Biohacking is often framed as a health improvement strategy only for the rich and famous, yet its influence has proved long-lasting and far-reaching. To learn more about biohacking and how naturopathic doctors can support this approach, the Institute for Natural Medicine sat down with Mark Heisig, ND, who specializes in integrative neurology, metabolic medicine, integrative concussion recovery, and performance in Arizona and Washington.
What is Biohacking?
“Biohacking is essentially the use of various medications, supplements, and tools to augment human performance and physiology,” Dr. Heisig explains. “The goal is to feel and perform better. We’re trying to hack and optimize the biology.”
Heisig finds that people often confuse biohacking with basic lifestyle actions and human behavior. “In naturopathic medicine, we talk about lifestyle factors as the foundation of health: movement and exercise, nutrition, sleep, hydration, spending time outdoors, practicing gratitude, and community. We didn’t hack anything there!” Heisig exclaims. He shares an example that he often uses with patients. “Imagine telling a dog that they have to chase a tennis ball in a specific way to unlock their doggy potential. That’s silly because it’s obviously not a hack. That’s just dog behavior,” Heisig explains.
What are some common examples of biohacking?
Examples of biohacking that he commonly recommends include red light therapy, cryotherapy, and sauna. “These are very specific; they’re not daily, chronic, lifestyle behaviors. They’re precise interventions to help optimize aspects of performance or recovery.”
How Can Naturopathic Doctors Help Patients Use Biohacking Safely?
Given the similarities between the personalized medicine approach of naturopathic medicine and biohacking strategies, how could naturopathic doctors help patients use biohacking safely? “It’s key to ensure that patients aren’t looking to implement bio hacks in place of appropriate medical care,” Heisig explains. “Then, to ensure there are no contraindications to any of the therapies (or the hacks) the patient wants to engage in.”
When to avoid certain biohacking treatments
For example, if a patient had uncontrolled high blood pressure, he would not recommend using a cryotherapy change or a sauna until the blood pressure was lowered to a manageable level. “A common example is when patients are concerned about fatigue. I make sure that they don’t jump to using red light therapy before ruling out anemia, thyroid issues, cardiovascular issues, infections, and sleep disorders,” he notes. “We want to make sure that the box has been fully explored before we step entirely outside it.”
Educating patients while looking for long-term solutions
Heisig finds that some of his patients come in asking about biohacking techniques, particularly around injectables like IV therapy and injectable peptides. These situations present a vital opportunity for patient education. “Some patients want to skip the health process and go straight to the hack or the intervention. I recently had a patient for whom it was as simple as getting them to eat a bit slower,” he recalls. “All their symptoms went away. It wasn’t necessarily that we used a hack; they just had to slow down.”
Sometimes, agreeing to use a hack suggested by the patient (once he deems it safe and appropriate) allows him to dive deeper into their health. “To improve compliance, I often say, ‘Let’s do the hack, and let’s do this other bigger needle mover.’ We can do the hack, but the needle is going to move further when we also address foundational health aspects that are missing for the patient.”
Biohacking Health Benefits
“With biohacking tools, we’re looking to improve energy levels, sleep quality, muscle, and exercise recovery. We may also want to increase or decrease certain hormone or neurotransmitter levels. But we’re often looking at improving mitochondrial health and lowering oxidative stress and inflammatory loads,” Heisig explains.
Improving mitochondrial health and decreasing inflammation
And how do his patients respond to these strategies? “By achieving decreased inflammation and better mitochondrial health, people experience increased energy and better sleep quality.1Simpson N, Dinges DF. Sleep and Inflammation. Nutr Rev. 2008;65:S244-S252. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.tb00371.xAs far as the long-term impacts, they might be invisible for decades. It may manifest as preventing certain metabolic or cognitive disease states,” he notes. “If we do our job right as naturopathic doctors, we’ll never know what disease you didn’t get. It’s about getting your foundations of health in order and consistently doing bio hacks that are specific to your health and performance goals, your personal and family history, and your labs.”
