Cupping Therapy: How It Works and When to Try It

Seen those round marks on athletes or celebrities? That's cupping therapy. It's a simple hands-on method that uses suction to pull skin and underlying tissue into a cup. People try it for sore muscles, tight shoulders, headaches, or slow recovery after workouts. It can help reduce tension and improve blood flow to a problem area, and many folks notice relief after one or two sessions.

Types of cupping and how it feels

There are two main styles: dry cupping and wet cupping. Dry cupping uses suction only — glass, plastic, or silicone cups create a vacuum on the skin. Wet cupping involves a small, controlled scratch before the cup is applied to remove a tiny amount of blood. Fire cupping is an older technique where a flame briefly creates the vacuum in glass cups. Silicone cups are common in modern spas because they're flexible and easy to move over muscle.

During dry cupping you’ll feel a tight, pulling sensation. It can be odd at first, but it's usually not sharp. Marks left by cupping are not burns — they’re due to minor capillary rupture and fade in a few days to two weeks. Wet cupping may cause light bleeding and stronger soreness afterward, so it’s recommended only with trained practitioners who follow strict hygiene.

What to expect, safety, and practical tips

A typical session lasts 10–20 minutes for cupping only, or 30–60 minutes when combined with massage or other bodywork. Tell your therapist about medications, broken skin, recent surgery, or blood conditions. Cupping is not a fit if you’re on blood thinners, pregnant (on the belly), have active skin infections, or severe varicose veins.

Evidence is mixed but useful: small clinical trials show short-term pain relief for low back pain and reduced muscle soreness after exercise. Think of cupping as a tool in a toolbox — it often helps fast relief but isn’t a guaranteed cure for chronic issues without other rehab or medical care.

Aftercare is simple: keep the area clean, avoid hot baths for a day if you had wet cupping, and expect marks. Drink water, rest, and avoid heavy exercise the same day if you feel sore. If pain gets worse, or there’s unusual swelling or fever, contact your clinician.

To find a good practitioner: choose someone licensed in massage, physiotherapy, or traditional medicine where cupping is part of their formal training. Ask about sterilization, single-use needles (for wet cupping), and how many sessions they recommend. Prices vary; expect a single session to range widely depending on location and whether cupping is part of a full massage.

Want to try at home? Skip wet cupping. Silicone self-cupping kits exist, but start with short sessions and learn proper technique first. If in doubt, book one session with a trained therapist to feel it and get personalized advice for follow-up care.