Wellness

Bougie biohacks offered in Charlotte that just might make you healthier in 2025

At Biosum, Jacob Kirsch and Lora DiCarlo offer DEXA scans (machine shown at left), resting metabolic rate testing and VO2 Max testing. DiCarlo and Kirsch are both certified trainers and nutritionists, so in addition to offering the testing, the pair also offer diet and exercise guidance. If someone comes in for a test and then returns for a retest 4-8 weeks later, the team can assess and offer tweaks to help achieve goals, DiCarlo told CharlotteFive.
At Biosum, Jacob Kirsch and Lora DiCarlo offer DEXA scans (machine shown at left), resting metabolic rate testing and VO2 Max testing. DiCarlo and Kirsch are both certified trainers and nutritionists, so in addition to offering the testing, the pair also offer diet and exercise guidance. If someone comes in for a test and then returns for a retest 4-8 weeks later, the team can assess and offer tweaks to help achieve goals, DiCarlo told CharlotteFive. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive

Health isn’t just about the numbers on a scale — it’s about understanding your body and how it functions at its best. That’s why more Charlotteans are turning to advanced health assessments and treatments that go beyond the basics.

Whether it’s a Dexa scan that explores your bone health and body composition or a float spa to find deep relaxation, these methods offer a clearer path to the healthiest version of you.

So, if you’re ready to move past the old way of tracking health and unlock a deeper level of wellness, take a look at our compiled list of all the places to do it in the Charlotte area.

[TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: Luxury spa experiences within a 3-hour drive of Charlotte.]

Magnetic therapy

What it does: Using “a very powerful electric magnet” to depolarize muscles and nerves, magnetic therapy provides an increase in range of motion, relief for cramping, aching muscles, inflammatory conditions and wound healing. It is also said to improve the strength of pelvic floor muscles.

Known to not only help the body heal faster but stimulate muscles deep within the body, relieve cramps and tension and increase blood flow to the area, this is an ideal option for athletes, the elderly or anyone with muscle atrophy issues.

“The thought behind magnetic field therapy is that certain problems happen because your magnetic fields are out of balance. If you put a magnetic field near your body, it’s believed things will go back to normal,” according to WebMD.

Note: Magnetic therapy is not safe if you use a pacemaker, have an insulin pump or are pregnant.

Price: $80-$140

Where to get magnetic therapy in Charlotte:

⭐ Bonus! Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a treatment where a magnetic coil placed on the scalp sends brief pulses to reset abnormal brain patterns. This is an alternative treatment option for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other mental health conditions, along with migraines, brain tumors, epilepsy and chronic pain.

Price: With insurance, the treatment may be low cost or free; without it, costs range from $8,000 to $12,000.

Where you can get it done:

Cold plunges

What it does: Cold plunges involve submerging the body in water that’s 50°F or colder for a few minutes at a time. According to Mayo Clinic Health System, cold plunging is believed to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness and improve circulation, as well as boost mood, cognitive function and sleep quality.

Dr. Dominic King, a sports medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, says, “Some people get physical, mental and functional benefits from this kind of cold therapy.”

Although many athletes swear by its benefits, it’s important to avoid excessive exposure to the cold and be cautious if you have any underlying health issues.

Price: $29 to $50 for a single plunge. Many places offer memberships with cold plunges included, varying by visit limits or unlimited plans.

Where you can get it:

[LET'S GET FIT: Come with us to some of the best luxury gyms in the Charlotte area.]

Dexa scan

What it does: Dexa scans measure bone density, muscle mass and fat mass, offering a detailed look at body composition. According to Biosum founder Lora DiCarlo, the scan is “the most accurate body fat percentage of any modality, but we can dive deeper into health-impacting metrics like visceral fat, bone density, and muscle mass. Maybe that sounds scary, but the magic is in when we implement changes to our routine and eating habits and come back for scan number two!”

Biosum is housed in a bus, where owners Jacob Kirsch and Lora DiCarlo park it at various locations around Charlotte, where they offer DEXA scans, resting metabolic rate testing and VO2 Max testing.
Biosum is housed in a bus, where owners Jacob Kirsch and Lora DiCarlo park it at various locations around Charlotte, where they offer DEXA scans, resting metabolic rate testing and VO2 Max testing. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive

Ideal for individuals seeking precise health metrics, Dexa scans are a tool for tracking progress on your wellness journey.

“In just a month or two we can clearly see the trajectory that our clients are on and whether or not we need to make small changes to help clients get dialed so they can reach their goals faster,” DiCarlo told CharlotteFive.

Price: Typically ranges from $75-$230+ per scan.

Where you can get one in Charlotte:

Float spas

What it does: Float spas provide sensory deprivation experiences in isolation tanks filled with warm, buoyant water. The practice promotes deep relaxation, stress reduction and pain management by blocking external stimuli.

“It took everything in me not to feel around in the darkness to find the light and float my way out of there. But the longer I stayed in the tank, the more things started to slow down. My shoulders loosened up. My breathing deepened. My thoughts stopped racing,” Men’s Health writer Deanna Debarba wrote about her experience. “I was relaxed. And it felt AMAZING.”

