What is Cupping?

Written By Kylie Stabler

Cupping is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years as a powerful treatment for both mental and physical ailments.

Cupping is one of those treatments that people are often curious about, especially once they’ve seen the distinctive circular marks it can leave behind.
But beyond the visual, it’s a deeply therapeutic technique with a long history and a surprisingly modern relevance.
The technique uses small glass cups with heat inside them as suction devices to disperse and breakdown stagnation & congestion. This is done by drawing congested blood or energy to the surface of the skin.

How does cupping work?

From a TCM perspective, cupping helps to move Qi (energy) and blood through the body. When Qi and blood become stagnant, it can lead to pain, tightness, or illness. Cupping works by drawing this stagnation to the surface, allowing the body to process and clear it.

From a more Western perspective, cupping:

  • Increases blood flow to targeted areas

  • Helps loosen tight muscles and fascia

  • Encourages lymphatic drainage

  • May reduce inflammation

  • Activates the body’s natural healing response

The suction effect creates space in the tissue, which can improve mobility and relieve deep-seated tension that’s hard to reach with hands-on techniques alone.

What conditions can cupping help with?:

  • Relieving neck & back pains

  • Migraines

  • Rheumatism

  • Stiff muscles

  • Fatigue

  • Cold and flu symptoms

  • Painful periods

  • Insomnia

  • Digestive pain

    and more!

What are the marks?

Those round marks left after cupping are often misunderstood. They’re not bruises in the traditional sense. Instead, they’re a sign of stagnant blood and fluid being brought to the surface.

  • Light marks may indicate mild stagnation

  • Darker marks can suggest more significant stagnation or tension in that area

They’re usually painless and fade within a few days to a week.

What does it feel like?

Most people find cupping deeply relaxing. You might feel:

  • A gentle pulling or stretching sensation

  • Warmth in the area

  • A sense of release as muscles soften

For many, it’s comparable to a deep tissue massage (but without the same intensity or discomfort).

Kylie Stabler
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The Basics