I believed it was time for an replace for methylene blue. I’ve included the earlier interview I did with Dr. Francisco Gonzalez-Lima two years in the past. My views on using this drug have modified since that point and I believed I would like to provide you an replace as to my present ideas on this attention-grabbing molecule.
Methylene blue is the precursor molecule for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. It’s a fascinating compound with a variety of well being advantages. Methylene blue is a dye first created in 1876. Initially used within the textile trade, it later discovered functions in medication as a consequence of its antimicrobial properties.
Methylene blue stays an vital a part of the technique’s utilized in hospitals worldwide as a consequence of its distinctive capability to counteract mitochondrial metabolic poisons. These are sometimes molecules that disrupt the stream of electrons within the complexes of the electron transport chain of the mitochondria.
In circumstances of carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning, as an illustration, medical professionals administer methylene blue intravenously as a main remedy. In the present day, it is gaining additional consideration within the pure well being neighborhood for its capability to advertise wholesome pores and skin, gradual skeletal growing old, assist mind well being and extra.
Key Advantages of Methylene Blue
Methylene blue is a multifaceted compound with numerous makes use of, however its most notable influence is on how cells produce vitality. It primarily works by interacting with the mitochondrial electron transport chain, which performs an important position in mobile vitality era.
Throughout regular mobile respiration, electrons from the meals we eat are handed by a collection of protein complexes throughout the mitochondria. This course of, known as the electron transport chain, in the end leads to the manufacturing of ATP, the vitality foreign money of cells. On this chain, oxygen acts as the ultimate electron acceptor.
What makes methylene blue particular is its capability to just accept electrons and switch them on to oxygen, successfully making a shortcut within the ordinary electron transport chain. This various pathway can enhance vitality manufacturing, particularly in conditions the place regular mobile processes are compromised or not working at full effectivity.
By enabling simpler electron switch and vitality era, methylene blue has the potential to boost numerous elements of how cells operate and general well being. This capability to work together with and optimize mobile vitality processes is what makes methylene blue a subject of curiosity in each scientific research and potential medical functions.
Improved Mitochondrial Perform
One of the thrilling elements of methylene blue is its potential to enhance mitochondrial effectivity and improve mobile vitality. This enchancment in mobile vitality manufacturing has wide-ranging advantages all through your physique. Whether or not it is therapeutic, neurotransmitter manufacturing or some other mobile operate, optimized mitochondria assist your physique carry out at its finest.
Even in wholesome people, low doses can enhance the physique’s vitality manufacturing methods. It enhances oxygen use, mitochondrial operate and ATP era past regular ranges, basically fine-tuning the whole metabolic course of. This implies it serves as each a efficiency booster for mobile vitality manufacturing and a treatment for metabolic disruptions.
Moreover, methylene blue’s influence on mitochondrial respiration is linked to broader constructive results. It stimulates your physique to extend its oxygen-processing capabilities general. Moreover, it influences blood stream dynamics, resulting in improved blood provide to numerous tissues. These mixed results contribute to its potential as a metabolic optimizer.
Spectacular Cognitive Assist, Together with Towards Alzheimer’s Illness
Methylene blue has a selected affinity for neurological tissue and has been investigated for numerous psychiatric issues, together with manic states and despair. Crawford states, “It does have an affect on the central nervous system … A few of this isn’t extraordinarily nicely outlined. It does appear to have a constructive influence on dopamine and dopamine methods. It undoubtedly influences serotonin and your serotonergic methods.”1
In a single research, methylene blue was given to sufferers with manic despair, often known as bipolar dysfunction, who didn’t reply to standard remedy. Fourteen of them confirmed “particular enchancment” because of this.2 In a separate three-week trial, methylene blue led to considerably larger enchancment than placebo in individuals with extreme depressive sickness.3
Sarcastically, you could have heard of methylene blue as a fish tank remedy, however this humble compound is now on the forefront of Alzheimer’s analysis as nicely. A research revealed {that a} stabilized type of methylene blue, known as hydromethylthionine (LMTM), slows cognitive decline and mind atrophy in delicate to reasonable Alzheimer’s illness sufferers.4
In contrast to present therapies that solely quickly masks signs, LMTM inhibits the aggregation of tau proteins within the mind. Even at low doses, LMTM demonstrates vital advantages. The research discovered that sufferers with plasma concentrations as little as 0.4 to 0.8 ng/ml confirmed enhancements in cognitive operate and lowered mind shrinkage. In keeping with research writer Claude Wischik of Aberdeen College:5
“Along with the discount in mind atrophy, we had been stunned to see the big cognitive results of remedy within the affected person group with the upper blood ranges of hydromethylthionine on the 8 mg day by day dose.
