The article that he references shows blue brains in people who had extremely high doses of MB for septic shock and severe hospitalizations, with post-mortems shortly after. They were also given other compounds that were not MB but were also included because of the colors of the brain after. The power of MB in the literature is undeniable with very little risk at low doses, less than 1mg/kg per day and orally given. I've used it for years in my patients with a massive amount of benefit, especially when it comes to improving mitochondrial function.
I suppose the pictures of the brains are supposed to scare the heck out of me, but I won’t care by the time mine is on the table. I have been using it for 2 years, once a day, 12 drops. I don’t use it on the weekends. I am 70 and no longer need reading glasses (I stopped using sunglasses so the sunlight can reach my eyes). I also don’t need a grocery list, can recall all the golf shots of my foursome and have more energy than I can burn. If MB is going to kill me, I will certainly change to the spirullina, but so far, so good.
I saw a Facebook post in answer to this article I thought I would share:
“UPDATE: To balance this article and perspective, a friend offered his insight this morning:
"And this is why you don’t believe anyone online unless you research it yourself..
"Sayer goes on to recommend spirulina instead of MB. Spirulina contains a B12 analogue known as pseudovitamin B12, which structurally resembles true vitamin B12 but lacks its biological function. This analogue competes with genuine B12 for absorption, potentially leading to a functional deficiency in the body. Over time this can contribute to neurological issues and anemia, particularly in individuals relying on spirulina as a primary B12 source. Additionally, some spirulina products may contain toxins like microcystins, further raising concerns about its safety.
"Sayer says he is concerned about the long term consequences of introducing a synthetic chemical in the body, as am I, but what concern does he have for introducing a natural one?
"Also if you read the study Sayer references, the staining was observed in patients who received MB between 1 to 5 hours before death. This implies that the discoloration is temporary and diminishes postmortem, supporting the idea that MB induced staining is not permanent in organs despite how the article is portrayed.
"Again, I believe in using natural substances over synthetic, and I can’t stand the “biohacking” community, but I wish people did more research before sharing their opinions."”
I've heard that RFK Jr. uses it; I'd like to hear from him on this. I've used it for about 3 1/2 yrs haven't had any problems with it. It gives me a bit of energy and helps with mild depression.
You should Join work with San Pedro cactus for depression. It is the most underutilized of them all. It's the mildest and works best. Well worth learning about and growing at home for yourself. I think it's the best.
All psychedelics are unique and vastly different in effect, intensity, duration. San Pedro is the lightest and a choice for some, but like you say, "not everyone"
With prescription psyche drugs, people do not know what they want. They follow someone's experimenting on their body and mind to see if it helps, but not everyone wants that either.
I know that for myself, a light adjustment once a month with a natural and physically harmless plant medicine is much less risk than daily pharmaceuticals which have severe and dangerous withdraws and every day physical side effects.
The term "Psychedelics" is a much too broad word that assumes that all plant effects are similar when they are not at all alike in most cases. I would not want to use any of the others other than a bed time puff or an occasional CBD use for arthritic or other inflammation.
A friend made the oil that I have. He said it was from a high CBD strain. I think it has THC in it too but that doesn't bother me. I bet there are Reddit conversations regarding people's ratings of effectiveness.
For Methylene Blue Drops I use a 1% mix in the dropper bottle. I haven't used it but for a week, so I might not be a good advisor, but I took 10 drops, morning and night the first day, 5 drops twice the second day, 3 drops the third and 4th. Then I laid off for a couple of days. I've resumed with just a drop every other day or so. I'm going to dig more into the research on long term use and stay with occasional Blue at the very low end dose until I learn more.
I mix it with my "Super Hero" tea mix that I make morning and evening:
Dandelion root
Lion's Mane
Tumeric
Lemon
Ginger
Burdock root
Chaga extract dehydrate
Pomegranate juice dehydrate
Xyletol
Stevia
Beet powder
Fresh Ginger
Honey
It's quite the cup of tea and pays for itself in my case. I do not go to doctors but once every few years for emergency type things. I take care of my own stuff and have no doctor and chemical medicine bills.
