What Is Cupping & What Are The Benefits? + 12 Products To Use At Home

You may recall the 2008 Beijing Olympics when many of the swimmers had their cupping marks exposed at competition, leaving Westerners saying things like, “What is that, a bruise?” “Have they been tortured?” “Oh, that look like it hurts!”

Actually, these marks aren't from anything nefarious; instead, it's something called cupping therapy.

What is cupping?

“Cupping has a rich history of treating disease and imbalances in the physical, mental, and emotional human bodies. Since 2008, it has gained a rapid following for receivers and givers alike,” says Liz Aigner, LMT, and Vice President of Education for Color Up.

But cupping has been used long before 2008.

Traditional Fire Cupping has evidence dating back to 1,000 BC, with Egyptian and Chinese cultures performing cupping using bamboo, animal horns, or brass.

“Archeologists have also found evidence of cupping from the Middle East, Greece, and other parts of Europe dating back 3,000 years. There is no history of cupping in the West until the 19th century. It seems us Americans are always last to come full circle back to our holistic roots,” Aigner adds.

Cupping is generally a manual therapy that involves the use of glass cups. How does this work?

“A vacuum is created using fire, and cups are applied to the body to create a vacuum suction. This technique brings circulation to the area, reduces inflammation, helps facilitate lymph drainage, and can remove the lactic acid build-up that occurs in sore muscles after an injury or working out,” says Elizabeth Martin, a licensed acupuncturist.

Various techniques of cupping can be applied for those seeking treatment, including:

Stationary or static cupping: This is when the cup is placed on a certain acupuncture point or points, and it stays put during the remainder of the session.
Sliding cupping: This technique can sometimes be compared to a backward massage where oil is applied to the skin and the cups are moved along an area, most commonly the back, but can be applied to various body parts to achieve a different effect.
Wet cupping: This happens when a lancet is used to puncture the skin and draw blood, and a cup is applied to create a suction to draw out and detoxify the blood.

What are the benefits of cupping?

Cupping is really popular to help speed recovery in athletes, particularly for runners, weight lifters, and endurance athletes. It helps improve energy and prevents sore and tight muscles. Most of my patients compare the slide cupping to a deep tissue massage.

Cupping is also known to treat a cold or asthma by breaking up phlegm in the lungs. Says Martin, “It may leave marks on the body, but not to worry. This is part of a detoxification process, bringing any stagnation or injury to the surface to be released and will accelerate healing.”

Not only is cupping used for health, but for beauty as well.

According to Martin, "Facial cupping can be used for reducing wrinkles, improving collagen in the face, and reducing aging when coupled with facial rejuvenation acupuncture.”

Traditionally, cupping is practiced using glass cups with fire, which creates the suction and are placed on acupressure points. Though this is the most effective when performed by a Chinese medicine practitioner, for those looking to try this at home, there are certain products to use.

You can even add essential oils like lavender, geranium and rose to further enhance the skin.

Here are the best cupping sets and products to get you started.

1. The Guide to Modern Cupping Therapy: Your Step-by-Step Source for Vacuum Therapy

Shannon Gilmartin is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist. This book shares all her extraordinary professional and hands-on experience, so everyone can experience the benefits of cupping. It includes nearly 200 step-by-step photos and full color pages.