Synthetic Methylene Blues: When Biohackers Choose Petroleum Over Plants

The cognitive dissonance of rejecting food dyes while swallowing industrial chemicals — and the natural pigments that make methylene blue obsolete

Following up on "The Blue Brain Effect: Methylene Blue's Dark Side & What You Should Be Using Instead," this deep dive explores the full scope of methylene blue's underreported toxicity and presents nature's superior alternatives for photobiomodulation and cognitive enhancement.

Read, share, and comment on the X thread dedicated to this article here: https://x.com/sayerjigmi/status/1958377526453027055

---

It sounds like something out of a Victorian dye factory: a coal tar-derived petroleum dye from the 19th century being ingested by modern health enthusiasts. Yet that is precisely the paradox of methylene blue (MB). Discovered in 1876 by German chemists for coloring textiles¹, MB is an aniline-derived synthetic (i.e. a brown, oily petroleum-derived product) that today finds itself touted as a ‘nootropic’ and ‘mitochondrial booster’ in certain biohacker circles.

Wellness influencers have promoted its electric-blue drops for enhanced cognition and cellular energy. But behind the trendy blue tongue photos lies an unsettling truth: if we'd reject coal tar dyes in our food or skincare, why would we welcome them into our brain?

Picture a health-conscious individual swirling a vial of brilliant blue solution and downing it for "brain fuel." The liquid's vivid hue comes from the same industrial dye class once used to stain cloth. Methylene blue owes its lineage to petrochemical coal-tar chemistry, a far cry from the natural herbal tonics one might expect of holistic health. The irony is rich: a community that rightfully shuns artificial food coloring is embracing a synthetic dye as a supplement.

How did we get here? Proponents argue MB can enhance mitochondrial function and even act as a neuroprotective agent. But emerging evidence paints a far less rosy picture.

Methylene Blue: From Antidote to "Nootropic" Fad

Methylene blue has a long history in medicine, primarily as an emergency antidote and diagnostic tool. In clinical settings, MB is used to treat methemoglobinemia (a life-threatening inability of blood to carry oxygen), to manage ifosfamide-induced neurotoxicity, as a last-resort therapy in vasoplegic shock, and as a surgical dye for imaging². These uses leverage MB's pharmacological actions — it can accept and donate electrons in cells, inhibit nitric oxide (NO) signaling (raising blood pressure), and assist in restoring hemoglobin function².

In other words, MB is deployed as a "lesser evil" in acute crises, where its benefits may outweigh risks for a short period. It was never designed to be a daily cognitive enhancer.

Despite this, a trend has emerged: some biohackers now take microdoses of MB regularly, hoping to boost brain energy metabolism. This off-label use was spurred by early studies suggesting MB might support mitochondrial respiration or memory under certain conditions. However, translating a chemical antidote into a wellness supplement is a dubious leap.

MB received an FDA black-box warning in 2011 due to dangerous interactions with common antidepressants; it can trigger potentially fatal serotonin syndrome when combined with SSRIs³. Far from being a harmless vitamin, MB is a potent monoamine oxidase inhibitor at higher doses³ — effectively a drug that modulates brain chemistry. Before anyone adds this blue dye to their smoothie, it's crucial to examine the science of its safety.

The Dark Side of Methylene Blue: What Science Reveals

Enthusiasts claim methylene blue "powers up" mitochondria and neurons. But peer-reviewed research and case reports reveal serious liabilities:

Neurotoxicity and Electrophysiological Disruption

In vitro studies have shown that MB can damage neurons and impair their electrical function at surprisingly low concentrations. Mouse sensory neurons exposed to MB in the micromolar range suffered dose-dependent toxicity — by 10 µM, many neurons lost their neurites (branches) and degenerated⁴.

What does this 10 µM threshold actually mean for your brain?

To understand the implications, let's break down the numbers. A concentration of 10 µM (micromolar) equals approximately 3.2 micrograms per milliliter of fluid — or about 0.003 milligrams per milliliter. At this seemingly minuscule concentration, neurons in laboratory studies begin to malfunction dramatically. They lose their ability to communicate properly with other cells, their branches (dendrites and axons) wither away, and eventually the cells die altogether⁴.