I take 10 drops once a day, but sometimes I forget to take it. I do better when I take it though. Have been doing that for 3 yrs. I mix with about 4 ounces of water.
I don't think this is Sayer's best work. He uses a lot of fear tactics that belie his admission that MB "may have its place in emergency medicine". He doesn't deal with the many testimonies of good that MB has done in dealing with various diseases. He seems to disparage even time-honored MB uses, saying for instance that "it is touted" for use against malaria.
Then he gives us the substance he thinks we should instead be using, Phycocyanin. And what does he offer to commend it? That it has a higher safety profile than MB. Period. So does water, but that doesn't make water effective against things like Covid. Maybe Phycocyanin is the greatest therapy in the world, but how would we know? He does not offer a single benefit to using it. He cites no studies in the text.
Hi Paul. Appreciate you chiming in. I actually feel I was being gracious by referencing possible applications in emergency medicine. This is a conversation probably best left for a live dialogue. Hopefully we can do that some day.
Thank you for this information. I have concerns as my husband uses this. I have noticed his eyes are turning blue…If one is using MB are the effects ie staining, permanent and if so are they reversible?
While I prefer natural remedies over synthetic ones, my research is showing that this is not likely a concern in therapeutic dosages. While similar it appears Phycocyanin and Methylene Blue have slightly different benefits and mechanisms of action. Wanted to add to the discussion. Cheers.
Primary Benefits
Phycocyanin:
Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals, reducing oxidative stress. Studies show it outperforms vitamins C and E in some antioxidant assays.
Neuroprotection: May shield brain cells from oxidative damage, with potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
Liver Detox: Supports liver function by reducing toxin-induced damage in animal studies.
Immune Boost: Stimulates white blood cell production, enhancing immunity.
Methylene Blue:
Mitochondrial Enhancer: Acts as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, boosting ATP production and cellular energy. It’s particularly noted for bypassing damaged complexes (I/III) to reduce oxidative stress.
Neuroprotection: Improves memory and protects neurons, with studies suggesting benefits for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury.
Antioxidant: At low doses, it cycles electrons to mitigate free radicals; at high doses, it can paradoxically increase oxidative stress.
Antimicrobial: Historically used for malaria and methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder), it has broad-spectrum pathogen-killing properties.
Circulation Support: Raises blood pressure in shock states (e.g., vasoplegia) by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase.
Mechanisms of Action
Phycocyanin: Works primarily through its protein-bound structure, which mimics erythropoietin (EPO) to aid oxygen transport in blood and cells. Its antioxidant effects stem from its ability to donate electrons and stabilize reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Methylene Blue: Functions as a redox agent, cycling between oxidized and reduced forms (leucomethylene blue). It directly interacts with mitochondria, enhancing respiration and reducing ROS by rerouting electrons. It also inhibits enzymes like nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase, affecting blood vessel tone.
Does Methylene Blue Stain Organs?
Methylene blue is a water-soluble cationic dye that binds to tissues, particularly those rich in negatively charged molecules like proteins or nucleic acids. In medical settings, it’s used as a stain—for example, to highlight tissues during surgery or to detect leaks (e.g., in sentinel lymph node mapping). However, whether it "dyes" the brain or heart in a lasting, harmful way depends on dose, exposure, and clearance.
Brain: Methylene blue can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is why it’s studied for neuroprotection (e.g., enhancing mitochondrial function in neurons). In animal studies (e.g., rats given 1–4 mg/kg), it distributes to the brain but doesn’t leave a permanent blue tint. Autopsies show temporary uptake, with peak concentrations within hours, followed by rapid clearance via urine. No studies report a visibly "blue brain" persisting after therapeutic doses.
Heart: It’s used in cardiac surgery (e.g., to treat vasoplegic shock at 1–2 mg/kg IV), and while it binds to tissues temporarily, there’s no evidence of long-term staining. Heart tissue, like other organs, metabolizes Ascending aorta doesn’t show blue discoloration post-administration.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption and Distribution: After oral or IV administration, methylene blue is quickly absorbed and distributed throughout the body, including the brain and heart. It binds to plasma proteins and tissues but isn’t lipophilic (fat-soluble) enough to embed deeply into cell membranes long-term.
