What is Cupping?

Cupping is a Chinese Medicine technique which is used to stimulate acupuncture points or larger areas of the body. The practitioner puts special cups on your skin over specific points on your body and creates suction from the cup on that points for a few minutes suction. Cupping usually leaves a suction mark but this will usually disappear soon.

Cupping treatment can help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

Cupping is often practiced alongside acupuncture but can also be used as a stand alone treatment.

Benefits of cupping:

• Expel cold - dampness
• Remove blood stasis
• Clear heat – toxins
• Improve ‘Qi’ and blood circulation
• Reduce swelling and pain
• Facilitate the energy flow in meridian channels
• Restore Yin – Yang balance

Why do cupping spots com in different shades?

Different colors of the cupping suction mark reflect different diagnostic patterns. For example, bright red colour marks mean there is yin or qi-yin deficiency. For a healthy individual, there may even be no marks left after cupping!

Is it painful?

Cupping does not usually hurt and is not painful. Patients will usually feel suction force on their skin. Some say it has a massage-like effect, while others say they feel nothing at all during the cupping therapy.

View other treatments