Biohacker Summit, Helsinki 2022 - Part I.
It was a wild ride.
Biohackers and people with a passion for (or curiosity about) self-optimisation, healthy lifestyle, and experimentation as well as technology gathered in Helsinki at the beginning of June. They came from all parts of the world to network at the Biohacker Summit. Veronika Allister, Karol Tucker and I could not miss it for the world. We were even joined by our personal photographer Karolína Trummová! In these following paragraphs, I will try to share with you my experience from this unique event and also present some of the brand new technological innovations and ideas that were introduced at the summit. Let’s get cracking!
Biohacker Summit - What is it about?
Biohacker Summit is one of the biggest biohackers events in the world. The venue changes every time, with past summits held in England and Sweden. The main goal is to allow medical and technological experts, academics, nutritionists, personal trainers and health associations to interconnect. Every summit has one overarching meta theme, and this time it was LONGEVITY.
- How to live a longer, but above all healthier life?
- How to prevent diseases, look young and cultivate resilience (both physical and mental?)
- How to tell and optimise one’s biological age?
World-renowned health experts and innovators tried to explain, deepen, and answer these and other, related questions. The entire two days of the summit were loaded with the newest discoveries and innovations in this area and a myriad others.
1. Finnish invention: Lumoral
The interest in red light therapy is ever-growing. Likewise, the attention paid to the oral microbiome is also on the rise. One of the inventions presented at the summit was developed for the purpose of improving oral health, and with it, you can (c)lamp down on the bacteria responsible for oral cavity infections, for example. How?
This is how this gadget works:
- Swish your mouth with the special “Lumorinse” mouthwash which contains light-sensitive green colour and is designed to target the plaque on your teeth.
- Place Lumoral in your mouth - modelled in advance to fit your oral cavity.
- Sit back, relax, and wait for 10 minutes while Lumoral emits blue and near infrared light. The joint effect of light and light-sensitive colour from Lumorinse results in antibacterial action.
- After 10 minutes, casually counted down by the timer in Lumoral, you simply brush your teeth. After this whole process, the plaque that is invisible to the eye should be very easy to remove.
Put simply, Lumoral does its magic in your mouth through a combination of oxygen and light-sensitive molecules (from the mouthwash) + light of particular wavelengths (emitted by Lumoral).
When I wanted to know more about this Finnish invention, after a thorough presentation, I was given a hefty wad of studies done on Lumoral. If you feel inclined to take a peek, some of them are available here.
Personally, I find the whole concept of this invention rather appealing. The only drawback at the moment is its lifetime, only about 2 years, according to the manufacturer. I guess we will hear more about this product in the future, as there are already at least 2 households in the Czech Republic that light their teeth night after night. This is because Veronika and Karol are testing Lumoral on themselves, and I am extremely curious to see if they will describe their experience with a smile on their faces. ☺
2. Neurosonic
If you have had the opportunity to join a Systers Camp, you know that there are plenty of relaxation techniques to be tried. At our Camp in May, Veronika Allister guided us through Trauma Release Exercises. It is a series of exercises and stretches that use the muscles of the lower body and build up to gentle (or more intense) shaking which helps the body to release deep muscle patterns of stress, tension, and trauma.
As Verča found out at the Summit, it was precisely TRE that inspired the invention of Neurosonic. This is a therapeutic device that can be installed into an armchair, lounger, or bed where it produces low-frequency vibrations focused either on specific body parts or on the whole body at the same time. The vibrations penetrate into the deepest tissues, affecting your autonomic nervous system. Therefore, not only your body, but also your mind feel the effects. Neurosonic may induce feelings of relaxation, improve blood circulation, support mental and physical recovery, help with insomnia and support healthy digestion.
3. Sauna salt therapy
The Finnish Biohacker Summit fully confirmed the reputation of sauna enthusiasm this country has. We were able to sweat right through the talks and workshops, either in a traditional Finnish sauna or in an infra-red sauna with a view of the stage. I opted for the traditional one and topped off the ritual with a dive into the freezing cold ocean. There was a magical moment when we spontaneously made the entire sauna vibrate with our chanting - all the sauna users together with Yogetsu Akasaka. Wow!
