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Improve Your Lymphatic System for Overall Health & Appearance

2025-10-27 Science & Technology
137.8k
5.6k
423
Andrew Huberman
Andrew Huberman
7.5m subscribers

Science-Based Support for the Lymphatic and Glymphatic Systems

Master mechanical forces—movement, breathing, and pressure—to actively clear cellular waste, reduce fluid retention, sharpen cognition, and enhance longevity.

Short Summary

  • The lymphatic system is essential for immediate and long-term health, serving as the body’s waste removal and immune surveillance network.
  • Proper lymphatic circulation requires mechanical input because it lacks a central pump, relying on movement, respiration, and external pressure.
  • Optimize brain waste clearance (glymphatic system) during sleep via specific positions, leading to reduced brain fog and better appearance upon waking.
  • Cardiovascular exercise directly supports heart health by promoting the growth of new lymphatic vessels around cardiac tissue.
  • Cosmetic and cognitive benefits, such as reducing facial puffiness and increasing wakefulness, stem directly from efficient lymphatic drainage.

This session decodes the often-overlooked lymphatic network, explaining its vital role in draining interstitial fluid and fighting infection throughout the body. Understand the structural reasons why fundamental activities like walking and deep breathing actively propel lymph, and learn precise actions to boost both systemic drainage and the crucial brain-specific glymphatic waste clearance system active during sleep.

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Description

Here I explain the lymphatic system, a crucial bodily network for overall health and appearance. I explain how the lymphatic system works to remove cellular waste and fluid from your organs and combat infections. I provide science-based tools that support your lymphatic system for the sake of health and appearance, including: how to reduce fluid retention in your limbs, trunk or face, how to eliminate 'bags' under your eyes and brain fog, and how to improve cardiac health and longevity. Because your lymphatic system lacks a central pump, it needs the mechanical forces generated by specific types of bodily movement, breathing and pressure to circulate your lymph properly, and I explain how you can activate these. I also explain how to support optimal functioning of your glymphatic system, a brain- and spinal cord waste-clearing system active during sleep that is crucial for brain functioning and longevity, including to prevent dementia. Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/lBpKwX5 *Thank you to our sponsors* AGZ by AG1: ⁠https://drinkagz.com/huberman LMNT: ⁠https://drinklmnt.com/huberman David: ⁠https://davidprotein.com/huberman Eight Sleep: ⁠https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: ⁠https://functionhealth.com/huberman *Follow Huberman Lab* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter *Timestamps* 00:00:00 Lymphatic System 00:04:11 Circulatory System, Heart; Oxygen, Nutrient & Waste Transfer 00:11:03 Lymphatic System, Fluid, Lymphedema, Chronic Inflammation; Brain Fog 00:14:52 Sponsor: LMNT & David Protein 00:17:28 Lymphatic Vessels, Tool: Enhance Lymphatic Drainage with Movement 00:26:24 Tools: Jumping (Rebounding), Treading Water, Swimming 00:27:41 Tool: Swelling, Lymphatic Drainage & Diaphragmatic Breathing 00:32:05 Swimming & Lymphatic Flow; Tai Chi 00:34:00 Lymphatic Massage, Cancer & Lymphedema; Jade Roller & Gua Sha 00:37:28 Sponsor: AGZ by AG1 00:38:56 Lymph Flow, Tool: Lymphatic Massage & Manual Lymphatic Drainage 00:45:02 Immune Function of Lymphatic System, Sore Lymph Nodes 00:54:24 Cancer Treatment, Lymph Nodes & Lymphedema 00:57:02 Limb Swelling, Minor Lymphedema & Inflammation, Lymphatic Boots 01:00:09 Sponsors: Eight Sleep 01:01:43 Glymphatic System, Brain & Sleep 01:05:56 Sleep & Brain Waste Recycling; Discovery of the Glymphatic System 01:12:24 Enhance Glymphatic Clearance, Brain Fog, Age, Tool: Side Sleeping Position 01:15:54 Tools: Optimize Sleep, Cardiovascular Exercise, Elevate Feet, Pillow 01:17:29 Puffy Face, Tool: Lymphatic & Facial Massage 01:21:23 Sponsor: Function 01:23:11 Tool: Hydration & Lymphatic Support 01:24:48 Tool: Cardiovascular Exercise & Lymphatic Vessels, Heart, Aging 01:31:06 Tool: Infrared & Red Light, Mitochondria, Lymphedema, Skin Appearance 01:36:08 Key Takeaways 01:37:21 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Top Comments (10)

@madelynreusser1588 2025-10-29

As a certified Lymphatic Therapist of almost 20 years, I am extremely encouraged to see Andrew Huberman taking on this subject. The lymphatic system is like the forgotten step child of our anatomy/physiology, and it gets overlooked way too much of the time! Even by the medical establishment. Actually especially by the medical establishment…

1.0k 45 replies
@davidgrimes4726 2025-10-28

I love these old-school super nerdy solo-casts, reminds me a lot of the first episodes. Please keep them up! 🙏

459 16 replies
@leeannmckenna 2025-10-29

I’m a flutist professionally, with 51 years of playing. I diaphragmatic breathe for a couple hours a day just through practicing and performing my music! Perhaps learning a wind instrument would offer a lot of benefits, including new learning for the brain, for older folks out there. There’s the benefit of a quicker deep inhale followed by the longer (often much longer) exhale.

287 17 replies
@francisbertolini2538 2025-10-28

Your ability to explain complicated topics and make them very understandable is a true gift to all. Thank you, Andrew 💪🙏

285 2 replies
@hubermanlab 2025-10-27

Thank you for watching. Please click the subscribe tab and then the "bell" icon to subscribe to our channel here on YouTube and get notified when new content is posted... And thank you for your interest in science! -- Andrew

251 27 replies
@akosszabo1407 2025-10-27

Thank you Andrew for providing such high quality content for free it means a lot to me whose education is limited😊❤ (Love from Hungary)

237 2 replies
@dipanshusingh1541 2025-10-27

I love when he comes with great knowledge and do a solo podcast it seems like he is literally teaching to me. Thank you sir please keep coming with these contents updated versions in solo podcast.

120
@CrossCultural-c7f 2025-10-27

Notice how Dr. Huberman gets more animated when he talks about the glymphatics. Geek excitement!

84
@hughnorley557 2025-11-05

Hey Andrew - would love to see you do an episode on fascia - in terms of training (so people stop over training themselves into injury) as well as healing (happy to have those that pushed a little too hard in my clinic 😁... let's really get the word out there. The research on fascia s relatively recent, it would be great to hear your take on the latest and greatest. Thanks champion.

80 3 replies
@tracitalley 2025-11-10

The human body is nothing short of intelligent design. Psalm 139:14

61 5 replies

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