Adrenochrome has become a key element of QAnon conspiracy theories, alleging that wealthy and powerful people harvest it from children for its anti-aging benefits. This myth first surfaced in Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when Dr. Gonzo, Thompson’s attorney said it made mescaline “appear like ginger beer”.
Early research from the 1950s suggested schizophrenia may be linked to high levels of adrenochrome; however, this hypothesis was later disproven.
What is adrenochrome?
Adrenochrome is the metabolic byproduct of adrenaline. It’s produced when our bodies break down adrenaline during stressful situations or emotions, giving it its characteristic reddish-orange to purple color. Also referred to as adrenalin monosemicarbazone or monoaminoguanidine, this compound can help treat bleeding by aiding blood clotting – produced through oxidizing adrenaline with potassium ferricyanide or persulfates.
Adrenochrome can cause numerous side effects, from nausea and vomiting to headaches and dizziness, heart palpitations and blood pressure increases, cardiac arrest in extreme cases, liver toxicity as well as interference with regulating one’s blood sugar levels and leading to loss of appetite which results in malnutrition and weight loss.
Adrenochrome has also become the subject of various conspiracy theories and movements like QAnon that promote false ideas that Satanic Hollywood elites run a child trafficking ring and harvest adrenochrome to stay young. Multiple media outlets and scientific communities have repeatedly debunked this theory but it continues to spread via social media platforms.
Adrenochrome should not be misinterpreted as either a drug or hallucinogen; rather, it is simply a byproduct of adrenaline production in our bodies that can be found at elevated concentrations during times of stress, fear or excitement. Any reports claiming adrenochrome is being harvested from children to keep elites looking young are completely without basis; no evidence has ever been collected that any extract has come from children and no proof exists for any rejuvenating properties in its use.
Adrenochrome cannot reverse aging because it does not act as an antioxidant or antioxidant; rather, it’s a prooxidant which contributes to cell damage and increases aging. As such, adrenochrome has become associated with the QAnon movement which promotes an untrue theory that Satanic Hollywood and political elites run massive pedophilia rings and child trafficking operations to stay young and stay beautiful.
How is adrenochrome made?
Adrenochrome, produced through the oxidation of adrenaline (epinephrine), has limited medical applications as a treatment for certain conditions; it is easily synthesized and controlled in most countries, making its recreational use unlikely despite some people believing that adrenochrome can induce hallucinations.
The idea that one can harvest adrenochrome from tortured children’s pituitary glands has become an underlying theme in conspiracy theories, including those related to the QAnon movement. QAnon believes there is a high-ranking government agent known as “Q”, who leaks information regarding President Donald Trump and the Republican Party fighting a secret shadow government composed of billionaires, Democratic politicians and pedophiles.
According to the QAnon conspiracy theory, young children’s blood is harvested and used to create an adrenochrome hormone which is sold illegally on the black market as an attempt to make people look younger. Although this nonsense does not have any basis in fact, many have taken notice and made this part of their worldview due to major corporations failing their promises and leaving many disappointed.
Some have even gone so far as to claim that adrenochrome can reverse aging naturally – an incredible claim unsupported by any research or medical evidence. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t cause any positive side effects on the body and may actually increase risks such as heart attacks and seizures.
Adrenochrome myth has thrived thanks to a number of factors, including Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in which Dr. Gonzo, Dr. Neff’s attorney in that novel, mentioned how it transforms mescaline into “ginger beer”.
Unfortunately, the adrenochrome myth will likely not disappear any time soon. It remains popular with individuals disillusioned with large corporations like Mylan and Kaleo failing to live up to their promises; and popular among conspiracy theorists who portray wealthy and successful people as villains harvesting blood from young children for use in creating anabolic steroids such as Adrenochrome.
What are the side effects of adrenochrome?
Adrenochrome generally causes only minimal side effects. One study demonstrated how it increased contractility of the heart while decreasing coronary flow. Furthermore, it inhibited nitric oxide breakdown which narrows blood vessels leading to hypotension (low blood pressure) or nausea/vomiting symptoms.
Adrenochrome is a chemical compound produced through the oxidation of adrenaline. The name derives from adrenaline and chrome, which refer to its deep red hue, as discovered by French neurologist Alfred Vulpian in 1856. Although unstable on its own, Adrenochrome can be stabilized through monosemicarbazone binding to form carbazochrome drug which provides various beneficial properties including blood clotting stimulation.
Hoffer and Osmond proposed in the early 1950s that adrenochrome might be responsible for schizophrenia, linking excess adrenaline from fight or flight responses to stress with hallucinations and paranoia in certain people with genetic aberrations more likely to experience high levels of this hormone leading to hallucinations and paranoia. Unfortunately, their research never progressed beyond initial discussions, and other researchers have been unable to replicate their results.
Adrenochrome can cause side effects that include drowsiness and headaches, as well as effects on the nervous system such as shivering, blurred vision or nausea. Pregnant women or children should only use this medicine under direction from their physician; any questions should be directed toward either your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Can adrenochrome reverse aging?
Adrenochrome does not work to reverse aging; rather, its use could actually be harmful. Adrenochrome is a byproduct of adrenaline that plays no role in rejuvenation processes at all; instead it plays an integral role in redox cycles involving superoxide and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase for energy supply in cells. Adrenochrome production occurs naturally by oxidation and cyclization of cathecolamines converted from adreline by various enzymes in cells; cathecolamines produces this chemical substance which then undergoes further transformation by enzymes before entering our bodies as part of our energy needs for energy supply.
Adrenochrome has long been the subject of various conspiracy theories, with some suggesting it can provide psychedelic experiences and immortality for those who take it. Many of these claims stem from an incorrect assumption: that adrenochrome must come directly from human bodies to produce its effects; in reality it can be synthesized in laboratories for research purposes, rendering these beliefs completely inaccurate. This fact led many media outlets and scientific communities to denounce them.
However, the adrenochrome conspiracy theory has quickly gained prominence among followers of both QAnon and Pizzagate conspiracy movements. This bizarre belief suggests that Satan-worshiping global and Hollywood elites are engaging in child trafficking to harvest children’s blood for harvesting the drug adrenochrome to stay young.
Hunter S. Thompson popularized this fanciful idea in his 1971 book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when his character as a doctor recommended Adrenochrome injections to one of his patients. Although there was no scientific basis behind it, Ambrosia Pharmaceutical Company began charging thousands for “Adrenochrome IV” injections!
Ambrosia’s business model has come under criticism due to its lack of transparency and its reliance on inactive ingredients, with particular criticism directed toward CEO James Cutter who relied on misleading claims regarding adrenochrome benefits for marketing the product. Furthermore, no evidence was ever produced to back Ambrosia up on claims that their adrenochrome helps patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
