Cupping: what it's good for and what the round marks are

How does cupping work?

I create a vacuum inside a glass cup and place it on the skin. The vacuum lifts the skin and the muscle underneath. Sometimes the cups stay in place for a few minutes, and sometimes I glide them over the back with oil, like a massage in reverse: instead of pressing on the muscle, we lift it.

It feels like a strong but pleasant pull, and it usually feels like a release of a spot that has been tight for a long time.

What is cupping good for?

• Tight muscles in the back, shoulders and neck.
• Back pain that gets worse from sitting for long periods.
• A sense of heaviness and fatigue in the body, as part of a wider treatment.

I usually combine cupping with an acupuncture session rather than offering it on its own.

What are the round marks?

The marks appear because the vacuum draws blood into the upper layers of the skin. Their color can range from light red to dark purple, and they usually fade on their own within a few days to a week and a half. If you have an event or open-back clothing coming up, tell me and we'll plan the treatment around it.

What does the research say?

An analysis of 18 controlled trials on cupping for neck pain, published in 2018, found less pain and better function compared with no treatment. Most of the studies were small and not of high quality, so the researchers called for larger studies. There are positive findings for back pain too, but they also come mostly from small studies.

Source: Is cupping therapy effective in patients with neck pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis, BMJ Open, 2018.

Who shouldn't have cupping?