AI combined with biohacking is allowing unprecedented control over wellbeing, says Dave Asprey, Upgrade Labs, a chain of U.S.-based biohacking facilities. “We’re able to gather tens of thousands of data points that tell you how your body and brain are performing and even your biological age,” he says. “We use that data to guide people on a personalised journey using biohacking technologies and AI-power exercise equipment that can improve everything from their VO 2 max to their muscle mass.”
For years, some of the most cutting-edge biohacks were written off as snake oil because they didn’t have research to backing the technology, says Tammy Pahel, VP of Spa & Wellness at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. “We don’t even use the term,” she says. “We refer to them as touchless wellness experiences and all of the companies we work with have white papers behind their devices’ efficacy.”
Outlandish-sounding biohacks like cryotherapy and light therapy gained credibility when experts like Andrew Huberman, a neuroscience professor at Stanford University whose weekly podcast breaks down the science of longevity and performance optimisation, started touting their benefits. Bjurstam adds that new technology allows people to measure the effectiveness of different interventions on various aspects of their health ranging from heart rate variability to sleep performance when they get back home. “Wearables like the Oura ring or WHOOP may not be 100% accurate, but they provide an understanding of what we need to do to perform better,” she says.
The longevity field is still a bit of a “Wild West,” cautions Bjurstam. Many devices sold for home use aren’t intense enough to yield major benefits and most therapies need to be customised to an individual to be effective. Dr. Elizabeth Yurth of the Boulder Longevity Clinic in Colorado is wary of the sudden popularity of intravenous vitamin infusions at hotels and spas. “Some things you can’t get enough of, like magnesium and Vitamin C,” she says. “But you can overdo others, like NAD and glutathione. Those really need to be personalised.” If you’re going to jump on the biohacking bandwagon, you should be certain the facility you’re visiting is overseen by a medical doctor, cautions Pahel.
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The latest biohacks to know about
Cryotherapy
The Dutchman Wim Hof, aka the Iceman, is largely responsible for popularising cold exposure, but the concept of cryotherapy, or cold therapy, has been around since the ancient Romans. Therapies range from ten-minute ice baths in water temperatures between 10°C to 15°C, to Whole Body Cryotherapy, which involves short exposure (typically two to three minutes) in temperatures as cold as -130°C (-266°F) in a chamber. The benefits: reduced inflammation, speedier muscle recovery, and a boost in metabolism and mood.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Administered in a chamber with air pressure 2 to 3 times as high as normal, enabling the lungs to gather more oxygen. The extra oxygen in the bloodstream helps fight bacteria and stimulates cell repair.
Intravenous Therapy
A method of administering fluids and a cocktail of minerals and vitamins directly into a patient’s bloodstream intravenously to boost overall wellbeing.
Ozone Therapy
The process of increasing oxygen in the blood by administering an activated form of oxygen into the body typically by drawing from your blood, mixing it with medical-grade oxygen that is exposed to UV light, creating O3 bonds and reinjecting it into your bloodstream intravenously. Studies suggest this treatment can enhance energy and brain function, and strengthen the immune system.
Photobiomodulation
Pioneered by NASA, this application of specific wavelengths of red or near-infrared light (typically within a wavelength range of 600 to 1,200 nanometers) stimulates mitochondria (our cell’s battery packs) to promote collagen growth, decrease inflammation and even improve cognitive function.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
A regenerative treatment that uses injections of a concentration of a person’s own blood platelets to help repair damaged tissue and alleviate pain.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Therapy (PEMF)
This biohack uses bursts of low-level electromagnetic radiation at around 5 to 30 Hertz (similar to the body’s natural bio-field) to trigger a biologic response that recharges cells when they start to lose energy from stress or fatigue. Studies show PEMF therapy can reduce pain and inflammation and improve sleep.
What is a longevity or biohacking retreat?
The goal of longevity retreats is to turn hacks into habits that people can embrace back at home. Some programmes are more strict than others and involve intermittent fasting along with a strict schedule of interventions that combine ancient wisdom (ie Ayurveda) with the latest biohacks. Others, like the programmes at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, take a more laid back approach where you can cancel out that poolside cocktail with a hydrating IV drip or go hard on the ski slopes then recover with tools in the biohacking lounge. Some people’s goal may simply be to leave feeling better. But biohack results are rarely a one-and-done deal, which is why many people are starting to think of longevity retreats like an annual health check up akin to a doctor’s visit.
The best longevity retreats
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami
This all-suite beachfront resort has a 70,000-square-foot wellness facility equipped with one-of-a-kind equipment, like a bed that uses vibroacoustic, electromagnetic, and infrared technology to detoxify the cells, plus an outpost of the Biostation, the region’s leading anti-ageing clinic. Dr. Martin G. Bloom, medical director of the Biostation, oversees four-night retreats aimed at fostering longevity through diagnostic tests that assess 100-plus biomarkers like metabolism and thyroid function. Based on your results, a team of experts customises treatments and therapies such as bEnergized lipotropic injections to promote fat burning, time in a Somadome meditation pod for relaxation, and sessions in the BallancerPro compression therapy suit to detox the body through lymphatic drainage.