What methylene blue can (and can’t) do for the brain
12 comments
·June 6, 2025fhdkweig
JKCalhoun
Sent me down a rabbit hole — found the Blue Fugates of Kentucky: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Fugates
Thanks, ha ha.
JKCalhoun
Maybe an irresponsible link right here: https://wikijo.blogspot.com/2007/08/chemistry-methylene-blue...
landl0rd
It can also stain the heart and other tissues. But worth noting this was a much higher dose than your typical "biohacker" uses. The levels used in a hospital for things like methemoglobinemia, septic shock, whatever are many times larger.
Regardless, I don't understand why biohackers are often obsessed with things like methylene blue when targeted modulators usually exist. If someone is obsessed with "mitochondrial function" I'd expect him to look at methoxatin or something along those lines before something as broadly active as methylene blue. If someone wants MAO inhibition pharmaceutical options are probably better in terms of controllable isoform affinity. I don't see any reason to prefer something less well-studied for MAO inhibition over e.g. rasagiline or moclobemide.
imoldfella
Availability: no gatekeepers. methylene blue predates the FDA and is grandfathered. Unless you want to break the law, it will be hard to biohack with rasagiline or moclobemide. Also probably some safety in using something that's been used long enough to be grandfathered.
landl0rd
Just about any medication you want can be freely ordered from abroad. It is not against the law to use either, as they're not controlled substances. It is illegal to sell them for medical use without complying with pharmaceutical standards and a prescription, but it is not illegal to buy them.
dylan604
probably for the same reasons as why people are obsessed with colloidal silver. someone once told them it was good, so they just went with it.
wiry
maybe it has to do with how easy it is to procure?
tkzed49
thank you, this is the only answer I want
It can turn it blue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylene_blue#/media/File:Gro...