Regular readers of my posts may remember that in the past year I’ve written about two health-promoting therapies that I’m now regularly using in my practice: red light therapy and methylene blue. Well, in this post, I’m going to tell you about the extraordinary benefits of combining the red and the blue, two modalities which, at first glance, seem to have nothing in common. Emitted from a therapeutic device, red light, in the longer near-infra red and infrared wavelengths, penetrates below the skin, about an inch and a half, to work its healing effects.

Methylene Blue or MB, available in either supplement or prescription form, is a chemical compound that enters the bloodstream after you take it orally. But however different the delivery systems, both therapies stimulate the power plants inside our cells, the mitochondria, with the result that the body has more healing energy on tap. And each therapy enhances the other, a synergistic effect that I like to call, 1 plus 1 equals 3. Or, combine and conquer! Here’s the top line on what you need to know and how to put them both to work for you:

OK, so, remind me, what does each therapy do?

MB was synthesized as a commercial dye over a century ago (it really is blue), and over time found important uses in medical research before emerging as a multi-purpose therapeutic compound in its own right. It’s got antioxidant and heart-protective qualities, not to mention being effective against malaria, fungal infections and even depression. And red light therapy (RLT) really is red, that is, the light emitted at the shorter visible frequencies that can help heal skin conditions and possibly increase hair thickness. But it’s the longer near-infra-red and infra red frequencies generated by higher-tech medical devices, ideally, used by a knowledgeable health-care professional, that go deeper into the body to generate more profound changes at a metabolic level. The light promotes increased blood flow, tamps down the inflammation responsible for achy joints, speeds up wound healing and can shorten the recovery time after athletic work-outs. Did we mention it’s a mood-lifter as well, just like MB.

OK, what’s the link between the red and the blue?

This is where the story gets really interesting. MB works biochemically and RLT “biophysically,” that is, by sending light into the cells of the body. But they both affect the mitochondria by interacting with what is called the electron transport chain, the machinery inside the mitochondria responsible for converting the carbs and fats we eat into ATP molecules -- what powers the entire human system. MB donates spare electrons and RLT donates spare photons to make the whole chain move more powerfully. OK, the college-level science details aren’t so important here. What is important is the take-away, more energy on tap. Not only do you get an “additive” effect – MB benefits plus RLT benefits – but the two therapies actually complement each other. For instance, MB can enhance the absorption of red light, allowing for a deeper, more potent penetration.

What’s the brain got to do with it?

The individual benefits of RT and MB come together beautifully in the brain. The two therapies are all about promoting cellular energy production and if it’s one thing the brain needs is a good energy supply. We now understand that, as we age, the decline in energy production inside the mitochondria leaves the brain vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s which, with good reason, many of us fear the most.

Well, RT and MB to the rescue! MB can cross the blood-brain barrier and lodge inside the neuronal mitochondria where it helps keep things humming. RLT, when it’s aimed at the brain (that is, “trans-cranially”) stimulates the production of a particular enzyme that helps keep the neurons powered up, and that’s independent of the extra ATP molecules that are being created.

Although the research is still in its early stages, we’re seeing encouraging evidence, and plenty of positive patient feedback, that the two therapies, individually and even more so in combo, can improve mental focus and memory, as well as lift mood. In effect, MB and RTL have the potential to slow the cellular aging process in the brain – the less energy we have to draw on, in a functional sense, the older we become. And they may be able to push back against the brain’s production of toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Will it become a valuable Alzheimer’s therapy of the future? Stay tuned.

Methylene blue + red light therapy = a therapeutic one-two punch

Bottom line is, anything MB or RLT can do, they can do it better together:

• Tame inflammation and reduce oxidative stress – The two therapies can combine for a stronger effect, one that may be strong enough to lower the risk of inflammation-driven chronic conditions, from arthritis to cardiovascular disease. 
• Fight infectious diseases – MB attacks microbes directly while RTL stimulates the body’s immune system, a one-two punch just made to battle infections. 
• Wound healing – MB is being looked at as a way to spur tissue repair while we know that RTL can promote collagen synthesis, which accelerates wound healing. The combo makes sense. 
• Possible cancer-fighter – Both therapies are beginning to be investigated for their ability to help the body destroy cancer cells. The duo stands a better chance of success. 

Word to the wise: your provider matters – a lot!

As these therapies become more popular, I strongly recommend working with a highly qualified, experienced health care provider when using either MB or RTL. That advice goes double when using them in tandem – while the potential health benefits increase, so does the potential for trouble. Too big a dose of MB, be it over the counter or a prescription injection, can trigger anxiety and heart palpitations, and serious side-effects can occur when combined with pharma drugs like antidepressants, opioids and antihistamines. Check with your physician!

In the case of RLT, it’s more a case about being cautious about lower-cost home units, typically helmet-style devices, or at least lowering your expectations. I recommend working with a health-care practitioner working with medical-grade equipment to develop a customized program that can help you achieve the best results in the healthiest way possible.