Is Plasmapheresis Good for Fighters? Joe Rogan Shares His Experience
Joe Rogan has sparked fresh debate in the combat sports world after revealing he underwent a blood filtering procedure known as Plasmapheresis, with claims it could improve recovery and overall performance.
Rogan described the process in simple terms, explaining how the body’s plasma is separated and treated before being returned. “The yellow or orange liquid is plasma. They separate it out, remove what they don’t want, and replace it so your system can function cleaner,” he said. He compared the treatment to “changing the oil in your body,” a phrase that has quickly caught attention across fight communities.
The procedure itself is not new. Plasmapheresis is a legitimate medical treatment used for certain autoimmune conditions, where harmful substances in the blood are removed and replaced. However, its use as a performance or recovery tool in healthy athletes remains a grey area.
Can It Actually Benefit Fighters?
For fighters, recovery is everything. Training camps are intense, weight cuts are draining, and damage accumulates over time. In theory, a treatment that removes inflammatory proteins and toxins could help speed up recovery, improve sleep, and reduce fatigue. Rogan himself hinted at this, saying people he knows who have tried it reported “better sleep scores and markedly better recovery.”
That said, there is currently no strong scientific evidence proving that plasmapheresis enhances performance in healthy athletes. Most experts view it as a medical therapy rather than a routine recovery tool. It is also an invasive and expensive procedure, which makes it impractical for regular use.
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There are also regulatory considerations. Athletic commissions and anti doping agencies closely monitor anything that could provide an unfair advantage. While plasmapheresis itself is not widely banned, its use in sport would likely be scrutinised depending on how and why it is done.
For now, Rogan’s experience has opened the conversation rather than settled it. Fighters are always searching for an edge, whether through nutrition, recovery, or new technology. Plasmapheresis may sound like a breakthrough, but until more evidence emerges, it remains an interesting concept rather than a proven tool.
As with many innovations in combat sports, curiosity comes first, but proof must follow.
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