Clearance: It’s excreted primarily via urine (hence the blue-green urine) within 24–48 hours. Studies show its half-life is about 5–6 hours in humans at therapeutic doses (1–2 mg/kg).
Evidence on Staining
High Doses: At excessive doses (e.g., >10 mg/kg), methylene blue can cause toxicity (e.g., methemoglobinemia), and tissue staining might be more pronounced. Case reports of overdose (like a 1990s incident with a child ingesting 50 mg/kg) note blue skin and mucous membranes, but no autopsies mention blue organs persisting after clearance.
Surgical Use: In procedures like parathyroid surgery, methylene blue (5–7.5 mg/kg) temporarily stains glands blue for visibility, but this fades as the dye is metabolized. Heart and brain tissue aren’t preferentially stained beyond this transient effect.
Animal Studies: In rats, high-dose experiments (e.g., 20 mg/kg) show tissue uptake but no permanent blue heart or brain on necropsy after clearance.
Likelihood of Concern
Therapeutic Doses (0.5–4 mg/kg): At levels used for supplementation or medical treatment, there’s negligible risk of permanently "dyeing" the brain or heart. The dye binds weakly and washes out quickly. You’d see blue urine or skin before any organ staining, and even then, it’s reversible.
Chronic Use: Some X posts speculate about long-term buildup, but there’s no data showing methylene blue accumulates in organs over time at low doses. Its water solubility ensures excretion, unlike fat-soluble toxins (e.g., heavy metals).
Visible Staining: The heart and brain aren’t typically biopsied post-use in humans, but clinical experience (e.g., decades of use for methemoglobinemia) shows no reports of blue organs in autopsies unless massive overdose occurred.
Why the Concern Exists
The idea likely comes from:
Its dye history—people picture textile staining.
Visible effects (blue urine, skin)—extrapolated to internal organs.
Misinformation on platforms like X, where users amplify rare cases (e.g., a 2018 post claimed "it turns your insides blue," unsupported by evidence).
Reality Check
Temporary Uptake: Yes, it enters the brain and heart briefly, as shown in rodent studies (e.g., brain concentrations peak at 1–2 hours post-IV).
Permanent Dyeing: No evidence supports this at standard doses. Even in overdose autopsies (rare), organs might show transient discoloration, not permanent blue.
Comparison: Phycocyanin, being protein-bound and natural, doesn’t dye tissues at all—it’s metabolized like food. Methylene blue’s synthetic nature makes it bind more, but not irreversibly.
Conclusion
At typical doses (up to 4 mg/kg), the chance of methylene blue permanently dyeing your brain or heart is near zero—think <1% likelihood, barring extreme overdose. Temporary staining is possible but clears fast. The concern is overhyped, likely from its vivid color and dye reputation. If you’re worried, sticking to low doses (e.g., 0.5–1 mg/kg) or opting for phycocyanin avoids even theoretical risks.
Jeremy, would you be able to tell me why, after using MB in a moderate dose, my mouth suddenly tastes unbearably bitter? It's been 10 days now, still bitter and I can't taste salt.
You should actually read the publications you cite before you start fear mongering people into buying your products. It's described that the cases received their last dosage between 1 and 5 hours before death. It's to be expected that MB would still be present and make organs appear blue within this time window. Additionally, case 11 demonstrates that the staining is of temporary nature, considering his organs were no longer stained less than 24 hours after application.
"The reviewed cases included single and multiple administrations of MB, with the last administration having taken place at least 1 h and at most 5 h before death. A reliable visual post-mortem detectability period cannot be derived from the small number of cases, but case 11 may serve as an indication for the upper limit: The time of administration could not be narrowed down more exactly than less than 24 h before death and there was no more organ staining, but still a blue coloration of the urine."
I appreciate the info because I experimented with MB last week. The jury is still out over here because as stated in the article, "adverse effects in the medical literature, albeit at doses higher than the biohacking community typically takes.