This is particularly concerning when you consider that many methylene blue supplements recommend doses of 0.5–4 mg. While we can't directly equate a supplement dose to brain tissue concentration (due to variables like absorption rates, blood-brain barrier penetration, and individual metabolism), the forensic evidence of blue-green brain staining at autopsy proves that MB does accumulate in neural tissue⁵.

Think of it this way: if your morning coffee started killing brain cells after just a few sips rather than requiring massive overdose, you'd reconsider that daily cup. Yet that's essentially what these studies reveal about methylene blue — the margin between its promoted "nootropic" dose and documented neurotoxic effects is alarmingly narrow.

Electrophysiological recordings from nerve cells treated with MB revealed even more troubling effects. The neurons showed diminished electrical currents and blunted action potentials⁴. In essence, MB makes it harder for neurons to fire properly, slowing their signals and reducing their ability to generate the electrical impulses that underlie all brain function. These findings align with earlier reports in brain tissues and gut neurons showing that MB exposure leads to neuronal loss and altered membrane properties⁴.

The take-home point: the same chemical that might prop up a failing mitochondrion in emergency medicine can, at concentrations easily achievable through supplementation, poison the neuron itself. What's marketed as "brain fuel" operates on a razor's edge between enhancement and harm — and the science suggests we're playing with fire when we treat this industrial dye as a daily vitamin.

Bioaccumulation in Brain and Organs

One of the most striking (and unsettling) illustrations of MB's impact comes from forensic medicine. Pathologists performing autopsies on patients who received MB have noted a bizarre phenomenon: the brain (and sometimes heart) emerges stained an eerie blue-green color⁵.

Image source: Durão, C., Pedrosa, F. & Dinis-Oliveira, R.J. Greenish-blue discoloration of the brain and heart after treatment with methylene blue. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 17, 148–151 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00316

A 2024 study titled "Fifty shades of green and blue: autopsy findings after administration of xenobiotics" reported that systemic methylene blue use before death led to dark blue-green discoloration of organs, especially the brain⁵. In multiple cases, patients treated with MB for shock or poisoning were found on autopsy to have vivid blue-green brains⁵.

This occurs because MB (a lipophilic cation) readily penetrates the brain and gets reduced to a colorless form in vivo — but upon exposure to air post-mortem, it oxidizes back to blue, revealing its presence dramatically⁵,⁶. The images (published by forensic teams) are jarring: a human brain with turquoise-blue hues infiltrating the tissue.

As one Substack commenter quipped, "If this is what methylene blue in the brain post-mortem looks like, what is it doing while you're alive?" In living patients, that dye is presumably lodging in neurons and glia. MB's half-life is ~5-6 hours in plasma⁸, but its affinity for certain tissues means residues can linger — indeed, it is known to tint the urine blue or green as it slowly clears⁵. The autopsy data prove that MB crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates, which should give any neurohacker pause.

Suppressed Brain Blood Flow and Metabolism

Paradoxically, the very outcome biohackers desire — enhanced brain energy and perfusion — may be undermined by MB in healthy individuals. A placebo-controlled study published in 2023 examined acute MB administration in humans using advanced neuroimaging⁷.

The researchers expected MB to boost cerebral oxygen consumption (based on test-tube studies of mitochondrial enzymes), but instead found the opposite. MB reduced global cerebral blood flow (CBF) in healthy volunteers by a significant degree, at doses of 0.5–1 mg/kg i.v.⁷ It also decreased the brain's metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO₂) — meaning the brain was using less oxygen — compared to baseline⁷. In parallel experiments, rats given MB showed a drop in cerebral glucose metabolism⁷.

These effects were dose-dependent and consistent across species. The authors concluded that MB at clinically relevant doses can exert an inhibitory effect on brain energy metabolism in normal brains⁷. The likely mechanism is related to MB's strong inhibition of nitric oxide signaling². By scavenging NO and blocking guanylate cyclase, MB causes blood vessels to constrict². Less blood flow means less oxygen and glucose delivered to brain tissue.

