I tried the mysterious blue substance loved by RFK Jr to cure my jet lag... I was shocked by what happened to my body
But with more than 20 hours of flight time from New York to Australia on my horizon, I was eager to unearth any solution in a bid to make the most of my 10-day trip.
Friends had suggested everything from the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax (alprazolam) to melatonin supplements to pack in some sleep. but then another recommendation from a travel pro piqued my interest: Methylene blue.
Methylene blue, which is a cobalt blue-hued synthetic dye, has a long history of being used as treatment for ailments, including for malaria and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.
But in recent years, an increasing number of people believe it may offer various other health benefits, particularly for cognitive function and potentially as an anti-aging agent. Research even suggests that it can kill cancer cells under specific conditions.
And In February, footage emerged of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, 71, on a plane using a pipette to add droplets of a blue liquid to his drink.
It is unclear where and when the video was filmed and the footage doesn't show him consuming the concoction. But the clip spread widely on social media, leading to speculation about what it could be.
Some medical experts said the blue liquid was likely methylene blue, although he has never commented on what it was. Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan are also among the fans of methylene blue.
Brandon Dawson, co-founder and CEO of 10X Health, an individualized wellness company, told me he is also a big advocate of methylene blue to mitigate the tiring effects of long travel journeys.
Dawson says he swears by the supplement and he never suffers from jet lag, despite hopping on multiple flights a week around the world.
Following his revelation, I stocked up on 10X's methylene blue drops.
A 30ml bottle costs $37, with this amount set to last a month if you take it on a daily basis.
Dr Johnny Parvani - who runs 10X's IV arm of the business, offering patients infusions of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to boost their health - recommended that I start taking methylene blue one day before travel and then throughout the journey and during the trip.
Explaining the benefits, he told me: 'This supplement can facilitate the role of oxygen in generating energy in high altitude environments such as with air travel.
'The supplement should help you remain more focused and energized and help you adjust to the new time zone quicker.'
Currently methylene blue is not FDA-approved for jet lag, only for methemoglobinemia, and there have been no clinical trials or studies specifically evaluating the effectiveness of it for long-haul air travel.
Research is limited, but a 1995 study found the substance can increase oxygen levels in the blood and improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Some experts argue that, by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, methylene blue can improve the health of the mitochondria – the powerhouse of cells in the human body.
In doing so, they argue, this can slow down aging or even prevent cancer – which occurs when cells malfunction and mutate.
However, perhaps the most excitement is over the potential use of methylene blue for preventing dementia – the incurable degenerative brain disease that affects more than 7million Americans.
The exact cause of dementia is unknown, but one theory is that it is triggered by malfunctioning mitochondria in the brain.
In 2020, a Chinese paper published in the medical journal Translation Neurodegeneration suggested that methylene blue be considered as a possible preventative treatment for dementia.
Another proposed use for the blue dye is treating the mental health disorders depression and bipolar.
By improving the function of the mitochondria, supporters argue, this should also boost levels of serotonin, the 'happy hormone,' in the brain.
In fact, studies do show that methylene blue can increase serotonin levels. Some research even suggests it can alleviate mental health issues.
But back to me - I decided to trial the concoction for myself.
In liquid form, you take methylene blue by using a dropper to add it to water.
Dr Parvani advised me to drink it through a straw as the liquid can stain your teeth and he also warned me that it could turn my urine blue.
Before my trip, I discovered that methylene blue is actually illegal if it is imported into Australia without a prescription as it is a classified as a Schedule 4 substance.
After learning this, I hatched a plan to ditch it while changing planes in California and to pre-mix a drink for the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.
Dr Parvani said I should still get the benefits of methylene blue despite not continuing to take it during my trip.
The label on 10X's methylene blue drops instructs you to start with five drops diluted in water, with this increasing by five drops weekly until you reach a full pipette (20 drops).
Following Dr Parvani's orders, I started by taking the supplement the morning before I traveled.
When you first put it in water, the color is barely visible but as it dilutes, it gets increasingly blue.
The mesmerizing color change filled me with vague concern as to what it could do to my internal organs.
The 10X product says it has a 'pina colada' flavor but I didn't taste anything vaguely fruity while sipping it.
To my relief, I also didn't experience any signs of blue pee.
At the airport, I took another dose of methylene blue before the next flight on my journey.
I'm not sure if it was a placebo effect or the methylene blue working its magic, but I did feel strangely energized and alert the day I traveled.
I also went on to have some of the best sleep I had ever had on a plane despite being cooped up in economy.
However, there were a couple of side effects I believe may have been from the substance.
Firstly, I appeared to lose my sense of taste, and then as I was sleeping, I suffered from pins and needles in my legs and arms.
A quick Google, showed that these can be side effects of methylene blue.
Other common complaints include dizziness, a fast heartbeat, a headache, shivering and a sore throat.
Luckily, I didn't experience any other discomfort while taking the supplement and when I landed in Australia, I found the benefits outweighed not being able to taste my plane pasta dinners and having a dead leg mid-flight.
On landing into Sydney at around 7am after more than 24 hours of travel, I felt surprisingly perky.
In fact, I managed to stay awake the whole day before rolling into bed at 10pm. The next day, I ran three miles in the morning and embarked on a 12-mile hike in the afternoon.
Maybe RFK Jr is on to something.
Next time I travel, methylene blue is something I would consider using but if losing my taste is a consequence, it's not something I'd take on a daily basis.
Experts say some people are more sensitive to the substance than others, and my friend who took a dose from my bottle returned from the bathroom an hour later exclaiming 'my pee is blue!'
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