Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe 49 Spring 2023

11. WELLNESS + BIOHACKING:
THE WILD, WILD WEST OF BIOHACKING
BY MARC COHEN, MD
Emerging in both the wellness and medical arenas, biohacking must
be explored so we can collectively find, and understand, the best
way forward. Biohackers look to break into our biological operating
system and expand physical, mental and cognitive performance, as
well as human lifespan beyond current limits.
Biohacking can include using technology to monitor and track health
metrics, manipulate sensory inputs, use biochemistry to alter the
body’s functions or modify biology through genetic engineering or
implants.
Our ancestors were masterful biohackers. They learned that fasting,
isolation, silent meditation and certain plants could produce altered
states, and augment human performance. Early humans also
manipulated their body temperature in settings like sweat lodges and
cold plunges, they used chanting, drumming, music and dance to
induce trance states and control consciousness, and developed yoga
and martial arts practices that gave them extraordinary powers.
AI can now perceive and do what humans can’t; it is likely AI will soon
exceed skilled humans in diagnostics and clinical care, replacing
radiologists and pathologists. The global AI healthcare market is
expected to reach more than $208 billion in 2030. Plus, smartphone
apps and medical voice assistants have the potential to make expert
medical care available to everyone at very little cost.
Smart wearable devices are closing the loop between information
acquisition and practical interventions so that fitness trackers can
personalize your Peloton, Technogym or other 'smart gym' equipment,
while EEG signals can control neurofeedback devices.
Soon AI-assisted real-time biofeedback will be used to control
temperature, pressure, color, sound, smell and electromagnetic
stimulation and create storylines and augmented reality games that
take us on personalized healing journeys.
Biohacks involving water are flourishing. The subtle properties of
water have been exposed by a series of water pioneers investigating
the ‘Forth Phase of Water’ and demonstrating the secret ‘intelligence’
of water.
Understanding the importance and complexity of the microbiome
has led to a renaissance in the use of fermented products such as
kombucha to hack our inner ecology and literally infect ourselves with
good health. Supporting skin microbial health, kombucha-based skin
care is a fast-growing segment that offers living products for oral,
skin and intimate care.
While CRISPR technology hacks the genetic code and reprograms
cellular hardware, non-neural bioelectricity controls how groups
of cells behave. Researchers have recently converged molecular
biology, AI and supercomputers to hack biological control processes
and reprogram living cells to create 'xenobots', which are 'computerdesigned
organisms', or 'living robots'.
12. WELLNESS + FAITH:
HAVING FAITH IN BUSINESS
BY BRIAN GRIM
While diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have
focused on race, gender, sexual orientation, poverty and
marginalized populations, one aspect that’s been largely
left out of the conversation is now making a case for good
business practice and workplace wellness: faith.
Recent research studies are showing that when work makes
room for employees to express and practice religious
identity and faith, it measurably contributes to recruitment,
retention and revenue. Some corporations incorporate
faith-friendly initiatives, from providing food choices to
observing different religious holidays and accommodating
prayer times and rooms.
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