In a diseased brain with mitochondrial dysfunction, a small MB dose might act as an electron shuttle and improve efficiency (a hormetic effect). But in a healthy brain, those same doses appear to overshoot into a metabolic suppression. So while anecdotes claim mental clarity on MB, the hard data show that in healthy humans MB can decrease cerebral perfusion and metabolism⁷ — hardly a biohacking win.

Serotonin Syndrome and Neurochemical Chaos

MB's biochemical actions are wide-ranging, and that breadth comes with risks. At higher systemic doses, MB and its metabolites inhibit monoamine oxidase (particularly MAO-A)³,⁴. This means MB can amplify serotonin levels in the brain — dangerously so if combined with other serotonergic agents.

The FDA's black-box warning on MB is there for good reason: cases of serotonin syndrome (a life-threatening toxic state) have occurred when MB was given to patients on antidepressants³. Symptoms can include high fever, muscle rigidity, agitation, and seizures — a medical emergency. For example, in one published case, a cancer patient treated with MB for ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy developed severe serotonin syndrome and had to be admitted to intensive care³.

MB was the trigger that, combined with an SSRI in the patient's regimen, sent serotonin signaling into overdrive. Several deaths have been reported after the combination of an MAOI (like MB in this context) with an SSRI². Even on its own, MB's serotonergic toxicity can manifest as confusion, neuromuscular hyperactivity (tremors, clonus), and autonomic instability².

This is not a gentle compound — it acts on neurotransmitter systems in ways that are not fully predictable, especially outside a controlled medical setting. For anyone self-medicating with MB, the message is clear: you are tinkering with a drug that can push the brain's serotonin network into chaos if misused.

Pro-oxidant and Cytotoxic Effects

While often billed as an "antioxidant" or mitochondrial protectant, MB can also promote oxidative stress under certain conditions. Research shows that MB increases production of superoxide (a reactive oxygen species) when it inhibits NO signaling². The result can be heightened inflammatory activity and cellular damage.

In ischemic tissues, for example, MB has been noted to exacerbate injury at high doses by impairing microcirculation⁶. An animal study found that large doses of MB during endotoxemia actually worsened hypotension and heart function, whereas low doses had the opposite effect⁶. This highlights MB's narrow therapeutic window.

On a cellular level, MB exposure has been linked to apoptosis and necrosis of tissue. Cases exist of local tissue death: for instance, a mere 1% MB injection (intravenous) causing skin necrosis at the site², or mucosal ulceration from submucosal MB use². These are extreme outcomes, but they underscore that MB is fundamentally a toxin — it kills microbes (and can kill cells) by generating oxidative stress.

Even its beneficial actions (like treating methemoglobinemia) rely on its pro-oxidant chemistry to some extent, as it cycles between oxidized and reduced forms. Thus, using MB chronically might expose the body to continuous low-grade oxidative stress. Indeed, countries such as Canada have classified MB as harmful for general consumer use due to risks like skin irritation and inflammatory reactions².

A "Last Resort" Drug, Not a Daily Tonic

Perhaps the most salient point is context. MB's role in medicine is as an antidote or diagnostic stain — essentially, a tool to be used sparingly when needed. It is not approved as a daily prophylactic supplement.

As a 2022 toxicology review bluntly stated, the basic toxicological characteristics of MB remain inadequately studied, and its clinical use is "controversial" given reports of severe adverse effects that *"could significantly exceed any possible benefits"². In other words, even in critical care where MB might be indicated, doctors must weigh its toxicity heavily.

There are no long-term studies on healthy people taking methylene blue regularly. What we do know comes from short-term emergency use and lab studies — and much of that knowledge waves red flags. MB can cause hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD enzyme deficiency, for example, and can spike blood pressure or precipitate arrhythmias.

The precautionary principle would dictate that we don't blithely experiment on ourselves with such a compound, certainly not when safer alternatives exist. As the toxicology review concluded, the clinical use of MB without robust safety data "conflicts with the standards of safe use" in medicine². All this underscores a key ethical point for the natural health community: If we chastise pharmaceutical drugs for their side effects and demand rigorous safety evidence, should we not hold methylene blue to the same standard?

