Last updated: September 28, 2026 · Originally published: May 9, 2026 · By Eternal Elixir Editorial
Quick answer: A pre-winter mitochondrial stack in Australia usually means three supplements taken together through autumn and winter: NMN, a precursor to the coenzyme NAD+, low-dose methylene blue, which cycles electrons in the mitochondria, and berberine, which switches on the energy sensor AMPK. Each has its own research, but no trial has tested the three together, and none has tested seasonal timing. Methylene blue is not for anyone taking SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or other serotonergic medicines. If the stack suits you, our versions are NMN 500mg, Methylene Blue Capsules 10mg and Berberine HCl 500mg, one capsule of each a day, which costs about $2.22 a day at single-bottle prices.
Eternal Elixir makes all three products in this guide, so read it knowing that. Everything below follows each product’s own label, and every study claim links to its source. This is general information, not personal medical advice, and the safety section applies before anything else.
Read this first: who should not take this stack
- Methylene blue: do not take it with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or other serotonergic medicines, because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. Do not take it if you have G6PD deficiency. Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are under 18. It can colour your urine blue or green. Talk to your doctor if you take any prescription medicine.
- Berberine: our product page says to check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medicines (especially medicines for blood sugar), or have a health condition.
- The whole stack: add one product at a time, a week or two apart, so you can tell which one agrees with you. If you take any regular medicine, show your pharmacist the three labels before you start.
Our methylene blue safety guide explains the serotonin interaction in full. Please read it if you take any medicine for mood or pain.
Why people run a mitochondrial stack in autumn and winter
Mitochondria are the parts of your cells that turn food and oxygen into ATP, the energy your cells run on. The idea behind this stack is to support that process at three points: the supply of NAD+, the electron transport chain itself, and the cell’s energy sensor.
The autumn timing is about routine, not evidence. Days get shorter, most of us spend more time indoors, and winter eating tends to be heavier. Many people like to set up a steady daily routine before that happens. Nothing in the research below is seasonal, and none of these products replaces sleep, daylight, movement and a decent diet. The stack works the same way in spring, if you are reading this later in the year.
NMN: the NAD+ precursor
Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a building block of NAD+, a coenzyme that cells use in energy metabolism. The question for a supplement is whether taking it raises NAD+ in people and whether that changes anything they notice.
The best recent trial gave 60 older adults 250mg of NMN a day or a placebo for 12 weeks. The NMN group had higher blood NAD+ and its metabolites, a shorter 4-metre walking time, and better sleep quality scores, including the daytime dysfunction score. The trial’s main outcome, a stepping test, did not differ from placebo, and three of the four authors were employees of Meiji Holdings (Morifuji et al., GeroScience, 2024).
Our NMN 500mg is one capsule a day, preferably in the morning, with 90 capsules to a bottle. That is twice the daily amount used in that trial. For timing, see our guide to the best time to take NMN, and for how it compares with nicotinamide riboside, see NMN vs NR for raising NAD+.
Add NMN 500mg to cart · $59.99
Methylene blue: low dose, strict rules
Methylene blue is a dye with a long history in medicine. At low doses it acts as an electron cycler in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, passing electrons along and supporting cell respiration. A 2012 review of the research set out that mechanism and stressed that methylene blue has a hormetic dose response: low and high doses have opposite effects (Rojas et al., Progress in Neurobiology, 2012). Most of that research is in animals. Human evidence for everyday low-dose use is limited, so treat claims about energy and focus as unproven.
The dose rule follows from that. Our Methylene Blue Capsules are 10mg each, 60 to a bottle, and the label says one capsule a day. Do not split, double or combine it with drops. More is not better with a hormetic compound.
The interaction risk is real. Methylene blue is a potent reversible inhibitor of the enzyme MAO A, which is why it has been linked to serotonin toxicity in people taking SSRIs (Ramsay et al., British Journal of Pharmacology, 2007). In people with G6PD deficiency, it can damage red blood cells (Emadi et al., Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2025). Those two points are why the safety list above comes first.
If you take it with coffee, our guide to methylene blue and coffee covers that, and our methylene blue dosage and timing guide covers capsules and drops. For pairing it with NMN, see stacking methylene blue with NMN.
Berberine: the AMPK switch
Berberine is a plant compound from shrubs such as barberry. It switches on AMPK, an enzyme that acts as the cell’s energy sensor and helps govern how cells use glucose and fat. That is why it appears in metabolic and mitochondrial stacks.
Much of the human berberine research looked at blood sugar and blood fat markers in people already under medical care, so it tells you less about healthy adults who want steady energy. We found no trial of berberine for seasonal energy. What is clear from our own label is the dose: our Berberine HCl 500mg gives 500mg of berberine HCl per capsule from a 20:1 concentrate, and the label says one capsule on an empty stomach, or as your doctor directs. There are 90 capsules to a bottle.
For dosing across different goals, see our berberine dosage guide and our realistic timeline for berberine.