This sauna innovation was presented by Brits from Clearlight. They invented a device which replicates the natural climate of a salt cave, right in the sauna. This means that you can enjoy the beneficial effects of not only a sauna but also a stay by the sea or ocean.
How does it work?
When you take this device to the sauna with you, it starts dispersing salt into the air. It simply reduces salt to particles that are tiny and light enough to be carried by air. Then you literally breathe in the benefits, as the salt particles travel through your nose and your respiratory tract into your lungs. The effects we may observe include the cleansing of the respiratory tract and a reduction of excess mucus. If you struggle with limited lung function, breathing salty air may help (1, 2). Another benefit is the deepened feeling of relaxation and tranquillity that this gadget induces. Almost as if you strolled along one of Britain’s seaside promenades.
4. NeuroVIZR
The great interest in trying out this device led to the creation of an impromptu waiting list, and so I waited almost 2 hours for my turn. Luckily, there were fascinating lectures and a variety of tastings to keep me busy. Yum.
Back to NeuroVIZR though. This is a gadget which affects you through light and sound. Imagine a futuristic headband. The inventor of Neuro VIZR and his team claim that this invention is capable of influencing neuroplasticity (the ability our brain has to change, learn and adapt) and allows the user to enter altered states of consciousness deliberately. In certain aspects, the effects of this device resemble those of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) which is a substance whose action is similar to that of the psychedelic drug LSD or magic mushrooms. What makes this device unique, among other things, is the simplicity of use, practical travel size and the fact that for such a private “trip” into your own mind, you do not need more than 15 minutes.
How does NeuroVIZR work?
- You make yourself comfortable (there was a cosy lounger at the Summit).
- You put on your headphones or earphones.
- After putting on the NeuroVIZR itself, the app lets you choose the program that suits you best at the moment. Besides the program mimicking the effects of psychedelic drugs, there are more “grounded” sessions aimed at brain training, relaxation, focus, creativity, sports performance, or deep sleep. The app is constantly evolving, so more are coming!
- Having chosen your program, you relax and close your eyes. Your journey is just starting.
My personal experience:
I’m lying down with headphones on, eyes closed and the NeuroVIZR on my forehead. The first seconds bring quiet, a little unusual music. As the music intensifies, acting as my guide, more sensory perceptions join in. I can see a flashing light, colourful geometrical patterns and figures. The eyelids of my closed eyes serve as a screen on which these extraordinary light patterns are projected. Since my eyes are still closed, the visual experience is quite different from the perception I am used to. The light and music escalate pleasantly at one point, before abating and finally disappearing altogether. After just 10 minutes, my session is over. I return the gadget to be told that now my brain is more open to learn and acquire new knowledge. Great, I think this is fitting, as we are at a conference full of scientific lectures.
I must add that my headphones did not fit closely enough, so I could still hear the noise around me. That is why I did not manage to relax completely and fulfil the potential of my light journey. NeuroVIZR itself really got my attention though, and I hope to be able to try it out once more under favourable circumstances. Perhaps this year at the next Summit in Amsterdam? ☺
Part I: Conclusion
In this article, I focused mainly on the technological innovations that were presented at the June Summit. I think all of us know from personal experience that technology is a tool which can be both harmful and significantly beneficial to human wellbeing. With the topic of longevity being so trendy in recent years, we can expect a growing interest in different sorts of “solutions” to ageing and rejuvenation methods. Personally, I see all these impressive technological innovations as an extra addition once we have built solid foundations in such areas as sleep, stress management, breath, or healthy diet. In my opinion, it is precisely these parts of the whole puzzle that make up the base of a better (and perhaps even longer) life. I was pleased to see that many of the lectures at the conference were dedicated to the exploration and deepening of these essential areas. Even topics like sexuality, breath, healing properties of wild plants and adaptogenic mushrooms were broached. More about this in the next part, though!
Resources:
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16421364/
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22374985/