In keeping with scores from the ADAS-cog scale, the impact was round 7.5 factors, or thrice that seen from present routine Alzheimer’s therapies, and can be equal to an 85% discount in cognitive decline over 65 weeks.”
The researchers found that LMTM’s results plateau at increased concentrations, displaying that there is not any want for extreme dosing to realize optimum outcomes. Importantly, methylene blue is a hormetic drug, which signifies that low doses have the other impact as excessive doses.
For instance, it’s primarily utilized in emergency rooms on the higher dosage restrict (3 milligrams to 4 mg per kilo of body weight) for methemoglobinemia,6 which is when a metabolic poison interferes with the transport of oxygen in hemoglobin, by the iron in hemoglobin being oxidized to +3 quite than its regular lowered +2 state.
Nevertheless, should you take too excessive a dose, you produce methemoglobinemia. At dosages in between, there’s no impact. Likewise, whereas low dosages have an antioxidant impact, excessive doses are pro-oxidative and may kill micro organism and tumor cells.
Shield Liver Well being
Methylene blue exhibits promise to be a useful in treating fatty liver situations, providing hope for these scuffling with steatosis (fatty liver illness) and steatohepatitis, a sophisticated type of fatty liver illness. On the coronary heart of methylene blue’s liver-protective results is its capability to activate SIRT1, a protein also known as a “longevity gene.”7
SIRT1 performs a vital position in sustaining vitality steadiness in your physique, much like the consequences of calorie restriction. By rising SIRT1 ranges, methylene blue units off a cascade of useful results. It enhances mitochondrial operate, resulting in improved vitality manufacturing and utilization. This activation mimics the advantages of calorie restriction with out the necessity for drastic dietary adjustments, providing a extra accessible strategy to assist your liver well being and general wellbeing.
One of the promising elements of methylene blue’s motion is its capability to fight extreme fats accumulation within the liver. The research confirmed that methylene blue prompts AMPK, an enzyme that acts as a metabolic grasp change.8 This activation results in elevated fats burning and decreased fats manufacturing within the liver.
Moreover, methylene blue was discovered to boost the exercise of CPT-1 and PPARα, two key gamers in fats metabolism. These results collectively work to cut back the buildup of dangerous fat in your liver cells, reversing or stopping fatty liver illness.
Past its fat-reducing capabilities, methylene blue helps defend your liver from the consequences of a high-fat weight-reduction plan. In mice fed a high-fat weight-reduction plan for eight weeks, remedy with methylene blue considerably lowered liver fats accumulation and irritation.9 That is notably thrilling as a result of it means that methylene blue is efficient not simply in stopping liver harm, but in addition in treating present situations.
By activating SIRT1 and selling mitochondrial well being, methylene blue helps your liver cells change into extra resilient to emphasize and higher outfitted to deal with the challenges of contemporary diets excessive in processed meals and unhealthy fat.10
Methylene Blue Enhances Estrogen Metabolism: A Key to Hormonal Stability
Along with its results on fats metabolism, methylene blue performs an vital position in your liver’s capability to course of estrogen. This operate is important for sustaining hormonal steadiness, which impacts quite a few elements of your well being. Analysis courting again to early research has proven that B nutritional vitamins, notably B1 (thiamine) and B2 (riboflavin), are important on your liver’s capability to deactivate and metabolize estrogen.11
Apparently, different research have discovered that this course of will be additional enhanced by including niacinamide (a type of vitamin B3) and methylene blue to the combination.12,13 Methylene blue’s position on this course of is especially fascinating. Beneath regular situations, your liver wants oxygen to interrupt down estrogen successfully. Nevertheless, in conditions the place oxygen could be restricted, methylene blue steps in as a strong ally.
