What is Biohacking? Exploring the Trend 

Biohacking is a term that describes DIY approaches to enhancing the functionality of the mind and body. The term was coined in 2011 by tech entrepreneur turned lifestyle guru David Asprey. Biohacking is a nebulous term, as it can describe behavioral changes, dietary practices, or the use of specific technologies – really, anything one does to enhance their well-being could be lumped under the “biohacking” umbrella. Let’s talk about a few examples.

The Spectrum of Biohacking: From Lifestyle Changes to Tech-Driven Approaches

Lifestyle changes, such as adopting an exercise regimen or a new dietary pattern, can be properly termed biohacking. Enhancing your health through a balanced diet and regular exercise is a well-established practice. Calling that biohacking is accurate, although probably little used. 

Biohacking stresses individual practice, which is something that I believe is key to the successful adoption of exercise and dietary changes. You must find a regimen that works for you: one that you can adhere to and the habits that ultimately provide you with greater vigor and enjoyment in your days. For example, Mr. Biohacker himself, David Asprey, adopted a low-carbohydrate diet (the Bulletproof diet) which he credits with greatly improving his health. His dietary practices diverge from the consensus recommendations of medical and nutrition experts, but you are unlikely to convince him to change his habits.

The use of dietary supplements is another behavior that can be lumped under the biohacking umbrella. The arena of dietary supplements is enormous, and delving into the specific merits of all the supplements you can take is way beyond the scope of this article. But if you are taking supplements, you are biohacking!

The use of wearable technology, such as smartwatches, Fitbits, and Whoop bands, is another example of biohacking. Wearable technology can help users track their fitness data, including sleep quantity and quality, which are important elements of overall health. While a good idea in theory, research finds the quality of data provided by many fitness trackers to be questionable, though sleep analyses from the devices may be more accurate.

Planning your exercise and diet, taking supplements, and wearing a smart watch are all common activities that could be considered biohacks. Boring! Now let’s get into the weird stuff:

The Weird Side of Biohacking!

Honestly, you could write a whole book on this, but here are a few examples of biohacks that stray far from normal:

Cryochambers – Exposure to extremely cold (-166°F), dry air in a cryochamber has been posited to treat a host of inflammatory conditions, including multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. In theory, extreme cold exposure could also reduce systemic inflammation and curb the effects of aging. Evidence for effectiveness is pretty thin, and there are contraindications against the use of cryochambers, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers – The theory is that napping in a high-pressure (above 1 atmosphere) 100% oxygen chamber can act as an anti-aging therapy. Hyperbaric chambers are valuable medical devices for treating decompression sickness and speeding healing from major injuries such as burns. Can they help you defy aging? Well, not entirely, but there is some evidence they can reduce wrinkles. Happily, the risks of using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber appear to be quite mild.

Chip implants – Implanting microchips into our pets is commonplace (my cat, Baroness Von MeowMeows, is chipped in case she gets lost). Some people are also undergoing the procedure. Why? A microchip implant (usually located in the hand) can be used to process contactless payments or open locked doors, eliminating the need to worry about losing a card or key fob. One survey found that over 50% of respondents reported they would consider having the procedure done.  

Young blood transfusions – This sounds like some Q-Anon conspiracy, but it has really happened. Yes, this means transfusing blood from a young donor into the body of an old recipient. The thought is that the young donor’s blood will rejuvenate the old. This sounds like something from a horror movie, but it has really been done. In 2005, promising mouse research showed that older mice regained the ability to regenerate muscle, similar to their youth, following transfusions of blood from young donor mice. While the leap from rodent to human is quite long, in 2017, at least one US clinic began selling plasma from young donors for $8000 per liter. In 2019, the FDA issued an advisory stating that there were no documented health benefits from using plasma from young donors. Happily, research in the field of blood rejuvenation has moved away from the vampiric, towards gaining an understanding of the specific mechanisms of aging-related inflammation that lead to poorer functioning circulation. 

A Balanced Approach to Biohacking: Informed Self-Experimentation

As you can see, biohacking is just a term that covers a wide range of health-related behaviors. One negative connotation associated with the biohacking label is that it carries the hint of outlawry: going your own way and breaking the rules. This attitude tends to pooh-pooh the consensus medical opinion, which is derived from the collective efforts of scientists throughout history.  At its worst, biohacking can be akin to “doing your own research” when it comes to making health decisions. Conducting your own research can lead to unfavorable outcomes, as not everyone knows how to conduct research, and no one can be an expert in everything.

I am a firm believer in bodily autonomy, but I also have a deep respect for experts in medicine and nutrition who I know know more than I do. My recommendation is that you be proactive towards your own health. Make choices regarding your diet and exercise habits that align with your preferences and lifestyle, but do so in consultation with your medical providers. They are there to help you!

1. _{Asadamongkol, B., & Zhang, J. H. (2014). The development of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for skin rejuvenation and treatment of photoaging. Medical gas research, 4(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-9912-4-7}

2. _{Asgari Mehrabadi, M., Azimi, I., Sarhaddi, F., Axelin, A., Niela-Vilén, H., Myllyntausta, S., Stenholm, S., Dutt, N., Liljeberg, P., & Rahmani, A. M. (2020). Sleep Tracking of a Commercially Available Smart Ring and Smartwatch Against Medical-Grade Actigraphy in Everyday Settings: Instrument Validation Study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(10), e20465. https://doi.org/10.2196/20465}

3. _{Capodaglio, P., Alito, A., Duguè, B. M., Bouzigon, R., Lombardi, G., Miller, E. D., Verme, F., Modaffari, G., Piterà, P., Ziemann, E., & Fontana, J. M. (2025). Contraindications to Whole-Body Cryostimulation (WBC). A position paper from the WBC Working Group of the International Institute of Refrigeration and the multidisciplinary expert panel. Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences, 6, 1567402. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2025.1567402}

4. _{Conboy, I. M., Conboy, M. J., Wagers, A. J., Girma, E. R., Weissman, I. L., & Rando, T. A. (2005). Rejuvenation of aged progenitor cells by exposure to a young systemic environment. Nature, 433(7027), 760–764. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03260}

5. _{Eerens, W., Caekebeke, P., & Duerinckx, J. (2024). Biohacking and Chip Implantation in the Human Hand: An Introduction. Journal of hand surgery global online, 6(4), 463–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.03.003}

6. _{Lorrimar V. (2025). What are 'biohackers' hacking? Identifying motivations and meaning-making frameworks. Medical humanities, medhum-2025-013261. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2025-013261}

7. _{Pandika M. (2019). Looking to Young Blood to Treat the Diseases of Aging. ACS central science, 5(9), 1481–1484. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.9b00902}

8. _{Sadri, R. A., & Cooper, J. S. (2025). Hyperbaric Complications. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.}

9. _{Varallo, G., Piterà, P., Fontana, J. M., Gobbi, M., Arreghini, M., Giusti, E. M., Franceschini, C., Plazzi, G., Castelnuovo, G., & Capodaglio, P. (2022). Is Whole-Body Cryostimulation an Effective Add-On Treatment in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Obesity? A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of clinical medicine, 11(15), 4324. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11154324}

10. _{Wallen, M. P., Gomersall, S. R., Keating, S. E., Wisløff, U., & Coombes, J. S. (2016). Accuracy of Heart Rate Watches: Implications for Weight Management. PloS one, 11(5), e0154420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154420}