Price: $50-90 per session, but this varies based on session length.

Where you can get it:

Full-Body MRI

What it does: Full-body MRI scans have gained a lot of hype (especially after Kim Kardashian promoted Prenuvo) as a radiation-free way to get a full-body checkup in under a couple of hours. They can spot a range of conditions, including some cancers, without the exposure that comes with traditional imaging.

But while some suggest full-body MRIs as a must-have for early detection, you should note experts at Radiological Society of North America caution that these scans aren’t a perfect solution since full-body MRIs aren’t optimized “to characterize the pathology in each body part and may lead to more follow-ups.”

Price: Approximately $2,500

Where you can get it:

The closest spot to Charlotte is Atlanta. Prenuvo: 2021 Peachtree Rd Ste 100, Atlanta, GA 30309

Infrared light therapy

What it does: Infrared light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular processes, offering a variety of potential health benefits. Infrared light is believed to improve circulation, reduce pain and aid in muscle recovery.

“There’s a big area of research in thermal medicine showing that if you heat the whole body a degree or two, you can boost immunity, because it’s just like inducing a fever,” University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences professor Robert Griffin told National Geographic.

While you can enjoy your infrared experience in Charlotte typically at a spa or sauna, it’s also offered at gyms such as Hotworx and MG Body Space.

Price: Varies by session or package, typically $30-$100+ per session.

Where you can get it:

[BUT MAKE IT HOT: Heated + infrared gyms, saunas and more in the Charlotte area.]

IV hydration

What it does: IV therapy administers fluids and nutrients straight into the bloodstream. This method ensures that essential vitamins and nutrients are readily available for the body to use, supporting improved wellness.

IV hydration therapy is becoming a go-to solution for a range of needs, whether you’re a recovering athlete or looking to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. As they were once discouraged for cancer patients, these treatments are now gaining recognition, with oncologists referring patients to clinics like Hydrate Medical.

Hydrate Medical administers IV therapy that puts fluids and nutrients into the bloodstream.
Hydrate Medical administers IV therapy that puts fluids and nutrients into the bloodstream. Hydrate Medical

“We have always continued to research, develop, and look ahead to what is next and best for our clients. Ketamine for depression and chronic pain, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinuleotide (NAD) for addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and anti-aging are all products of our continued research and growth,” Hydrate Medical owner Dr. Jonathan Leake said in a release.

Price: $99-$999

Where you can get it:

Resting Metabolic Rate testing

What it does: The Resting Metabolic Rate test uses advanced technology to measure the number of calories your body requires at rest, making it ideal for optimizing diet, exercise plans or managing weight goals.

Price: $159-$190

Where you can get it:

Salt rooms

What it does: Salt room therapy involves breathing in dry salt air in a controlled environment designed to mimic natural salt caves.

The therapy is believed to improve respiratory health by clearing airways and promoting healing of skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. It can also help with allergies, asthma and sinus issues.

Price: $15-$55

Where you can get it:

Salt & Souls is among the places offering salt room therapy in Charlotte.
Salt & Souls is among the places offering salt room therapy in Charlotte. Michael Blevins @mb_productions_nc

VO2 max testing

What it does: VO2 max testing measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise. The results provide optimal heart rate zones for scientifically guided training and offer insights into cardiovascular health.

This health extra is ideal for people aiming to enhance their cardiovascular fitness or assess their risk for cardiovascular disease.

“VO2 Max is simply the maximum rate of oxygen consumption that you can reach. It’s the gold standard aerobic fitness test, as far as telling you exactly how aerobically fit you are. And what’s cool about our equipment in our lab, we can also get some information about like anaerobic threshold, ventilatory threshold, so we can get some more information just based on looking at carbon dioxide and oxygen consumption,” Department Chair of Health and Human Performance at Queen’s University of Charlotte Dr. Amy Knab told CharlotteFive.

Queens University of Charlotte is a resource in Charlotte for a variety of tests helpful for fine tuning your health and wellness.
Queens University of Charlotte is a resource in Charlotte for a variety of tests helpful for fine tuning your health and wellness. Queens University of Charlotte

At Queen’s student-run community fitness program, run by Knab, students learn how to communicate this information. While free to all faculty, staff and students, for $40, community members can not only get VO2 Max testing, but their resting metabolic rate, body composition, lean muscle mass and hydration. “There’s a lot of other information and testing that we do, and honestly, because it’s an opportunity for my students to get experience. That cost simply just covers our consumables,” Knab said.

“Most of the people that come into our lab have not done one of these tests before. However, we’re starting to see repeat [visitors]. And so they come back to us six months later, and they do the testing, and then see that progress,” Knab said.

Price: $40-$275

Where you can get it:

This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

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Mari Pressley
The Charlotte Observer
Freelancer Mari Pressley was an intern on the Charlotte Observer’s Service Desk and CharlotteFive. She studies mass communication with a concentration in journalism, while minoring in writing and photography. Her previous experience includes interning for Credit Karma’s Editorial team and serving as Managing Editor at Winthrop University’s school newspaper, The Johnsonian.
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