From what I understand, the adverse effects from methylene blue are at EXTREMELY higher rates "higher than the biohacking community typically takes", but not just a little higher. I've seen info that to get the damages, they're taking like 40x what one might typically take in a typical small dose home health treatment.
Secondly, As for, "We need a new model that recognizes the potential for harm even at extremely low doses." speaks of a potential that has not been found as of yet to exist.
And "If methylene blue can alter biological systems at such minuscule doses, we must ask: What are the long-term consequences of introducing this synthetic chemical..."
I assume that the weird colored heart pics and bad reactions were from massive dosing, even intravenous.
All organics are made of chemicals and all chemicals are made of organics. Some hurt and some don't.
I'm not arguing that there can be no damage. I'm just saying that the Jury's not in yet. Long term use in the smaller doses may turn out to be harmless.
I also assume that spirulina blue shouldn't necessarily have matching effects with MB just because it's blue and absorbs similar doses at a similar rate.
There's room for some side by side rigorous experimenting with Blue algae compared to MB to find out if maybe it can hurt you or maybe not in what might turn out to be safe doses at safe intervals and such.
I love the algae. I look forward to further research.
This is an incredibly inflammatory and inaccurate article if you actually read the autopsy results a good six or seven of them were administered methylene blue in the hospital prior to death when that is done they give quite large amounts and so of course dying right after being given that would show up methylene blue his given in the hospital specifically in poisoning cases as it helps detox the body and remove certain toxins and saves peoples lives. there is zero correlation between people taking this as a supplement and dying their organs blue permanently. The others were blue because of other drugs and one was blue for undetermined reasons. I would be happy for any insightful and valuable information that share some potentially dangerous side effects or an un optimum outcome from Melene blue but everything cited in this article is out of context for instance methylene blue is the number one substance for treating haemoglobinaemia if I’m spelling that right And yet if you take too much of it it causes the very thing that it’s best for treating. It’s a bit like saying caffeine causes heart attacks in forgetting to mention that you have to drink 17 cups. celery also contains deadly ingredients but you would have to consume 27lb of celery for it to kill you. I think the volume might kill you before the toxicity, it’s all about context. Yeah, we all love and appreciate celery. And don’t go around saying oh we shouldn’t have any of that because what if it accumulates in your body? I do appreciate that methylene blue is a synthetic but there is an astounding amount of research on it and if you understand why it turns blue and why it goes clear in regards to the crib cycle you understand that it’s actually indicating the lack of oxygen in the tissue. To appreciate having attention drawn to the possible inhibition in neurology long-term I will look further into that, but the general tone of the article made me lose a lot of respect for the author who I previously thought was pretty cool. Makes me wonder if he is shilling blue algae! Gotta love that blue algae though!!
Thank you. There are also studies demonstrating methylene blue depletes glutathione (reduced) and interferes with converting the oxidized form of glutathione to the reduced form so it can be useful for detoxification again. There’s no way I’m putting a synthetic, industrial dye in my body!
I get to wonderin' if those studies were at the typical small doses or at the extremely high rates that prove harmful. We have many wonderful plant based helpers that will really mess you up at 40x the recommended dose or duration just like MB does at 40x.
dr H Clark regarded Methylen Blue as harmful dye of main concern, involved in cancer process as alkylizing; to be eliminated even in not ingested (as supplement) tiny amounts
Hum...I got serotonin overload/syndrome once, when my doc added an anti-depressant to my migraine med. How stupid. Of course the migraine med was depressing me alone since it wasn't curing the daily migraine. Food was the problem deleting my salt. Geeze...
Thank you for a different perspective. I was not aware of it being a coal tar product.. I was using it about once every 10 days maybe two weeks for approximately one year I don't think I noticed anything.... but now that I read this.. I will drop it..
The article that he references shows blue brains in people who had extremely high doses of MB for septic shock and severe hospitalizations, with post-mortems shortly after. They were also given other compounds that were not MB but were also included because of the colors of the brain after. The power of MB in the literature is undeniable with very little risk at low doses, less than 1mg/kg per day and orally given. I've used it for years in my patients with a massive amount of benefit, especially when it comes to improving mitochondrial function.
