest setting. Once the water temperature is at its lowest, get under and deal with it for 30 seconds. Breathe deeply.

Fasting: 24 hour fasts and calorie restriction are scientifically proven to regenerate mitochondria.

Limiting blue light from screens as much as possible. Turn on blue light filters in your devices or get some quality blue-blocking glasses. Blue light shuts mitochondria off.

Breath work. Oxygen is the final natural oxygen acceptor in the mitochondrial electron chain. All you need to do is taking it in.

Take an obnoxious in breath, breathe out, hold your breath for as long as it is comfortable. Breath in strongly again. Repeat 5 times. Feeling vibrant?

I hope this offered some background information so you can make an informed decision.

I also get excited about keywords like "improved energy", "mental clarity", etc. But I have been nipped in the butt too many times before for not digging deeper and getting more info. Until methylene blue isn't proven to be 100 % safe for humans long-term, I will definitely hold back on the hype.

Please share this with someone who needs to know this.

https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB09241