Nature's Photodynamic Alternatives: Pigments That Heal

One reason methylene blue attracted biohackers is its unusual property as a photodynamic compound: it absorbs light in the red/near-infrared range (~600–700 nm) and can influence mitochondrial processes. But MB is not unique in this regard. Many natural pigments — the very ones that color the plants and foods in a healthy diet — have similar light-absorbing characteristics and often superior safety profiles.

Chlorophyll & Chlorophyllin (Green Plant Pigments)

Chlorophyll is the life-blood of plants, the green pigment that captures sunlight for photosynthesis. It just so happens that chlorophyll's absorption spectrum overlaps significantly with methylene blue's. Chlorophyll a has a strong absorption band in the red (~660 nm) and another in the blue (~430 nm).

Chlorophyll mainly grabs red and blue light, while letting green light through — nearly the inverse of melanin's broad absorbance¹⁵. This means when you consume chlorophyll (e.g., as fresh wheatgrass or spinach, or as a chlorophyllin supplement), you are introducing a molecule that can absorb red/NIR light inside your body.

Researchers have begun to leverage chlorophyll derivatives in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer, precisely because of this property. Sodium copper chlorophyllin, a water-soluble form of chlorophyll, has an intense absorption peak around 630 nm¹², ideal for red-light activation. In PDT studies, modified chlorophyllin compounds were able to localize to mitochondria and, under red light, produce singlet oxygen to kill tumor cells — in fact, some chlorophyllin-based photosensitizers outperformed methylene blue in efficacy¹².

The key point for our purposes is that chlorophyllin is remarkably safe (it's even used as a food colorant and deodorizer)¹², and it can interact with light in the same therapeutic window (600–700 nm) that MB does.

Beyond photodynamics, chlorophyll offers intrinsic health benefits. It's a potent antioxidant and metal chelator, known to bind and help eliminate certain toxins. Some visionary biochemists suggest that consuming chlorophyll-rich foods may aid human energy production. For instance, a 2014 study by researchers at Washington University proposed that a chlorophyll metabolite can integrate into mammalian mitochondria and enhance ATP production when exposed to light¹³.

Phycocyanin (Blue Spirulina Pigment)

If you've seen the surge of turquoise smoothies and lattes on Instagram, you might know "blue spirulina." The vivid aqua-blue color comes from phycocyanin, a brilliant blue pigment-protein complex found in spirulina and other cyanobacteria.

Phycocyanin is essentially the photosynthetic pigment that complements chlorophyll in those organisms — it absorbs light in the orange/red part of the spectrum and transfers energy to chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Remarkably, phycocyanin's spectral profile overlaps with methylene blue's almost hand-in-glove. It has a major absorption peak around 620–640 nm, which coincides with MB's secondary peak (~609 nm), and it emits fluorescence around 650–670 nm, near MB's primary peak (~664 nm)¹⁴.

In practical terms, phycocyanin can absorb and respond to 600–670 nm light just like MB does¹⁴. This makes it a natural candidate for photodynamic and photobiomodulation therapies. Indeed, researchers have noted that phycocyanin can serve the same purpose as MB in many light-based applications (like PDT), without MB's synthetic toxicity¹⁴.

Importantly, phycocyanin is highly biocompatible and safe. It's a protein you're essentially eating whenever you consume spirulina or blue-green algae supplements. A 2003 review by Romay et al. documented phycocyanin's impressive antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects⁹. It scavenges free radicals and inhibits COX-2, tempering inflammation. In models of neurodegenerative disease and stroke, phycocyanin has shown protective outcomes, presumably by quenching oxidative stress and modulating immune responses⁹.

Notably, phycocyanin crosses the blood-brain barrier and can support brain health without staining your brain blue. In my previous analysis of MB below, I highlighted that phycocyanin appears to be over four times safer than MB in terms of acute toxicity¹⁴. There's no known "phycocyanin syndrome," no MAOI interaction issues, and no reports of it turning people's organs strange colors.