I suppose the pictures of the brains are supposed to scare the heck out of me, but I won’t care by the time mine is on the table. I have been using it for 2 years, once a day, 12 drops. I don’t use it on the weekends. I am 70 and no longer need reading glasses (I stopped using sunglasses so the sunlight can reach my eyes). I also don’t need a grocery list, can recall all the golf shots of my foursome and have more energy than I can burn. If MB is going to kill me, I will certainly change to the spirullina, but so far, so good.
I saw a Facebook post in answer to this article I thought I would share:
“UPDATE: To balance this article and perspective, a friend offered his insight this morning:
"And this is why you don’t believe anyone online unless you research it yourself..
"Sayer goes on to recommend spirulina instead of MB. Spirulina contains a B12 analogue known as pseudovitamin B12, which structurally resembles true vitamin B12 but lacks its biological function. This analogue competes with genuine B12 for absorption, potentially leading to a functional deficiency in the body. Over time this can contribute to neurological issues and anemia, particularly in individuals relying on spirulina as a primary B12 source. Additionally, some spirulina products may contain toxins like microcystins, further raising concerns about its safety.
"Sayer says he is concerned about the long term consequences of introducing a synthetic chemical in the body, as am I, but what concern does he have for introducing a natural one?
"Also if you read the study Sayer references, the staining was observed in patients who received MB between 1 to 5 hours before death. This implies that the discoloration is temporary and diminishes postmortem, supporting the idea that MB induced staining is not permanent in organs despite how the article is portrayed.
"Again, I believe in using natural substances over synthetic, and I can’t stand the “biohacking” community, but I wish people did more research before sharing their opinions."”
NEVER TRUST ANYTHING with FDA (or CDC) approval! Never.
I've heard that RFK Jr. uses it; I'd like to hear from him on this. I've used it for about 3 1/2 yrs haven't had any problems with it. It gives me a bit of energy and helps with mild depression.
You should Join work with San Pedro cactus for depression. It is the most underutilized of them all. It's the mildest and works best. Well worth learning about and growing at home for yourself. I think it's the best.
San Pedro cactus is a psychedelic drug. Not everyone wants to use that
All psychedelics are unique and vastly different in effect, intensity, duration. San Pedro is the lightest and a choice for some, but like you say, "not everyone"
With prescription psyche drugs, people do not know what they want. They follow someone's experimenting on their body and mind to see if it helps, but not everyone wants that either.
I know that for myself, a light adjustment once a month with a natural and physically harmless plant medicine is much less risk than daily pharmaceuticals which have severe and dangerous withdraws and every day physical side effects.
The term "Psychedelics" is a much too broad word that assumes that all plant effects are similar when they are not at all alike in most cases. I would not want to use any of the others other than a bed time puff or an occasional CBD use for arthritic or other inflammation.
Thank you Alio. I dont use any pharma drugs for mood or brain. What CBD oil do you find works? I need to get a good one.
A friend made the oil that I have. He said it was from a high CBD strain. I think it has THC in it too but that doesn't bother me. I bet there are Reddit conversations regarding people's ratings of effectiveness.
Thank you Alio. I'll see what I find in Reddit. Does your friend's oil make you high? Does he produce any to sell?
Thank you, I will look into that.
May I ask what concentration, dosage and intervals? Do you take breaks?
For Methylene Blue Drops I use a 1% mix in the dropper bottle. I haven't used it but for a week, so I might not be a good advisor, but I took 10 drops, morning and night the first day, 5 drops twice the second day, 3 drops the third and 4th. Then I laid off for a couple of days. I've resumed with just a drop every other day or so. I'm going to dig more into the research on long term use and stay with occasional Blue at the very low end dose until I learn more.
I mix it with my "Super Hero" tea mix that I make morning and evening:
Dandelion root
Lion's Mane
Tumeric
Lemon
Ginger
Burdock root
Chaga extract dehydrate
Pomegranate juice dehydrate
Xyletol
Stevia
Beet powder
Fresh Ginger
Honey
It's quite the cup of tea and pays for itself in my case. I do not go to doctors but once every few years for emergency type things. I take care of my own stuff and have no doctor and chemical medicine bills.
