[240] - Methylene Blue - Brain Booster or Biohacking Hype

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You’ve probably seen it on social media—people swishing around bright blue tongues, swearing by methylene blue as the next big thing in brain health. But is it all hype, or is there actually something to it?

As a long-time shift worker and nutritionist, I’m breaking down what methylene blue really is, how it works in the body, and whether it’s worth your attention—especially if you’re juggling night shifts, fatigue, or brain fog.

Methylene blue has a fascinating backstory. It started out as a textile dye in the 1800s, became a malaria treatment in the 1890s, and now it’s showing up in biohacking circles as a potential cognitive enhancer. What makes it interesting is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and support energy production in the mitochondria—your cells’ powerhouses.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What methylene blue actually does in the brain
• The research around memory, mental clarity, and mitochondrial health
• Why getting the dose right is crucial—and how too much can be harmful, especially if you're on antidepressants or SSRIs
• Why aquarium-grade methylene blue is not the same as the stuff used in research
• And most importantly—why your basics like sleep, food, movement, and stress management still come first

This isn’t about fearmongering or hype—it’s about understanding the science and being smart with your health. If you’re curious about methylene blue or looking for practical, evidence-backed ways to support your brain while working odd hours, this episode is for you.

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Disclaimer: Roger Sutherland is not a doctor or a medical professional. Always consult a physician before implementing any strategies mentioned in this podcast. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Roger Sutherland will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of the information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness, or death.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, you've all seen it out there on TikTok and
everywhere else, and everyone'swandering around with blue
tongues Methylene blue.
What is it?
Is it a brain booster or is ita biohacking hype?
In today's episode, I'm goingto talk about what the science
actually tells us.
Shift work can be brutal, butit doesn't have to be.

(00:26):
Welcome to a healthy shift.
My name is Roger Sutherland,certified Nutritionist, veteran
Law Enforcement Officer and 24-7shift worker for almost four
decades.
Through this podcast, I aim toeducate shift workers, using
evidence-based methods, to notonly survive the rigours of
shift work, but thrive.

(00:47):
My goal is to empower shiftworkers to improve their health
and wellbeing so they have moreenergy to do the things they
love.
Enjoy today's show, g'day, andwelcome back to A Healthy Shift.
I'm Roger Sutherland, your host, and I'm someone who's spent
over 40 years navigating shiftwork firsthand, and now I help

(01:11):
others do the same, with lessburnout, better health and much
more energy.
Now I want to talk about thisone because we see it everywhere
, but I just want to remind youit's a healthy shift.
So what I'm trying to do is I'mtrying to help people from a
poor place to a good place.
It's not actually all aboutshift work, even though it seems

(01:34):
to be all about shift work.
Today's podcast is well, it'simportant.
We're unpacking one of the mosttalked about and also
misunderstood compounds which isfloating around in the brain
optimization space right now.
Now I'm not going to go intowhere you've seen it, where
you've learned about it, who'stold you about it, but it's blue

(01:57):
, it's bold, and if you've spenteven five minutes on TikTok or
some biohacking forum lately,you've probably heard the name,
and that is methylene blue.
Now, before you chuckle andpicture some bloke pouring blue
liquid into his smoothie andcalling it science, let me tell
you there's actually evidencebehind this stuff, but, like a

(02:21):
lot of things, it all comes downto how it's used, why it's used
and also who's using it.
So today, what I'm going to dois I'm going to answer some of
the big questions what the hellis methylene blue?
How does it actually work inyour brain?
What does the science actuallysay and, most importantly, is it

(02:45):
safe?
So let's actually get into this.
So, what is methylene blue?
Well, methylene blue is nothingnew.
It was first created back inthe 1800s as a textile dye Yep,
the kind you'd use to colourfabric.
In fact, it was the blue thatwas used to dye denim into the

(03:06):
jeans that you wear today.
That's right, but in 1891, itwas being used as a treatment
for malaria.
Now, over time, it's been usedfor urinary tract infections,
blood disorders and even as atreatment for carbon monoxide
poisoning.
But in recent years, oh my God,it's going to tension for

(03:26):
something very different, andthis is brain performance.
Now it turns out that methyleneblue has this unique ability to
cross the blood brain barrier,basically the brain's own
version of border security.
Now, most substances don't getthrough this blood-brain barrier
, but methylene blue does, andwhen it gets there, it does

(03:50):
something pretty fascinating.
So let's talk about thatMitochondrial shortcut.
Here's where we get a tiny bitsciencey, but I want you to just
bear with me and hang with mehere.
Inside our cells, especially inour brain cells, we've got
these little power stations,which are called mitochondria.
Now their job is to produceenergy, but sometimes they don't

(04:14):
actually work properly, andthat's when fatigue, brain fog
and all kinds of stress-relatedissues start to creep in A major
issue for our chronicallyfatigued shift working community
.
Now methylene blue works as anelectron cycler inside this
mitochondria, and that means itcan pick up the electrons and