Anthocyanins (Purple-Blue Plant Antioxidants)

Anthocyanins are the pigments that give berries, purple carrots, red cabbage, and butterfly pea flowers their rich red-blue-violet hues. Structurally flavonoids, anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, and they have a special affinity for the brain.

Numerous studies show that anthocyanin-rich foods improve cognitive function and protect neurons¹⁰. They combat neuroinflammation and oxidative stress — two key drivers of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, diets high in blueberries and other anthocyanin sources are linked to a reduced risk of dementia and better memory in older adults¹⁰. In fact, on GreenMedInfo.com, we have indexed research on its broad spectrum therapeutic potential across almost 200 different conditions.

Unlike methylene blue, which might cause oxidative stress, anthocyanins vigorously oppose it, quenching free radicals and chelating metal ions that catalyze oxidative damage¹⁰. This makes them inherently neuroprotective.

From a photonic perspective, anthocyanins absorb light in the visible range, particularly in the green-yellow spectrum, and depending on pH can extend into the orange-red. For instance, the blue butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) yields an anthocyanin-rich extract that at neutral pH is deep blue. Spectral analysis of butterfly pea extract shows absorption peaks around 572 nm and 614 nm¹¹, squarely within the visible range and encroaching on the red/NIR boundary.

A practical way to harness anthocyanins is through diet and herbal teas. Butterfly pea flower tea has gained popularity as a caffeine-free cognitive tonic — it brews into a striking blue potion, which can turn purple with a squeeze of lemon (changing pH). This tea provides a natural anthocyanin dose that some compare to a "nature's blue tonic."

Melanin (The Broad-Spectrum "Solar Panel" Pigment)

Melanin is perhaps the most underappreciated bio-pigment when it comes to human health. We usually think of melanin only as a skin pigment for UV protection or the coloring of hair and eyes. But melanin is everywhere in nature — from fungi and bacteria to the ink of cephalopods — and it has astonishing biophysical properties.

Melanin can absorb a broad swath of the electromagnetic spectrum, from ultraviolet through visible light and well into the infrared¹⁵. In other words, it's a "universal absorber," earning nicknames like "the biological black hole." Unlike chlorophyll (which has defined peaks) or MB (which mainly absorbs around 660 nm), melanin shows a continuous absorption that increases toward the UV but still extends into IR wavelengths¹⁵.

In the context of photobiomodulation, this is huge. Red and near-infrared light (600–850 nm) are widely used to heal tissues and energize mitochondria — a field known as photobiomodulation (PBM)¹⁵. Melanin, being a broad-spectrum absorber, can soak up these PBM wavelengths and potentially transduce them into useful forms of energy or signaling in the body.

Emerging research suggests melanin might act as a sort of biophotonic engine: it can convert absorbed photons into other energy, possibly by splitting and reforming water molecules at the microscopic level¹⁵. Experiments have shown that exposing melanin to light does boost electron transfer reactions and can even lead to the production of electrical energy or chemical energy¹⁵.

How does this relate to brain health? Intriguingly, our brains naturally contain a form of melanin — neuromelanin — concentrated in regions like the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus (which appear dark due to it). The fact that key brain nuclei are loaded with neuromelanin (giving them that dark hue) hints at a purpose¹⁵. Those cells are involved in movement, mood, and wakefulness, and they also happen to be the ones that die off in Parkinson's disease (PD), where neuromelanin is lost.

What we do know is melanin is biocompatible (it's part of us) and can be supplemented to some extent through diet. Certain foods and herbs contain melanins or melanin precursors: for example, black sesame seeds, black rice, cacao, coffee, and some mushrooms have high melanin or polyphenols that stimulate melanin pathways.

Rethinking the "Lesser Evil" Philosophy in Medicine

The rise of methylene blue as a supplement reflects a broader issue in both conventional and alternative medicine: the tendency to treat symptoms or downstream effects while tolerating (or ignoring) upstream causes. In hospital medicine, MB is often used as a "Hail Mary" antidote, a lesser evil to counteract a greater evil.