Add Berberine HCl 500mg to cart · $49.99
How to run the stack: a simple daily routine
This routine follows each label. It does not add doses the labels do not give.
| Product | Label serve | A simple time to take it | Pack | Days per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMN 500mg | 1 capsule (500mg) a day | On waking, preferably in the morning as the label says | 90 capsules | 90 |
| Methylene Blue Capsules 10mg | 1 capsule (10mg) a day | With breakfast, so it is easy to remember | 60 capsules | 60 |
| Berberine HCl 500mg | 1 capsule (500mg) a day | On an empty stomach, as the label says, for example before lunch | 90 capsules | 90 |
- Start one at a time. Begin with NMN, add berberine after a week or two, then methylene blue if it is safe for you. If something disagrees with you, you will know which one.
- Keep notes. Write down morning energy, afternoon focus and sleep on day one, then check at four, eight and 12 weeks. The NMN trial measured at four and 12 weeks.
- Stay at the label dose. None of these labels gives a second capsule, and none of the research supports doubling up.
For NMN’s own timeline, see how long NMN takes to work and our NMN dosage guide.
What the stack costs
Prices are in Australian dollars as of Sep 2026, at single-bottle prices from our product pages.
| Product | Price | Serves | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMN 500mg, 90 capsules | $59.99 | 90 | $0.67 |
| Methylene Blue Capsules 10mg, 60 capsules | $59.99 | 60 | $1.00 |
| Berberine HCl 500mg, 90 capsules | $49.99 | 90 | $0.56 |
| All three | $169.97 | About $2.22 |
An order of all three clears the $100 free-shipping line. Each product page also takes 10% off two bottles, 15% off three and 20% off five. Note that the methylene blue bottle runs out after 60 days while the other two last 90.
If you only take one of the three
- If NAD+ is your interest: NMN is the one with a recent human trial that measured blood NAD+.
- If you take any serotonergic medicine: leave methylene blue out entirely. NMN and berberine are the safer pair to discuss with your doctor.
- If you want the simplest routine: one NMN capsule each morning is the easiest habit to keep.
For a wider comparison of products in this category, see our mitochondrial support supplement rankings.
What to add, and what to avoid
A common add-on: trans-resveratrol is often taken with NMN. Our Trans-Resveratrol label says two capsules daily, with or without food. Our comparison of NMN vs resveratrol sets out what each does and what is still unproven.
Avoid:
- Methylene blue with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or any other serotonergic medicine.
- Berberine with blood-sugar medicines unless your doctor has agreed to it.
- Doubling up by adding a stack that already contains one of these. Our Metabolic Wellness Stack already includes berberine, and our Cellular Longevity Stack already includes NMN.
Some people weighing this stack are really after day-to-day vitality rather than cell energy as such. If that is you, our guide to tongkat ali in Australia covers a different option with its own research. You can compare all of our products in the Eternal Elixir shop.
The bottom line
This stack pairs three products that act on different parts of cell energy, each with its own evidence and its own limits. The research does not show that the three work better together or that autumn is a special time to take them. If you want to try it, start with NMN, add the others one at a time, stay at each label’s dose, and keep methylene blue away from any serotonergic medicine.
Pre-winter stack: frequently asked questions
Can I take NMN, methylene blue and berberine at the same time?
You can, as long as methylene blue is safe for you, but we suggest separating them. NMN on waking, methylene blue with breakfast and berberine on an empty stomach before lunch matches each label and makes it easier to tell which product is doing what.
How long until I notice anything?
No trial has tested this stack, so there is no stack timeline. The NMN trial measured changes at four and 12 weeks. Give any one product at least four weeks, and ideally 12, before you judge it.
Add NMN 500mg to cart · $59.99
Is this stack safe to run all year?
The products are labelled for daily use, and nothing in the research is seasonal. Long-term data are thin for all three, so check in with your doctor if you plan to run the stack for many months, and stop methylene blue straight away if you start a serotonergic medicine.
What if I’m only going to take one of the three?
If NAD+ is your interest, NMN is the one with a recent human trial that measured it. If you take any serotonergic medicine, leave methylene blue out. One NMN capsule each morning is the simplest place to start.
Can I take this stack with coffee?
Many people take NMN and methylene blue around their morning coffee. If you are sensitive to caffeine, notice how you feel before you add anything else. Our guide to methylene blue and coffee covers the pairing in more detail.
Why does methylene blue turn urine blue?
Methylene blue is a dye, and some of it leaves the body in urine, which can turn blue or green. Our product page says this is expected and passes. If you notice anything else unusual, stop and talk to your doctor.
Sources
- Morifuji M, Higashi S, Ebihara S, Nagata M. Ingestion of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide increased blood NAD levels, maintained walking speed, and improved sleep quality in older adults in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study. GeroScience. 2024;46(5):4671-4688. PubMed 38789831
- Rojas JC, Bruchey AK, Gonzalez-Lima F. Neurometabolic mechanisms for memory enhancement and neuroprotection of methylene blue. Progress in Neurobiology. 2012;96(1):32-45. PubMed 22067440
- Ramsay RR, Dunford C, Gillman PK. Methylene blue and serotonin toxicity: inhibition of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) confirms a theoretical prediction. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2007;152(6):946-951. PubMed 17721552
- Emadi E, Alamdari DH, Sahebkar A. The potential of leucomethylene blue in methemoglobinemia treatment: a new hope for patients with G6PD? Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2025;32(6):1033-1039. PubMed 37694789