I take 10 drops once a day, but sometimes I forget to take it. I do better when I take it though. Have been doing that for 3 yrs. I mix with about 4 ounces of water.
I don't think this is Sayer's best work. He uses a lot of fear tactics that belie his admission that MB "may have its place in emergency medicine". He doesn't deal with the many testimonies of good that MB has done in dealing with various diseases. He seems to disparage even time-honored MB uses, saying for instance that "it is touted" for use against malaria.
Then he gives us the substance he thinks we should instead be using, Phycocyanin. And what does he offer to commend it? That it has a higher safety profile than MB. Period. So does water, but that doesn't make water effective against things like Covid. Maybe Phycocyanin is the greatest therapy in the world, but how would we know? He does not offer a single benefit to using it. He cites no studies in the text.
Quite a poor article.
Hi Paul. Appreciate you chiming in. I actually feel I was being gracious by referencing possible applications in emergency medicine. This is a conversation probably best left for a live dialogue. Hopefully we can do that some day.
Thank you for this information. I have concerns as my husband uses this. I have noticed his eyes are turning blue…If one is using MB are the effects ie staining, permanent and if so are they reversible?
While I prefer natural remedies over synthetic ones, my research is showing that this is not likely a concern in therapeutic dosages. While similar it appears Phycocyanin and Methylene Blue have slightly different benefits and mechanisms of action. Wanted to add to the discussion. Cheers.
Primary Benefits
Phycocyanin:
Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals, reducing oxidative stress. Studies show it outperforms vitamins C and E in some antioxidant assays.
Anti-Inflammatory: Inhibits enzymes like COX-2, potentially easing inflammation-related conditions (e.g., arthritis).
Neuroprotection: May shield brain cells from oxidative damage, with potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
Liver Detox: Supports liver function by reducing toxin-induced damage in animal studies.
Immune Boost: Stimulates white blood cell production, enhancing immunity.
Methylene Blue:
Mitochondrial Enhancer: Acts as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, boosting ATP production and cellular energy. It’s particularly noted for bypassing damaged complexes (I/III) to reduce oxidative stress.
Neuroprotection: Improves memory and protects neurons, with studies suggesting benefits for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury.
Antioxidant: At low doses, it cycles electrons to mitigate free radicals; at high doses, it can paradoxically increase oxidative stress.
Antimicrobial: Historically used for malaria and methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder), it has broad-spectrum pathogen-killing properties.
Circulation Support: Raises blood pressure in shock states (e.g., vasoplegia) by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase.
Mechanisms of Action
Phycocyanin: Works primarily through its protein-bound structure, which mimics erythropoietin (EPO) to aid oxygen transport in blood and cells. Its antioxidant effects stem from its ability to donate electrons and stabilize reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Methylene Blue: Functions as a redox agent, cycling between oxidized and reduced forms (leucomethylene blue). It directly interacts with mitochondria, enhancing respiration and reducing ROS by rerouting electrons. It also inhibits enzymes like nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase, affecting blood vessel tone.
Does Methylene Blue Stain Organs?
Methylene blue is a water-soluble cationic dye that binds to tissues, particularly those rich in negatively charged molecules like proteins or nucleic acids. In medical settings, it’s used as a stain—for example, to highlight tissues during surgery or to detect leaks (e.g., in sentinel lymph node mapping). However, whether it "dyes" the brain or heart in a lasting, harmful way depends on dose, exposure, and clearance.
Brain: Methylene blue can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is why it’s studied for neuroprotection (e.g., enhancing mitochondrial function in neurons). In animal studies (e.g., rats given 1–4 mg/kg), it distributes to the brain but doesn’t leave a permanent blue tint. Autopsies show temporary uptake, with peak concentrations within hours, followed by rapid clearance via urine. No studies report a visibly "blue brain" persisting after therapeutic doses.