What's troubling is when this model migrates into daily health practice, especially in the holistic community that normally advocates addressing root causes. If someone feels fatigue or brain fog (common issues), reaching for a petrochemical derivative like methylene blue might perk them up by forcing certain pathways — but it could also be masking an underlying issue like poor mitochondrial function, heavy metal toxicity, chronic inflammation, or nutrient deficiencies. Rather than investigate and resolve those root causes, one might be displacing the problem with a quick chemical or pharmacological fix.

Moreover, embracing MB sends a mixed message in natural health advocacy. On one hand, we campaign to ban coal-tar food dyes (like Blue #1, a cousin of MB) because of their neurotoxicity and potential to cause ADHD in kids. We avoid artificial colors in supplements and demand whole-food sources of nutrients. And yet, MB — literally a coal-tar derived aniline dye⁴ — gets a pass because it's been rebranded as a nootropic?

If we oppose petrochemical dyes in our food, we must apply the same skepticism to petrochemical dyes in our brain. The chemical doesn't get sanctified just because someone on a podcast calls it "mitochondrial medicine." We should recall that MB was first synthesized to kill life (textile dyes often doubled as antiseptics and antiparasitics). Its widespread use preceded the era of rigorous drug safety testing — in fact, a 2022 review lamented that MB has been used for 140+ years "without a clearly defined pharmacotoxicological frame of reference," and that fundamental toxicity data are missing².

Building a Brain-Boosting Photobiological Stack (Sans Methylene Blue)

So, what might a practical, natural "photobiology stack" look like for someone seeking the benefits that methylene blue promises? Here's a blueprint that combines the pigments and principles we've covered:

Start with a Pigment-Rich Breakfast: Instead of a blue dye drop, begin your day with a blue-green smoothie or elixir. For example, blend organic spirulina (for phycocyanin and chlorophyll) into a smoothie with wild blueberries or blackberries (for anthocyanins). Add a handful of spinach or moringa powder (for extra chlorophyll and magnesium).

Red Light Exposure: After fueling up on those pigments, spend some time in morning sunlight or under a red/near-infrared light therapy device. Sunlight in the early morning has a good amount of near-infrared, which penetrates deeply. These wavelengths will interact with the pigments now circulating in your bloodstream.

Cofactors and Neuroprotective Nutrients: Alongside pigments, consider key mitochondrial cofactors and neuroregenerative supplements:

• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol is the ‘reduced’ and fully bioactive form) and PQQ: Support the electron transport chain and mitochondrial biogenesis

• B-Vitamins (B2, B3, B12) and Magnesium: Direct precursors for FAD and NAD

• Lion's Mane Mushroom & Bacopa Monnieri: Famed neuroregenerative herbs

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA): Essential for brain membrane health

• Melatonin (at Night): A mitochondrial antioxidant and repair signal

Healthy Habits in Tandem: No stack is complete without the basics. Regular physical activity, good sleep hygiene, and a clean diet low in processed toxins will amplify all the above.

This kind of protocol — call it a "photonic nutrition and PBM stack" — epitomizes a holistic biohack. You are nourishing the body with natural compounds that it can incorporate into cells, and then activating them (and your innate chromophores like cytochrome and melanin) with therapeutic light.

Conclusion: Choosing Coherence and Caution in Our "Blue" Choices

In the journey of natural health, coherence is key. We strive to align our interventions with the body's design and with principles that hold true across domains. If we condemn artificial dyes in our food for being neurotoxic or disruptive, we must hold methylene blue to the same scrutiny.

The emerging field of biophotonic medicine is incredibly exciting. It teaches us that light and pigments are as much a part of nutrition and healing as vitamins and herbs. We are, in a sense, "light eaters" and "light emitters." Methylene blue was an eye-opening part of that discovery process — it demonstrated that a chemical could modulate biochemistry through photochemical means. But it's not the end of the story, nor the pinnacle of it.

