How Safe is Biohacking?
"Hey, watch this!"... These may be some of the most famous last words in history, and just might apply to biohacking. Biohacking, as laid out in my previous blog post, was looked at under a microscope in a professional setting, with people trained (at least a little) to do work on the human body. But what about the amateur biohackers in their mother's basements? What about long term side effects of the usage of trans-cranial direct current stimulation? Just like a lot of things in life, there is a right way and a wrong way of going about biohacking. Biohacking may seem to have a large downside along with the upsides, but it just might be safer than you think.
First, a bit of distinguishing is in order. The biohacking that I will be dissecting (no pun intended) is not the kind that would need major surgery to achieve, such as new limbs. The type of biohacking that I am talking about here is the kind that may be possible, if necessary, in one's mother's basement with a few... odd friends and many, many bandages.
Now, up first in the lineup is tDCS. As shown by Trayton Miller in his recent blog, scientists know that there are no short-term side effects, but they also aren't sure if there are any long term side effects. Well, let's break down how the brain works. The brain is one of the most important organs. It controls thought, emotions, feelings like hungry. and thirsty, and the five senses. But how does it know that the stove I just touched hurts? The nerves in my hand would send electrical signals to the pain centers of my brain through nerve fibers. Now, I know what you're thinking: "This is all well and good Nick, but what on Earth does this have to do with tDCS?". TDCS is stimulation of the brain with electrical currents, which is what the brain uses to communicate with the rest of your body. In other words, your body is used to some extent of electrical current. The trick to keeping tDCS safe would be to find and understand the brain's limit for current. We know that electricity can be harmful (as figured out by anyone who has stuck something in an electrical socket or touched an electric fence), but a limit can, and may already be found with professional tDCS.
However, the same cannot be said for some ragtag team of biohackers in a basement somewhere. Electricity can be harnessed, but the amateur biohackers have already discovered side effects that professionals have not had to deal with. This includes temporary odd metallic taste, or a burning/tingling sensation in the mouth. However, there have been some cases of successful biohacking from amateurs. A good example of this is a group (the grinders) who have successfully implanted magnets without complications.
So, tDCS may be safe after all, if done in the proper conditions, with the proper people conducting the procedure (like neuroscience experts). What about other forms of biohacking, like implanting chips and magnets into the body? That form of biohacking can be just as dangerous if not done properly. While it may not have the possibility of brain damage, serious infection and even death can result from improper technique, whether it be from tetanus or a serious infection at the site of the implant.
Some amateurs have experience in doing body modification and technology, but those who don't are at a much higher risk for injuries due to attempts at biohacking without the proper equipment or training. Essentially, biohacking can be related to piercings or the like. A bad piercing may not lead to death, but it can lead to serious health complications. So, it can't be any safer to do biohacks by yourself in your mom's basement. If biohacking is a must-have experience, then it is an experience best had the right way- in a safe, controlled, and regulated environment.
