Cupping (a manipulative and body-based practice) is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Cupping is believed to increase blood flow to the site of application, thereby improving healing in that area.
The air inside a cup is heated, often using a rubber pump in modern practice. The heated cup is immediately inverted and placed on the skin. The resulting vacuum sucks the skin partway into the cup, which may be left in place for several minutes.
Cupping can help reduce neck and low back musculoskeletal pain (1). However, studies suggest cupping improves pain at 2 to 8 weeks, but this may not be sustained at 1 or 3 to 6 months (2). Cupping has been used in combination with acupuncture and moxibustion to treat postherpetic neuralgia (3). Limited evidence suggests cupping may be helpful in patients with chronic pain (4). Its use for some other conditions (eg, metabolic syndrome, facial paralysis, acne, respiratory symptoms) is not supported by high-quality evidence.
Cupping will redden and may burn the skin.
References
1. Wood S, Fryer G, Tan LLF, Cleary C. Dry cupping for musculoskeletal pain and range of motion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 24(4):503-518, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.024
2. Zhang Z, Pasapula M, Wang Z, Edwards K, Norrish A. The effectiveness of cupping therapy on low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Complement Ther Med. 2024;80:103013. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103013
3. Zhou Q, Wei S, Zhu H, et al. Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 100(31):e26785, 2021. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000026785
4. Cramer H, Klose P, Teut M, et al. Cupping for patients with chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pain. 21(9-10):943-956, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2020.01.002