As you may recall from high school biology, mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells, producing energy through a complex reaction. Research has demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to conditions as varied as metabolic syndrome, neuronal diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders.2Casanova A, Wevers A, Navarro-Ledesma S, Pruimboom L. Mitochondria: It is all about energy. Front Physiol. 2023;14:1114231. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1114231
Natural therapy options
Research points to several natural therapies that can improve the health of the mitochondria, including intermittent fasting, phytochemicals (like resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, NAC, coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, and melatonin), fermented foods, exercise, heat and cold exposure, and breathing techniques.3Casanova A, Wevers A, Navarro-Ledesma S, Pruimboom L. Mitochondria: It is all about energy. Front Physiol. 2023;14:1114231. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1114231
Who Could Most Benefit from Biohacking?
As Heisig’s practice primarily deals with concussions and post-concussion care, he sees a lot of athletes. But is biohacking appropriate for non-athletes as well? According to Heisig, anyone can use biohacking once the strategies don’t present any safety concerns for the patient. The key is to ensure that a healthcare provider is managing patient expectations around what impact the hack may have.
Why “performance” isn’t just for athletes
When it comes to the potential for biohacking to improve performance, Heisig wants people to know that ‘performance’ isn’t just for athletes. “Here’s how I frame performance. My wife and I have a toddler. Performance is having the energy to get up and hang out with your toddler and deal with potty training. It’s for anyone who needs more energy and better recovery (recovery could mean sleep),” he explains. “But you can’t hack a foundationally poor lifestyle. You just can’t just throw supplements at it; there are other big needle movers that we can use.”
Gender and the biohacking community
Look up biohacking online, and it may seem quite male-dominated. Heisig agrees that there is a male bias. Noting that this is a nuanced conversation when considering gender identity, he has a sense of why this approach may appeal more to those who identify as male. “We know that men are less likely to seek health care, particularly preventative or proactive health care, compared to women.4Tudiver F, Talbot Y. Why don’t men seek help? Family physicians’ perspectives on help-seeking behavior in men. Jour of Fam Prac. 1999;48(1):47-52. Accessed January 24, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9934383 Men may say, ‘You mean I can boost my testosterone and feel like I’m in college again? And all I have to do is take peptides and use lights? I don’t have to see a provider or identify my emotions? I’m sold!’” Heisig exclaims. “But being foundationally healthier isn’t as sexy. Biohacking is the sexy thing that promises shortcuts and results that may appeal more to a male population not typically known for a more gentle, long game-type of health care.”
The Importance of Working with a Healthcare Professional
Whether conventional or naturopathic, healthcare providers can do a great deal to help patients use biohacking techniques safely and effectively. But are there specific benefits to working with a naturopathic doctor to support your biohacking goals?
“Naturopathic doctors are more likely to have worked with biohacking tools. We have this unique bridge of conventional pharmacological training combined with botanicals, nutrition, mind-body medicine, and physical medicine. We can see what fits and what might be helpful.”Working in the concussion5Leddy JJ, Haider MN, Noble JM, Rieger B, Flanagan S, McPherson JI, Shubin-Stein K, Saleem GT, Corsaro L, Willer B. Clinical Assessment of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2021 Nov 24;21(12):70. doi: 10.1007/s11910-021-01159-2 space, he is often frustrated to hear that his patients are prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy without a thorough assessment. “There’s no look at how their other systems are functioning in the context of concussion; their autonomic balance, visual-vestibular function, cervical spine, etc. Without knowing both sides of the coin, it’s hard to guide people. That’s where naturopathic doctors shine; we do see both sides of the coin, and we can use all our tools.”
Footnotes
- 1Simpson N, Dinges DF. Sleep and Inflammation. Nutr Rev. 2008;65:S244-S252. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.tb00371.x
- 2Casanova A, Wevers A, Navarro-Ledesma S, Pruimboom L. Mitochondria: It is all about energy. Front Physiol. 2023;14:1114231. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1114231
- 3Casanova A, Wevers A, Navarro-Ledesma S, Pruimboom L. Mitochondria: It is all about energy. Front Physiol. 2023;14:1114231. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1114231
- 4Tudiver F, Talbot Y. Why don’t men seek help? Family physicians’ perspectives on help-seeking behavior in men. Jour of Fam Prac. 1999;48(1):47-52. Accessed January 24, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9934383
- 5Leddy JJ, Haider MN, Noble JM, Rieger B, Flanagan S, McPherson JI, Shubin-Stein K, Saleem GT, Corsaro L, Willer B. Clinical Assessment of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2021 Nov 24;21(12):70. doi: 10.1007/s11910-021-01159-2
