What you might not expect at the Biohacker Summit!

Biohacker Summit, Helsinki 2022 - Part II

Welcome to part II. In my first article, I explained what Biohacker Summit is about and its purpose. Then I mainly focused on presenting some of the newest technological innovations and ideas that were introduced at the summit in Helsinki. Apart from technological gadgets and supplements, however, the stage witnessed talks on topics that even our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were interested in.

Modern science meets ancient wisdom

Biohacking is usually mentioned in the context of optimising human performance, health, and wellbeing. This is achieved through latest scientific discoveries and advanced technology, and the whole thing rests on personal experimentation backed by data. If you expected only talks about supplements, resveratrol or NAD+ at a Biohacker Summit dedicated to longevity, however, the following article may surprise you. Other ways of achieving longevity include breathwork, herbs, or sexuality, for instance…

The less you breathe, the longer you live

Kasper van der Meulen is a renowned Dutch teacher and scientist who studies and devotes himself to breath. In the past, breathwork was commonly considered a kind of medical intervention meant for people with respiratory issues. In other parts of the world (usually in the west), breathing techniques were then generally viewed as a vague spiritual practice. Times change, however, and breath has been getting more and more attention in our society.

So what is the link between breath and longevity? Kasper mentioned a study which implies that our lung capacity is one of the best indicators for predicting one’s life expectancy. The good news is that we can increase our lung capacity through conscious breathing. Kasper also considers conscious breath to be one of the most effective tools when facing the challenges of the modern world. The thing is that breath can help us alter our state, both physiological and mental. The appropriate (and correctly performed) breathing technique will help us consciously optimise our mental health (especially in case of anxiety or depression), but also stimulate our inner organs and improve their blood perfusion. In this way, every single inhalation gives us the opportunity to change our condition and face the world in a state of greater preparedness.

How can you implement this technique into your daily life? You can start by dedicating 3 minutes to yourself - in the morning, after lunch, and after dinner - during which you will intentionally reduce and limit your breathing.

There are other ways in which you can boost your lung capacity, too. Have fun with it!☺You can sing, play the flute, saxophone, or the Australian didgeridoo, for example!

Bonus: If you feel you are at a risk of losing focus while reading this article, try the following of Kasper’s techniques.

Fancy a mushroomy coffee?

We Czechs are a mushrooming people. When I tell my Welsh friends how I used to spend entire days in the forest with my grandmother, looking for boletes, chanterelles, parasol mushrooms and weeping milk-caps (and those were precious finds!), they listen longingly and ask me to take them mushrooming in the Czech Republic. Although we are admirably knowledgeable about Czech mushrooms, our knowledge regarding adaptogenic mushrooms is still in its mycelium, so to speak.

Erik Puro was the one to broach the subject of the potential and powers of these organisms at the summit. Erik loves the soil, the environment and the health of humans and the entire ecosystem. In the south of Finland he created a true mushroom kingdom / company / farm KÄÄPÄ Mushrooms, where he grows adaptogenic mushrooms. No worries, these are not hallucinogenic “magic” mushrooms and they do not alter our consciousness. They do have certain effects on us though. Adaptogens, when used over a longer period of time, help the body to adapt more easily to both physical and emotional strain - stress, whether it be stress in the form of a disease, intense athletic training, or the stress from reading the morning papers. 

Some examples of adaptogenic mushrooms include the chaga, reishi, or Lion’s Mane, and others. We revere them because they contain a number of bioactive substances, among them various beta-glucans, which have a beneficial effect on our immune system and help us fight off undesirable bacteria. Another great thing about adaptogenic mushrooms is that you can treat yourself without having to cook them (considering today’s electricity prices and outside temperatures, this is definitely a plus), as they come in different forms, such as powders or concentrated tinctures. You can simply place a few drops directly under your tongue or mix them into your coffee.

In case your inner mushroom hunter just became interested in adaptogenic mushrooms, I have some good news. We at Systers are interested in them as well. We have personally tested Erik’s KÄÄPÄ Mushrooms tinctures and you can get yours here. I myself took a few drops of Lion’s Mane before writing this article. Roarrr! 

One of the keys to longevity might be growing in your garden

Mauri Åhlberg took it upon himself to remind us that the wisdom of our ancestors and of ancient civilisation forms an important part of biohacking. He brought an impressive bunch of assorted herbs and plants. It is precisely herbs, wild edible herbs specifically, that professor Mauri has dedicated his studies to. And how does he claim they relate to longevity?

Many wild herbs and plants contain a number of vitamins, minerals and other substances (phytochemicals) that are beneficial to human health. Phytochemicals are secondary compounds produced by the plants for their protection. Why? Well, have a go, try surviving in a meadow or a glade, under scorching sun, in howling wind, where somebody is constantly trying to nibble at you. Phytochemicals render the plants stronger and more resilient. And if you make a colourful salad with these plants, they will lend you their antiviral, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. In this way, by mixing different wild edible plants, you can prepare a tasty dish which will support your health and longevity.

Professor Mauri recorded his research in a book. He describes the individual plants, offering also his phytochemical and toxicological studies, which show that the mentioned plants are safe to eat. And what was the professor’s main message?

The more time we spend in nature, admiring its beauty, picking and eating wild plants, the stronger our bond and unity with nature will be. Such a bond is at the core of everything

Healthy sexuality and love as an often ignored element of longevity

One of the lectures definitely worth mentioning was the one given by Anna Lindfors. Anna analysed the problem of sexuality including such topics as low sex drive, painful sex, or difficulty achieving orgasm. A reported 40% of all women and 60% of men have some kind of sexual dysfunction. A 10-minute foreplay is often not enough for women, and 80% of us struggle to achieve orgasm through sexual intercourse only. Some men, in turn, cultivate unrealistic expectations regarding sex in their heads. One of the consequences is a feeling of failure if their partner does not orgasm during sex. Generally speaking, the level of sex education in our society is mostly insufficient and the topic is often associated with feelings of shame, sometimes even guilt and fear.

Many people nowadays try to optimise and improve their lives through exercise, diet, or sound sleep, which is great. We can pay similar attention to our sex life and sexual health, however. Sexuality is more than just your sexual orientation. It is an essential factor of our health, wellbeing, and longevity. A commonly neglected factor, I might add. Anna sees sexuality as the core of our wellbeing, our inner power. In sexuality, all the elements of the self meet - our values, beliefs, desires, relationships, our body, thoughts, and emotions.

"You can have the newest health tech and top-notch supplements, but if you don't heal your traumas and work on relationships, how can you become an optimised human being?"

Naming and accepting the signs of sexual problems or dysfunctions is the first step on your way to solving them. As Anna herself says:

“It is time to reconnect with your inner, true SELF.
That will allow you to connect intimately with others around you.”

Conclusion

The June Biohacker summit only confirmed that we live in a time where science and spirituality can walk hand in hand and enrich our modern lives. It is possible to respect and explore the depths of a spiritual practice while explaining, clarifying, and demystifying it in the western language of modern science. 

Ageing concerns us all. At present, people all around the world are looking for ways of optimising the human body so that it can retain its ability of tissue renewal and regeneration until advanced age, which would allow us to enjoy a quality life. There will be ever more information, data, therapies, and recipes for longevity. Do not let it overwhelm you, remembering the words of Seneca, the Roman philosopher:

“A peaceful life cannot be achieved if too much time is spent pondering its prolongation.”