Heart: It’s used in cardiac surgery (e.g., to treat vasoplegic shock at 1–2 mg/kg IV), and while it binds to tissues temporarily, there’s no evidence of long-term staining. Heart tissue, like other organs, metabolizes Ascending aorta doesn’t show blue discoloration post-administration.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption and Distribution: After oral or IV administration, methylene blue is quickly absorbed and distributed throughout the body, including the brain and heart. It binds to plasma proteins and tissues but isn’t lipophilic (fat-soluble) enough to embed deeply into cell membranes long-term.
Clearance: It’s excreted primarily via urine (hence the blue-green urine) within 24–48 hours. Studies show its half-life is about 5–6 hours in humans at therapeutic doses (1–2 mg/kg).
Evidence on Staining
High Doses: At excessive doses (e.g., >10 mg/kg), methylene blue can cause toxicity (e.g., methemoglobinemia), and tissue staining might be more pronounced. Case reports of overdose (like a 1990s incident with a child ingesting 50 mg/kg) note blue skin and mucous membranes, but no autopsies mention blue organs persisting after clearance.
Surgical Use: In procedures like parathyroid surgery, methylene blue (5–7.5 mg/kg) temporarily stains glands blue for visibility, but this fades as the dye is metabolized. Heart and brain tissue aren’t preferentially stained beyond this transient effect.
Animal Studies: In rats, high-dose experiments (e.g., 20 mg/kg) show tissue uptake but no permanent blue heart or brain on necropsy after clearance.
Likelihood of Concern
Therapeutic Doses (0.5–4 mg/kg): At levels used for supplementation or medical treatment, there’s negligible risk of permanently "dyeing" the brain or heart. The dye binds weakly and washes out quickly. You’d see blue urine or skin before any organ staining, and even then, it’s reversible.
Chronic Use: Some X posts speculate about long-term buildup, but there’s no data showing methylene blue accumulates in organs over time at low doses. Its water solubility ensures excretion, unlike fat-soluble toxins (e.g., heavy metals).
Visible Staining: The heart and brain aren’t typically biopsied post-use in humans, but clinical experience (e.g., decades of use for methemoglobinemia) shows no reports of blue organs in autopsies unless massive overdose occurred.
Why the Concern Exists
The idea likely comes from:
Its dye history—people picture textile staining.
Visible effects (blue urine, skin)—extrapolated to internal organs.
Misinformation on platforms like X, where users amplify rare cases (e.g., a 2018 post claimed "it turns your insides blue," unsupported by evidence).
Reality Check
Temporary Uptake: Yes, it enters the brain and heart briefly, as shown in rodent studies (e.g., brain concentrations peak at 1–2 hours post-IV).
Permanent Dyeing: No evidence supports this at standard doses. Even in overdose autopsies (rare), organs might show transient discoloration, not permanent blue.
Comparison: Phycocyanin, being protein-bound and natural, doesn’t dye tissues at all—it’s metabolized like food. Methylene blue’s synthetic nature makes it bind more, but not irreversibly.
Conclusion
At typical doses (up to 4 mg/kg), the chance of methylene blue permanently dyeing your brain or heart is near zero—think <1% likelihood, barring extreme overdose. Temporary staining is possible but clears fast. The concern is overhyped, likely from its vivid color and dye reputation. If you’re worried, sticking to low doses (e.g., 0.5–1 mg/kg) or opting for phycocyanin avoids even theoretical risks.
Jeremy, would you be able to tell me why, after using MB in a moderate dose, my mouth suddenly tastes unbearably bitter? It's been 10 days now, still bitter and I can't taste salt.
You should actually read the publications you cite before you start fear mongering people into buying your products. It's described that the cases received their last dosage between 1 and 5 hours before death. It's to be expected that MB would still be present and make organs appear blue within this time window. Additionally, case 11 demonstrates that the staining is of temporary nature, considering his organs were no longer stained less than 24 hours after application.
"The reviewed cases included single and multiple administrations of MB, with the last administration having taken place at least 1 h and at most 5 h before death. A reliable visual post-mortem detectability period cannot be derived from the small number of cases, but case 11 may serve as an indication for the upper limit: The time of administration could not be narrowed down more exactly than less than 24 h before death and there was no more organ staining, but still a blue coloration of the urine."
