When my friend Adam Marafioti from LifeBlud was on our radio show he described methylene blue as a “Swiss army knife for your health.”
I’ll embed the interview we did with him below if you’d like to hear it.
I had already been researching methylene blue for a long time prior to recording that show. In my research I came across a great book called The Ultimate Guide to Methylene Blue by Mark Sloan. That book really got me excited to start taking this magical substance and learn even more about how it works.
In my research I found some of these methylene blue benefits…
- Improving redox (reduction of oxidation)
- Converting ferric iron, Fe3+ to ferrous iron, Fe2+
- Improves iron recycling inside hemoglobin
- Increases oxygen utilization
- Helps transfer electrons across the electron transport chain
- Increases cytochrome c oxidase function
- Helps generate ATP in every cell of your body
- Improves mitochondrial activity
- Helps restore melanin synthesis
- Reduces oxidation & inflammation by donating electrons
- and so much more
How could there be so many health benefits of methylene blue?
What Is Methylene Blue?
Let’s first be clear methylene blue is not a natural substance. I remember the late great Jack Lalanne said, “If God didn’t make it, I won’t eat it!“.
In this case Jack would be missing out on one of the most powerful substances he could ever put into his body.
Methylene blue is a synthetic compound that was first developed and discovered by a German chemist named Heinrich Caro in 1876. It was first used as a dye and for staining samples. I don’t think anybody knows yet how this works but it functions as an electron donor as well as an acceptor in the mitochondria. This allows electrons to pass over the inner mitochondrial membrane more effectively. This is called the electron transport chain.
This allows complex 4, cytochrome c oxidase to function more effectively. As a direct result of this, more energy (adenosine triphosphate) gets created. When this happens oxygen is metabolized more effectively as well as glucose.
As scientists continued to study it, it was found to be neuroprotective as well as a powerful antioxidant (in its ability to donate and accept electrons) and as a result is antiinflammation. Neurodegenerative diseases along with depression and chronic pain seem to be helped effectively by the regular consumption of methylene blue,’
Methylene blue also seems to have pretty significant antimicrobial and antiviral impacts on our bodies. I’d like to see more studies on the antiviral effects of methylene blue as I’m more skeptical about that.
Over the decades methylene blue has also been quite effective for malaria, cognitive decline, respiratory infections since it can scavenge free radicals by donating electrons where needed. These are only some of the many uses of methylene blue.
Adam was correct, methylene blue is a Swiss army knife!
5 Health Benefits of Methylene Blue
Boosts Mitochondrial Function and Energy Production
As I mentioned before methylene blue acts as both an electron donor and electron acceptor in your mitochondria. Adam described it as having the ability to move electrons from complex one to complex 3 of your mitochondria. There are processes that need to happen at each “station” of the mitochondria. By allowing electrons to flow more freely, that means more energy gets generated.
Not only does it help electrons pass more easily but it also improves the function of complex 4 cytochrome c oxidase where ATP gets created. As a result methylene blue may help with cellular metabolism with a primary focus on your brain and your heart.
Neuroprotective Properties
Methylene blue has shown really great potential in not only protecting but possibly reversing damage in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Could you imagine if we had remedies for these conditions that your doctor could prescribe for you?
It seems to work by regulating tau protein aggregation in the brain. It also increases mitochondrial activity and ATP production in the brain which can dramatically lessen symptoms and slow the decline of neuronal cells.
Antidepressant Effects
Another methylene blue benefit is that it acts as a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. When MAO is inhibited there’s less breakdown of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin.
Methylene blue for the win!
When these neurotransmitters are protected, they can proliferate which when they do can lessen symptoms of depression and other mood disorders people deal with. There are quite a few studies on how methylene blue can have a significant impact on depression which makes me excited it will become more well known.
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activity
When methylene blue was first discovered it was used primarily to treat infections like malaria. But it has also been shown to stimulate immunity and helping with reducing inflammation. Some researchers say it helps to prevent viral replication, but I question whether or not viruses even exist or cause illness in the first place so I’m a little skeptical on that one.
Methylene blue when combined with phototherapy and red light therapy (photobiomodulation) is incredibly powerful.
I like to take a shot of it 10 minutes before I do a red light therapy session, especially if I’m sick.
Anti-Aging and Skin Protection
Since methylene blue donates electrons and neutralizes free radicals it has shown to be anti aging. You could say aging is the result of oxidation and inflammation.
I like to use it internally if I’m going to go into the sun along with vitamin b3 which has been shown to reduce the chances of getting skin cancer.
How I Take It
I add 10 drops to an ounce of water three times per day as my maintenance dose. If I were to come down with a cold or flu, I might do 20 drops in one ounce of water five times per day for three or four days. If I had symptoms that lasted longer I would obviously just keep taking the methylene blue until my symptoms were all gone and I was healed.
Sometimes if my symptoms get really bad I’ll nebulize it and breathe it into my lungs. When you vaporize methylene blue it can get it directly into your lungs through inhalation. When it gets into your lungs it gets dispersed into your blood. Using the lungs to get medicines into your blood stream is a powerful delivery vehicle that most people don’t consider, especially when they’re sick.
You can even take it via IV which is often done during surgeries or in wellness clinics. This is the most effective way of getting methylene blue into your body but also the most expensive.
Conclusion
Questions:
- What methylene blue benefits have you noticed?
- Do you take methylene blue?
- How long and how much did you take?
Comment below.