Rather, it's a stepping stone pointing back to what biology has used all along: chlorophyll to capture sunlight and fuel life, melanin to absorb the full spectrum and protect (or possibly energize) tissues, anthocyanins to guard plants (and brains) from oxidative stress, phycocyanins to bridge the gap between sunlight and biochemical energy. These are time-tested, harmonious agents that our bodies know how to handle.

By adopting strategies that include these natural pigments and sensible light exposure, we honor a core holistic tenet: support the body's innate healing and adaptive systems, don't supplant them.

If coal-tar dyes have no place in our food or on our skin, they certainly have no place being touted as daily brain enhancers. We have cleaner, greener (and bluer and blacker!) options at our fingertips. By choosing those, we stand for coherence in natural health advocacy.

The REGENERATE YOURSELF Masterclass

Join over 400,000 enrollees who have discovered practical ways to implement these groundbreaking concepts in their daily lives. This comprehensive online program translates cutting-edge science into actionable strategies for optimizing your health through the principles of the New Biology.

Get Sayer Ji’s book REGENERATE in physical, digital or audiobook form, an international bestseller now in 6 languages.

The REGENERATE YOURSELF Masterclass

Join over 400,000 enrollees who have discovered practical ways to implement these groundbreaking concepts in their daily lives. This comprehensive online program translates cutting-edge science into actionable strategies for optimizing your health through the principles of the New Biology.

Enroll entirely free at: regeneratemasterclass.com Or, get the entire course including advanced modules here now.

---

Read, share, and comment on the X thread dedicated to this article here: https://x.com/sayerjigmi/status/1958377526453027055

References

1. Caro, Heinrich. "Über die Einwirkung des Nitrobenzols auf aromatische Amine." Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft 9, no. 1 (1876): 75–759.

2. Buzgă, Marek, et al. "Methylene blue: a controversial diagnostic aid and medication?" Toxicology Research 11, no. 5 (2022): 711–717.

3. Snyder, Matthew, et al. "Serotonin syndrome complicating treatment of ifosfamide neurotoxicity with methylene blue." Cancer Control 24, no. 5 (2017): 1–4.

4. Horrmann, Alec, et al. "Adverse effects of methylene blue in peripheral neurons: An in vitro electrophysiology and cell culture study." Molecular Pain 18 (2022): 17448069221142523.

5. Baumgarten, J., I. Greb, et al. "Fifty shades of green and blue: autopsy findings after administration of xenobiotics." Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology (2024, online ahead of print).

6. Durão, Carlos, et al. "Greenish-blue discoloration of the brain and heart after treatment with methylene blue." Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology 17, no. 1 (2021): 148–151.

7. Singh, Nisha, et al. "The effects of acute methylene blue administration on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in humans and rats." Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism 43, suppl. 2 (2023): 95–105.

8. Heyman, Peter, and Robert Klotz. "Pharmacokinetics of methylene blue in man." Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 25, no. 3 (1979): 332–338.

9. Romay, Chantal, et al. "C-Phycocyanin: A biliprotein with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects." Current Protein & Peptide Science 4, no. 3 (2003): 207–216.

10. Henriques, Joana F., et al. "The anti-neuroinflammatory role of anthocyanins and their metabolites for the prevention and treatment of brain disorders." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 22 (2020): 8653.

11. Saptarini, Nyi M., et al. "Application of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) extract as an indicator of acid-base titration." Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 7, no. 2 (2015): 275–280.

12. Uchoa, Adjaci F., et al. "Chlorophyllin derivatives as photosensitizers: Synthesis and photodynamic properties." Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society 26, no. 12 (2015): 2571–2585.

13. Pollack, Gerald H., et al. "Molecules, water, and radiant energy: New vistas for cytochemistry." Acta Histochemica et Cytochemica 47, no. 1 (2014): 1–8.

14. Ji, Sayer. "The Blue Brain Effect: Methylene Blue's Dark Side & What You Should Be Using Instead." Substack, March 9, 2025.

15. Ji, Sayer. "The Ultimate Human Superpower You Never Knew You Had: Melanin — The Hidden Solar Panel in Human Biology." Substack, 2025.