I appreciate the info because I experimented with MB last week. The jury is still out over here because as stated in the article, "adverse effects in the medical literature, albeit at doses higher than the biohacking community typically takes.
From what I understand, the adverse effects from methylene blue are at EXTREMELY higher rates "higher than the biohacking community typically takes", but not just a little higher. I've seen info that to get the damages, they're taking like 40x what one might typically take in a typical small dose home health treatment.
Secondly, As for, "We need a new model that recognizes the potential for harm even at extremely low doses." speaks of a potential that has not been found as of yet to exist.
And "If methylene blue can alter biological systems at such minuscule doses, we must ask: What are the long-term consequences of introducing this synthetic chemical..."
I assume that the weird colored heart pics and bad reactions were from massive dosing, even intravenous.
All organics are made of chemicals and all chemicals are made of organics. Some hurt and some don't.
I'm not arguing that there can be no damage. I'm just saying that the Jury's not in yet. Long term use in the smaller doses may turn out to be harmless.
I also assume that spirulina blue shouldn't necessarily have matching effects with MB just because it's blue and absorbs similar doses at a similar rate.
There's room for some side by side rigorous experimenting with Blue algae compared to MB to find out if maybe it can hurt you or maybe not in what might turn out to be safe doses at safe intervals and such.
I love the algae. I look forward to further research.
This is an incredibly inflammatory and inaccurate article if you actually read the autopsy results a good six or seven of them were administered methylene blue in the hospital prior to death when that is done they give quite large amounts and so of course dying right after being given that would show up methylene blue his given in the hospital specifically in poisoning cases as it helps detox the body and remove certain toxins and saves peoples lives. there is zero correlation between people taking this as a supplement and dying their organs blue permanently. The others were blue because of other drugs and one was blue for undetermined reasons. I would be happy for any insightful and valuable information that share some potentially dangerous side effects or an un optimum outcome from Melene blue but everything cited in this article is out of context for instance methylene blue is the number one substance for treating haemoglobinaemia if I’m spelling that right And yet if you take too much of it it causes the very thing that it’s best for treating. It’s a bit like saying caffeine causes heart attacks in forgetting to mention that you have to drink 17 cups. celery also contains deadly ingredients but you would have to consume 27lb of celery for it to kill you. I think the volume might kill you before the toxicity, it’s all about context. Yeah, we all love and appreciate celery. And don’t go around saying oh we shouldn’t have any of that because what if it accumulates in your body? I do appreciate that methylene blue is a synthetic but there is an astounding amount of research on it and if you understand why it turns blue and why it goes clear in regards to the crib cycle you understand that it’s actually indicating the lack of oxygen in the tissue. To appreciate having attention drawn to the possible inhibition in neurology long-term I will look further into that, but the general tone of the article made me lose a lot of respect for the author who I previously thought was pretty cool. Makes me wonder if he is shilling blue algae! Gotta love that blue algae though!!
Thank you. There are also studies demonstrating methylene blue depletes glutathione (reduced) and interferes with converting the oxidized form of glutathione to the reduced form so it can be useful for detoxification again. There’s no way I’m putting a synthetic, industrial dye in my body!
I get to wonderin' if those studies were at the typical small doses or at the extremely high rates that prove harmful. We have many wonderful plant based helpers that will really mess you up at 40x the recommended dose or duration just like MB does at 40x.
Same for a lot of the "chemical" remedies.
dr H Clark regarded Methylen Blue as harmful dye of main concern, involved in cancer process as alkylizing; to be eliminated even in not ingested (as supplement) tiny amounts
Hum...I got serotonin overload/syndrome once, when my doc added an anti-depressant to my migraine med. How stupid. Of course the migraine med was depressing me alone since it wasn't curing the daily migraine. Food was the problem deleting my salt. Geeze...
Thank you for a different perspective. I was not aware of it being a coal tar product.. I was using it about once every 10 days maybe two weeks for approximately one year I don't think I noticed anything.... but now that I read this.. I will drop it..
I never bought into it. Thank you for this very important information.