(04:38):
move them along, which bypassesthe usual pathways that create
oxidative stress basically thebad products of energy
production.
So by skipping over thosetrouble spots, methylene blue
helps your brain make energywithout creating a lot of
internal mess.
It's like giving your brain afast-charging cable without

(05:01):
frying the circuits.
But what does the scienceactually say?
So is this all just a theory?
Well, actually it's not.
A 2016 brain imaging studyfound that low-dose methylene
blue enhanced memory, recall andactivated key areas of the
brain like the prefrontal cortexand the hippocampus, which are

(05:24):
areas which are responsible formemory, decision making as well
as focus.
Now, animal studies have shownimproved memory in older rats
remember, we're not rats whichis better mitochondrial function
and less oxidative stress, andin Alzheimer's research,
methylene blue shows potentialin stopping a harmful protein

(05:48):
buildup.
Now, let's be real.
Most of these studies are earlyand we're not saying that this
is a magic pill.
But there's definitelysomething going on here and it's
worth us paying attention toand keeping an eye on.
But there's an absolute dangerzone here and the dose matters,
and this is what you've got tolisten to.

(06:09):
Don't listen to the podcast upto there and then run out and go
and buy blue toilet cleaner,because it's not going to help
you.
The danger zone is that thedose really matters, and this is
where people really screwthings up in a big way.
Methylene blue is biphasic andthat means that low doses help

(06:29):
and high doses actually hurt you.
Too much can actually interferewith serotonin levels, which is
especially dangerous and notethis if you are someone who is
taking antidepressants or SSRIs.
It can also act as apro-oxidant instead of an

(06:49):
antioxidant and, worst of all,it stains everything your mouth,
your wee, your hands.
It's not a good look.
There are people out there thatare literally drinking you ready
Aquarium grade methylene blue,yep Fish tank cleaner.
Please don't do that Now.

(07:12):
If you are going to use it, ifyou are considering adding this
to your brain optimization stack, how would you do this safely?
Well, here's a rough idea andthis is for education, not
medical advice, all right.
So I want to make this very,very clear.
It's so that you understandthis very, very clear.

(07:37):
It's so that you understandwhat we do is we use a USP-grade
pharmaceutical methylene blueand in simple terms, that just
means it's quality, it'scertified.
We don't go out on eBay, iherbor the pet shop to go and buy
something like methylene blue.
Go and buy something likemethylene blue.
That is risking your life.
Keep your doses very low.
How low?

(07:58):
We are talking 0.5 to 1milligram per kilogram of body
weight.
So you weigh 60 kilograms.
30 milligrams.
That's what you need to startoff with.
Start even lower than that,just to test your tolerance and
cycle it.
It's not something that youtake daily for months on end.

(08:22):
And, importantly, don't combineit with antidepressants or
SSRIs or any psychedelics oranything else that alters
serotonin.
And always, always, always,always, always.
Do not just go out and buy thisbecause you've seen it on
TikTok and you feel like you cantake it.
You must talk to a healthcareprofessional before you mess

(08:46):
with stuff like this.
It is very important.
It's a chemical, all right.
So I just wanted to just coveroff on that like that.
So my final thoughts aroundthis is in the world of shift
work, we're always looking forways to feel more alert, think
more clearly and bounce backfaster from the grind.

(09:06):
But remember this you've got toget everything else right first.
You've got to get your lightdiet right.
You've got to get yournutrition right.
You've got to get your exerciseright.
You've got to get your lightdiet right.
You've got to get yournutrition right.
You've got to get your exerciseright.
You've got to get your stresslevels right.
You've got to get your sleepright.
You've got to get everythingright first.
Don't start here and think it'sgoing to solve your problems

(09:27):
when you're not sleeping oryou're having all sorts of other
problems.
You've got to get everythingright.
And this is just a finisher.
Remember, it's a supplement,that's what it is.
Methylene blue might have aplace in that conversation,
especially when your brain isunder constant oxidative stress
from lack of sleep, long hoursor irregular patterns.

(09:49):
But here's the deal.
Smart protocols are neverdriven by viral videos.
Keep that in mind.
Just because you've seen it onTikTok and it's doing the rounds
doesn't make it right.
It's driven by understandingthe mechanism and using the
right dose at the right time forthe right reasons.

(10:12):
So if you hear someone onlinethat is calling this stuff snake
oil or someone who's callingthis stuff magic, ignore them
both, because the truth liessomewhere in the middle.
It's very, very early daysaround these things and it's not
something that you just rushout and do and expect a magic

(10:35):
result.
Make sure you talk to yourhealthcare professional about
this, because he will have ahandle or she will have a handle
on what else you're taking.
Do me a favor, share thisepisode and get evidence based
science out there and preventthis TikTok madness.
Thank you for listening.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to subscribe so you get

(10:55):
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If you want to know more aboutme or work with me, you can go
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I'll catch you on the next one.