It acts in its place electron acceptor, basically mimicking the position of oxygen within the estrogen breakdown course of. Which means even in less-than-ideal situations, methylene blue helps your liver proceed its essential process of managing estrogen ranges.14
Furthermore, the mixture of methylene blue with niacinamide is especially efficient. Niacinamide helps keep ranges of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a vital molecule for a lot of mobile processes, together with estrogen metabolism. By preserving NAD+ ranges, niacinamide ensures that your liver has the sources it must course of estrogen effectively.15
When mixed with methylene blue’s capability to operate in low-oxygen environments, this creates a strong duo for supporting your liver’s hormone-balancing capabilities. This multi-faceted method to liver well being — addressing fats metabolism, irritation and hormone steadiness — underscores methylene blue as a flexible device in your well being arsenal.
By supporting these essential liver capabilities, methylene blue gives a complete method to sustaining liver well being and, by extension, your general wellbeing.
A Highly effective Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Methylene blue additionally gives vital advantages in combating irritation. Analysis uncovered its potential to inhibit inflammasomes — protein complexes in your immune system that set off inflammatory responses.16
The research discovered that methylene blue can block a number of kinds of inflammasomes, together with NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2. This broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory motion units methylene blue other than many different therapies that solely goal particular inflammatory pathways. Moreover, methylene blue was proven to cut back the manufacturing of proinflammatory molecules like IL-1β and IL-18.
These findings recommend that methylene blue might be useful in managing numerous inflammatory situations. The compound additionally demonstrated a capability to enhance mitochondrial operate and cut back oxidative stress, that are key elements in lots of continual illnesses. By addressing irritation at a number of ranges, methylene blue gives a promising method to supporting your general well being and stopping or managing inflammatory issues.
The research’s animal experiments additional highlighted methylene blue’s therapeutic potential. When mice got lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate extreme irritation, remedy with methylene blue considerably elevated their survival charges, suggesting that methylene blue might be useful in managing extreme inflammatory situations like sepsis.17
The compound additionally lowered irritation in a mannequin of Listeria an infection, demonstrating its versatility in addressing various kinds of inflammatory triggers. Importantly, methylene blue’s results had been noticed at doses similar to these already used safely in people for different medical functions.
From decreasing the chance of problems after surgical procedures to serving to with continual inflammatory situations, methylene blue’s wide-ranging results on irritation make it a compound price keeping track of on your well being toolbox.
Safety from EMF Publicity, More healthy Pores and skin and Different Advantages
In our more and more wi-fi world, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are vital concern, however, along with minimizing your publicity, methylene blue will help. “Non-native EMF publicity is an issue,” Crawford says. “Methylene blue will assist with radiation publicity. Essential, and one other massive cause that I take it day by day.”18
Analysis additionally suggests methylene blue helps promote youthful pores and skin by decreasing reactive oxygen species, stimulating cell proliferation and upregulating antioxidant defenses.19 One other research revealed March 2024 within the journal Growing older investigated how methylene blue improves skeletal growing old when administered over a long-term interval, supporting bone well being.20
I additionally suggest having methylene blue available at residence in case of a coronary heart assault. Whereas sudden dying is the most typical symptom of coronary heart illness, surviving people face the intense menace of reperfusion damage, the place mobile dysfunction and dying might worsen following the restoration of blood stream.
Methylene blue administration can considerably mitigate tissue harm; nonetheless, correct dosage is essential to keep away from overdose. Administer methylene blue inside minutes of the cardiac occasion to fulfill the vital time threshold.21
Methylene Blue Facet Results
Whereas methylene blue has a formidable security profile when used appropriately, there are some vital concerns:22
1. Blue discoloration — Methylene blue will quickly flip urine and typically your tongue blue. That is innocent however will be startling if surprising. This sometimes happens when the dose is bigger than 30 to 50 mg which is a dose about ten occasions increased than I like to recommend for many.
2. Interference with pulse oximeters — Excessive doses of methylene blue can have an effect on pulse oximeter readings.
3. Serotonin syndrome danger — I might advise robust warning for anybody ever to take an SSRI drug. I don’t imagine anybody advantages from them and would encourage you to learn my final article on SSRIs. Taking methylene blue solely worsens this danger as they improve serotonin ranges even additional.
This sometimes solely happens at excessive doses which can be used to deal with life threatening conditions and is probably going not often, if ever, happen at decrease doses that I like to recommend of three to five mg. This principally happens in these on SSRI medicine and taking doses of methylene blue over 100 mg.
4. Kidney considerations — These with extreme renal insufficiency ought to use warning and work carefully with a well being care supplier.
