Cupping wasn’t very popular until Gold-Medalist swimmer Michael Phelps appeared in his 2016 Olympic swim races with those certain circular marks on. More recently, former NFL Patriots player James Harrison was featured in National Geographic, sharing how he includes cupping in his personal wellness and recovery routine following years in professional sports. When asked how he felt following his treatments, he said, “[all] I know is before I get treated, I HURT, and after, I feel better.” Even Katy Perry had cupping (and acupuncture) done in her latest music video.
Definitely, I am happy to see that celebrities and professional athletes believe in and get immense benefits from these natural therapies. Even if it gained a spike in popularity, this is not something new to the world. In fact, cupping therapy has been practiced for thousands of years, with some of the oldest records dating to 1550 B.C. in Ancient Greece and 300 A.D. in China.
From Horns to Jars
As Traditional Chinese Medicine evolved, so did cupping. Bamboo, stone jars, and animal horns were eventually replaced with the specialized glass cups used today. Although cupping was practiced for centuries in China, it became an official therapeutic modality in hospitals during the 1950s. To this day, cupping remains a hallmark offering of Chinese Medicine, along with other soft-tissue modalities like Gua Sha and, of course, acupuncture.
Rest assured, the good news is you do not need to be a pop icon or professional athlete to benefit from cupping. Here’s some important information to see if cupping works fine for you. So let’s break it down.
Start at the Beginning: What is Cupping?
Cupping therapy is a soft tissue technique that gently lifts the skin and underlying connective tissue (fascia) using negative pressure. This lifting effect is believed to support healthy circulation and help ease areas of tension or tightness. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cupping is used to promote the smooth flow of Qi and blood by addressing areas of stagnation along the meridians—often associated with feelings of discomfort or imbalance.
Think about it: when your body experiences stress—whether from repetitive movement, intense workouts, emotional strain, or sitting in one position for too long—your muscles may naturally tense up. When under physical or emotional stress, some individuals may experience tension or discomfort, and they often explore wellness practices like cupping to support relaxation.
Where Do the Cups Go?
Common points of cupping are the back, shoulders, and posterior neck, but can also be done in forearms, hamstrings, and lower legs (calves) as needed. I always adopt a holistic approach with patients and apply cups depending on the meridians AND muscles involved in their condition.
When Is Cupping Most Useful?
Cupping is a great option when your body feels weighed down or out of balance. It’s commonly used when other methods—like stretching or movement—don’t bring the sense of relief you’re looking for. After your first session, it’s best to wait until any temporary marks fade before scheduling your next appointment.
How Does Cupping Work?
How the cups are applied depends on the type of material being used. For instance, certain plastic and glass cups are equipped with air nozzles at the top, which help your practitioner to manually induce suction with the help of a tube or attachment device. That is one way. The other is with glass cups and fire. Actually called “Fire Cupping,” this is the traditional way cupping has been done for millennia and is the type that requires formal training. Fire Cupping was included in my curriculum in grad school, and we performed a practical on performing it safely and effectively before beginning our clinical Internships.
Creating Suction with Fire
Firstly, I apply a massage oil to the points where we will place cups (this helps to move the cups once they are positioned). Next, I take an alcohol-soaked cotton ball and light it (not to worry, the flame is small and controlled). Next (and of course away from your body), I insert the flame into and out of the cup, which burns up all of the oxygen inside, creating the vacuum seal so the cup can stick. When the cups are applied, you may feel a little pressure, but it is never painful. The sensation has been described as a gentle lifting of the tissues, which some find deeply relaxing.. In any case, I always adjust the pressure based on my patient’s comfort level.
Slide Cupping
During a back treatment, for example, I typically begin by placing one or two cups and then gently gliding them along the length of the muscles or meridians involved. This helps identify areas of tension or stagnation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the color that appears after cupping—ranging from light pink to deep red or purple—is believed to reflect the level of stagnation in the body. According to this perspective, darker marks may indicate areas where circulation is more restricted.
Stationary Cupping
Once these areas of stagnation are identified, I place several more cups and leave them in place for a few more minutes. You do not need to place cups for a longer time to be effective. During this time, patients feel relaxed, and some have said they felt like they were floating in the best kind of way.
The marks are a traditional and temporary part of the cupping experience and typically fade within a few days.
Note: Please make sure you get cupping done from a formally trained practitioner (through a degree program or an accredited continuing education course). Some people think cupping is easy to learn and do, but it’s not, and there is so much more to it. It takes a trained practitioner to be aware of when not to do cupping, areas to avoid, and overall safe application. Getting any type of cupping therapy done by an untrained individual carries risks that are not worth it. Do your research and ask your practitioner questions. Cupping is safe and relaxing when done right—and in the right hands!
When It Should Be Avoided: Cupping should never be done over fragile, broken, sunburned, or edematous (swollen) skin. Areas with major arteries are a major NO. Cupping is not advised during pregnancy and is typically off-limits for those with cancer, organ failure, heart disease, hemophilia, who have a pacemaker, or who are taking blood-thinning medications.
Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease. That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options. If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.
Dr. Lauren Dyer, DACM, L.Ac., was inspired to study Acupuncture by how Acupuncture promoted wellness instead of just combating disease, and how it took a person's lifestyle, diet, and even psychology into account while treating the underlying factors contributing to imbalance for sustainable relief. Lauren is passionate about bridging the gaps in understanding between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Bio-medical paradigms, and she incorporates current research and evidence-based approaches into her practice.You can learn more about Lauren at https://empowerchiroacu.com.
