A vividly colored synthetic dye with a lengthy tradition of medically specific applications, such as for treating malaria or an uncommon blood condition, called methemoglobinemia, for example, it has a few acknowledged medical uses. However, despite reports of non-approved uses which have appeared in the media in recent months, the FDA’s only approved usage of methylene blue is for treatment of methemoglobinemia, which is a rare disorder that limits the capacity the red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
Methemoglobinemia typically occurs due to exposure to specific chemicals, medications, or recreational drugs. Methylene blue treats it by boosting hemoglobin’s oxygen-binding capacity. (Blue-tinged skin, caused by low levels of oxygen in blood, is the most prominent manifestation of methemoglobinemia. Therefore, it’s a little absurd to note that the medication itself has an eerie blue color.)
However, using the pharmaceutical grade product in a controlled environment and under supervision by a qualified medical professional is different from purchasing a supplement that is not regulated off the internet and consuming it every for a while because you’ve heard it’ll give you a ton of energy, “enhancing mitochondrial performance.”
With the increasing focus being given to the inky liquid, it is logical to know more about methylene blue’s origins, its mechanism of operation, and if its numerous health claims are able to stand against scrutiny.
What is methylene blue? What is it, and exactly how does it function?
Being one of the most ancient organic dyes, Methylene blue was first utilized in 1876 as an ink dye for textiles. Within a short time, scientists were employing it to color microorganisms in order to aid in diagnosing certain diseases. The year was 1891 when it was discovered to be beneficial in treating malaria, making Methylene Blue “the very first compound made of synthetic material employed as an antiseptic in therapeutic procedures as well as the very first dye that could be used for therapeutic purposes,” according to the authors of a Medical Research Reviews paper on the chemical.
Methylene blue can be used off-label to treat a range of medical conditions, for example,
- Vasodilatory shock (also known as distributive shock) vasodilatory shock is an emergency medical situation where the body isn’t able to provide enough blood to the brain, heart, and kidneys.
- as a way to prevent poisoning by cyanide
- Photodynamic therapy is a treatment for conditions like psoriasis or chronic wounds
- to aid in the diagnosis, management or speed up the treatment for various kinds of cancers, such as those of the mouth, breast and skin (for instance, methylene Blue could be used to determine cancer that has been able to spread to a nearby lymph node, by staining the lymph nodes with blue, as per Anna N. Yaroslavsky, Director of the Advanced Biophotonics Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell as well as a visiting researcher of the Massachusetts General Hospital)
- to alleviate the pain of oral mucositis, an inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth that typically occurs when radiation therapy for the neck and head or chemotherapy is used.
Methylene blue, as well as the detection of cancer
The Dr. Joseph D. Feuerstein is medical professor and associate in the medical school of Harvard Medical School and clinical director of gastroenterology for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center He claims that putting methylene Blue in the colon’s epithelium in colonoscopy results in the “great contrast, and you are able to actually improve your ability to detect the presence of polyps and precancerous tumors in the colon generally.” He employs it primarily in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) due to their higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
In addition to aiding in the identification of a variety of precancerous and cancerous lesions, methylene blue is often used in conjunction with a light treatment (such as those from lasers) to fight breast cancer, lung cancer, and many others.
Blue Methylene for the general public?
As the population becomes more desperate for products that fight aging and have the potential to extend not only longevity but also health, the demand for supplements such as vitamins, herbs, or other nootropics (and amp;ldquo; smart medicines”) has risen. Recently, Methylene blue has been added to this list. While evidence for some of the claims of health benefits isn’t conclusive, the advocates of methylene blue say that it could:
- Slow aging
- Enhance memory
- boost mood and improve focus
- help to stop cancer
- lower the risk of developing incurable neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Since it has shown promise in preserving mitochondria, the tiny cells that are the energy-generating cells’ powerhouses, which weaken as time passes, people have begun to advocate the use of methylene blue to slow the aging process of cells, especially within the brain.
Beware of untrue health claims and off-label use that is not regulated
As with all medications, one should remember that there aren’t magic bullets. Any study that claims that the most recent drug clears tumors or brain fog requires confirmation from independent researchers. Indeed, the 2023 study released in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism found that the methylene blue (in similar doses as studied by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, who claimed that the compound has memory-enhancing properties) caused an 8 percent reduction in the blood circulation of the human brain. flow.
Others have noted that even the pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue is contaminated with impurities. Chemical-grade or industrial-grade methylene blue that is available as a stain and dye shouldn’t be used by animals or humans. If a person purchases the wrong kind of methylene blue on websites, they may be very sick. (If you look up “methylene blue” on Amazon, you may be inadvertently buying the cleaner for your fish tank, since the blue can also be employed as an antifungal fish tank disinfectant.)
The blue-colored tonic that appears on many lips also poses serious dangers. In particular, methylene blue is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, which is a type of drug that is used to combat depression. It’s also structurally comparable to tricyclic antidepressants. This could explain the reason it’s being touted as a non-prescription option to combat depression. However, if one is already taking antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), as well as duloxetine (Cymbalta), and then adds the methylene blue supplement to their regimen, it could lead to an unintentional and often fatal interaction.
The most important thing is the bottom line
As we race to determine who has the longest and lives the healthiest life, OTC compounds like methylene blue are often the focus of scrutiny. However, they also deserve the most intense scrutiny. It’s crucial to remember the fact that just because a medication or supplement is effective in a specific clinical environment (like the detection of breast cancer), it doesn’t suggest that it’s suitable for or should be utilized by the general public.
