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.