5. G6PD deficiency — Methylene blue is contraindicated in sufferers with this genetic dysfunction.
The most typical uncomfortable side effects associated to methylene blue contain gastrointestinal discomfort, together with nausea and diarrhea, that are sometimes delicate and transient. Nevertheless, allergic reactions, starting from pores and skin rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis, are additionally potential.
Neurological results resembling complications and confusion can happen, with excessive doses doubtlessly triggering serotonin syndrome, particularly in sufferers taking serotonergic drugs.23 For people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, methylene blue may cause hemolytic anemia, making it essential to display screen for this genetic situation earlier than administration.
Cardiovascular results, although much less frequent, might embrace elevated blood strain and palpitations. Importantly, methylene blue can work together with numerous drugs, notably antidepressants and antimalarials, altering their efficacy or inflicting hostile reactions.
Keep away from Utilizing Methylene Blue Options
Dissolving methylene blue in water can result in a major lower in its effectiveness after 48 to 72 hours for a number of causes:
1. Photodegradation — Methylene blue is delicate to gentle, notably UV radiation. When uncovered to pure or synthetic gentle, the chemical construction of methylene blue can break down, leading to a lack of its therapeutic properties. This degradation course of is accelerated when the compound is dissolved in water and uncovered to gentle, diminishing its effectiveness.
2. Chemical reactions — In aqueous options, methylene blue can endure redox reactions, particularly within the presence of different substances that will act as decreasing brokers. These reactions can alter the chemical construction of methylene blue, decreasing its capability to operate successfully as a medicine.
3. Adsorption to container surfaces — Methylene blue molecules can adsorb onto the surfaces of the container in which they’re saved, resembling glass or plastic. This adsorption reduces the focus of methylene blue out there within the answer, successfully reducing the dosage that may be administered from the answer.
4. Instability in aqueous options — Methylene blue could also be much less steady in water in comparison with its powdered kind. The aqueous atmosphere can facilitate interactions between methylene blue and different dissolved substances, which could result in precipitation or the formation of much less lively complexes.
5. Elevated danger of contamination — Options of methylene blue, as soon as ready, are extra prone to bacterial contamination in comparison with stable varieties. Contamination can additional degrade the answer or result in the manufacturing of by-products that may diminish the effectiveness of methylene blue and pose security dangers.
For these causes, it’s endorsed to make use of pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue in stable, capsule or pill kind, as solely as prescribed by a healthcare skilled. Keep away from utilizing any options of methylene blue for the explanations described above.
Easy methods to Use Methylene Blue
Most consultants suggest comparatively excessive doses for longer-term therapies, together with dementia prevention and remedy, post-stroke care, cognitive enhancement and general well being optimization.
The doses they advise are 0.5 milligram (mg) to 1 mg per kilogram of physique weight. I imagine these doses are extremely extreme and pointless. Please perceive that doses of greater than 3 to five mg are probably by no means wanted except you might be present process remedy for some life-threatening conditioning like carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning or a resistant urinary tract an infection.
Choosing the best product can be vital, and there are three varieties sometimes offered — industrial-grade, chemical-grade (laboratory-grade) and pharmaceutical-grade. The one one you must use is the pharmaceutical-grade selection. Different kinds of methylene blue, such because the one present in pet shops, are meant for maintaining aquariums clear. Industrial-grade methylene blue accommodates impurities, and will by no means be used for any organic functions.
There are a number of vital concerns to think about when utilizing methylene blue. Firstly, when you can simply and cheaply buy methylene blue on-line, that is not often a pharmaceutical grade product, and I strongly suggest by no means utilizing these merchandise due to the chance of heavy metallic contamination.
Secondly, it’s a prescription drug and may solely be used with a prescription from a physician. If you happen to’re contemplating it, I encourage you to talk together with your physician about whether or not it could be applicable on your wants.
Thirdly, it’s finest to get your prescription crammed by a compounding pharmacy. The one type of methylene blue out there at standard pharmacies is for IV use and a ten ml vial accommodates 100 mg and prices over $200.
The dose of methylene blue that I like to recommend is 3 to five mg as soon as a day (no matter your weight). It has a half-life of 12 to 13 hours, so taking it as soon as a day is adequate and can improve your ranges over time. It’s additionally finest to take a time without work as soon as per week if you’re taking it long run.
