Cupping: How it Works and Its Health Benefits

Cupping is one of the oldest healing methods used in traditional Chinese medicine. Records show cupping used in China and Egypt as early as 1,500 BC. Cupping is also considered part of folk medicine in many cultures used to treat simple illnesses. By tracing the trade routes along the “Silk road” where the exchange of silk, teas, spices and medicines were part of the expanded shared knowledge into the West.

Fascination of Eastern Asian healing arts like Gua Sha, Cupping, Martial arts, foods and meditation are culturally appropriated by Tik Tok influencers to gain a following. The unfortunate consequence is the public is exposed to misinformation because the majority of Tik Tokers have no training in Chinese Medicine.

Cupping is part of Traditional Chinese medicine and is a therapy used along with acupuncture and moxibustion and bodywork treatments.   It can be used as a standalone treatment. 

This healing method uses glass cups to create suction on the skin surface, to “pull illness out” and is referred to as báguàn or “pulling up jars”. Similar to another healing method called “gua sha” literally means to “scrape away disease”.  Glass or Bamboo cups are also used for this method with fire to remove the air from inside the cup and is referred to as “dry cupping

Cupping promotes the movement of Qi and Blood and to remove stagnation so that health is restored and is based on the foundational principle of Chinese medicine “where there is pain you will find a blockage of Qi and Blood, where there is free flow of Qi and Blood there is no pain”.

The suction created by the cupping draws blood towards the surface skin layer improving blood flow. The pressure differentiation inside the cup pulls on the fascia (connective tissue surrounding the muscles) loosening muscles and adhesions that restrict movement and normal function. 

This is an excellent tool for recovery from injury such as back and neck strain and shoulder girdle and rotator cuff. (As seen used during the Olympics with Michael Phelps). Cupping has now been adopted by PTs and other physical medicine practitioners because of its efficacy.

Gliding cupping is when a lubricant is applied to the area to be treated the cups can glide across the skin surface creating more circulation and lymph flow. The use of a herbal liniment will ease the pinching sensation from the suction and facilitate the movement on the skin surface. The result is like a deep tissue massage.

Depending on the condition being treated, the cups are left in place from 5 to 10 minutes.

If it is too strong a suction the cupping can be painful and damage tissue and blood vessels below the surface and with too little suction the cups will fall off.  There are also cups now that have a suction gun where it is easier to regulate the suction.

The treatment will leave circular marks that resemble bruises on the skin for several days or up to a week that are superficial; cupping should not hurt the recipient. If the marks are there for a long time it is an indication that there is poor circulation. The aim is not to create dark marks or cause harm.

Another cupping technique is called “wet cupping”, that involves using a lancet to puncture the skin before placing the cups.  A small amount of blood will come into the cup.  This is a form of “blood-letting”. To be clear, the concept of bloodletting in Chinese Medicine is to extract toxins and heat by allowing a small amount of blood to be released. The use of bloodletting techniques should only be performed by licensed professionals that are extensively trained in Chinese medicine and are aware of the risks of handling body fluids. (blood)   

Cupping has many health benefits such as relieving pain, improving immune function, reducing inflammation, digestion and many more.

The scientific theory of why cupping may work is that cupping causes local inflammation that triggers the immune system to produce cytokines, small proteins that enhance communication between cells and help to modulate the immune response.

it can help relieve the stiffness of muscles and calm the nervous system.

Research indicates cupping therapy effects are linked with mechanism of action theories such as pain gate theory and activation of the immune system.  

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