You can’t scroll for five minutes without being served yet another miracle pill or biohacking breakthrough, often by someone with no medical qualifications but plenty of followers.
From steak-and-eggs diets pushed by gym bros to controversial weight-loss injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro, wellness trends on social media have become a high-speed carousel of hype, hope, and sometimes harm.
Now, the latest viral obsession is methylene blue, a substance that’s part lab dye, part medical treatment, and, according to some influencers, the secret to unlocking your brain’s full potential.
Yes, really.
So, what is methylene blue?
Originally used as a dye, methylene blue has a long medical history. It’s still prescribed for conditions like methemoglobinemia (a rare blood disorder) and has historically been used to treat cyanide poisoning and urinary tract infections, per NCBI. Basically, it’s been around the pharmaceutical block.
But TikTok creators and biohacking evangelists, including Joe Rogan and eternal-teenager millionaire Bryan Johnson, have recast it as the latest cognitive enhancer, promising laser focus, mental clarity, and even longevity. Think the 2011 movie Limitless, minus the private jets and sudden fluency in Mandarin.
What are people claiming?
On TikTok, user @Trevstrends raves: “People have been using it for focus, clarity, and drive. Even motivation. I tried it and my brain just clicked.”
In another video, he adds: “My brain has never felt sharper. I hated how it kept me awake at night, until my productivity doubled. I wanted a quick fix, now I’m accidentally disciplined.”
Meanwhile, Bryan Johnson, known for spending millions to reverse aging and comparing erections with his son (not a joke) has also backed methylene blue. So, if that’s the stamp of approval you were waiting for…
But is it safe?
Experts aren’t convinced. Neuroscientist Dr. Anne-Sophie Fluri told MailOnline: “Without solid evidence in humans, these claims are at best speculative and at worst potentially dangerous. The brain is not a machine you can casually ‘optimise’ like a smartphone.”
Beyond turning your tongue (and pee) a brilliant blue, methylene blue can trigger side effects including confusion, agitation, seizures, muscle twitching, shivering, sweating, and diarrhoea. In other words, mental clarity might come at a messy cost.
For all the hype, methylene blue is far from a magic pill, and treating your brain like a biohacking project could backfire. If you really want a sharper mind, maybe skip the lab chemicals and stick to sleep, hydration, and yes, even sudoku.
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