Methylene Blue

HealthPod Methylene Blue Benefits:

✅ Cognitive Function and Neuroprotection: Some studies suggest it may enhance mitochondrial function in the brain, improve memory, and have neuroprotective effects relevant to conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

✅ Antioxidant Effects: Methylene Blue can act as an antioxidant, helping to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

✅ Antimicrobial Properties: Research indicates it may have activity against certain bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

✅ Mood Stabilization and Mental Health: Some preliminary studies suggest potential mood-stabilizing and antidepressant effects, possibly by influencing neurotransmitter levels.

✅ Energy Production: By supporting mitochondrial function, it may help improve cellular energy production and reduce fatigue.   

✅ Anti-aging and Longevity: Research in cellular and animal models suggests potential to improve cellular health and extend lifespan by enhancing mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.   

✅ Skin and Wound Healing: Topical applications are being investigated for their potential to promote wound healing due to antimicrobial and regenerative properties.   

✅ Cancer Therapy Support: Some research explores its potential to make cancer cells more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy

Dose (Taken from Dr Sarah Myhills Website)

MB should always be taken in low dose as high dose may have an opposite effect. The safe low dose is 1-2mg per Kg of body weight. Regardless of body weight start with 10mgs per day.

(It is so safe that it can be used directly into a vein, but doses of 15mgs/kg of body weight may cause haemolysis)

1. Start with 1ml per day in two doses. Take this by putting drops into a small glass of water. Drink the blue solution. Your teeth may be temporarily stained blue, but this soon disappears. You may also pee blue!
2. Increase the dose weekly in 10mgs ie 1ml increments
3. A 60kg person could end up on 6ml per day for 1mgs per Kg, or 12ml per day for 2mgs/kg

Exploring the Scientific Research and Potential Mechanisms of Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue (MB) is a compound that has garnered significant scientific interest due to its diverse properties and potential biological roles. Research, ranging from in vitro (test tube) studies to in vivo (animal) models and some human clinical trials, has explored its effects across various biological systems.

Impact on Mitochondrial Function and Energy Metabolism

MB is particularly noted for its unique interaction with mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of our cells. It can enhance energy delivery mechanisms by:

• Improving Mitochondrial Respiration: MB has the ability to reroute electrons in the mitochondrial electron transfer chain directly from NADH to cytochrome c. This can increase the activity of Complex IV, promoting mitochondrial respiration and maintaining metabolic rate even when other electron flow pathways are partially blocked.
• Mitigating Oxidative Stress: At low doses, MB acts as an antioxidant within mitochondria. It can interact with oxygen to form water, which is thought to reduce the production of harmful superoxide radicals during oxidative phosphorylation.

These effects on cellular energy production and oxidative stress have led to scientific interest in conditions characterized by poor energy delivery, such as:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Certain cardiovascular conditions
• Neurodegenerative disorders like dementia (including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases)
• And potentially even in the context of some cancer research.

Neuroprotective Potential

Extensive research, particularly in in vitro and animal models, has explored MB’s impressive efficacy in mitigating neurodegeneration and improving accompanying behavioural outcomes. This potential is being investigated in models for conditions such as:

• Stroke
• Global cerebral ischemia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Traumatic brain injury

Studies have shown MB may attenuate the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, hallmarks often associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and partially repair impairments in mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism.

Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties

MB has a long history, dating back to Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich in the 1880s, for its antimicrobial properties. It has been effectively used in specific medical contexts. Current research continues to explore its potential:

• Antiparasitic Action: MB is a known treatment for malaria and has been investigated for its role in preventing drug resistance when combined with other antiparasitic drugs.
• Antibacterial Effects: Studies have shown MB’s ability to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in superficial and deep excisional wounds, particularly when used in photodynamic therapy (see below). This suggests potential susceptibility of various chronic infections to MB.
• Antifungal Action: Research indicates MB may inhibit Candida species by causing mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupting redox and membrane homeostasis in these fungi.
• Antiviral Activity: MB has demonstrated potent antiviral activity against various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and H1N1 influenza virus, even without UV-activation in in vitro settings. Evidence suggests its effectiveness against all herpes viruses (including Herpes Simplex Virus 1 & 2, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)), Zika, Ebola, West Nile, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This has led to investigations into its potential as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

A fascinating aspect of MB’s antimicrobial potential is its use in photodynamic therapy. When MB is combined with light (ideally at a wavelength of 670nm, which activates MB), it can significantly enhance its antimicrobial action. This combination has been shown to:

• Kill MRSA in wounds.
• Inactivate viral nucleic acids of various viruses, including Hepatitis C and HIV-1, Zika, Ebola, West Nile, and MERS.
• Treat cases of resistant plaque psoriasis.

Other Areas of Research and Historical Use

• Methemoglobinemia: MB is a well-established treatment for methemoglobinemia, where it binds to methemoglobin and converts it to a more efficient form, improving oxygen transport.
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: MB’s potential role in carbon monoxide poisoning is also an area of ongoing investigation.
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) Activity: MB acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. This property has led to limited controlled trials exploring its potential as an antidepressant at very low doses (e.g., 15 mg/day), with some studies showing promising results compared to placebo. However, this is a highly specific therapeutic application under strict medical supervision.

Crucial UK Disclaimer:

It is absolutely vital to reiterate that Methylene Blue is NOT approved as a general food supplement or over-the-counter treatment in the UK. Any therapeutic use of Methylene Blue, especially for medical conditions, must be under the strict guidance and prescription of a qualified medical professional registered in the UK within legally approved medical contexts. The information presented here is for educational and scientific research purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a recommendation for self-treatment.