Should You Try Cupping Therapy? Experts Review the Reported Benefits and Risks

Imagine lying down face-first on a warm bed and having cups sealed onto the skin of your back. You will likely feel an unfamiliar type of pressure. And while it may seem awkward at first, it’s often followed by a pleasant release. This alternative form of treatment is known as cupping. And cupping therapy has been around for a long time, dating back to early Egyptian and Chinese medical practices.

“In the past, cupping therapy was the only kind of nonmedical therapy,” Qihui Jin, MSAC, LAc, told GoodRx Health. “After the founding of New China, it was used by surgeons, orthopedists, and acupuncturists.”

Jin added that the original cups were made of animal horns. The next iteration was bamboo pots, which were used for what was referred to as the suction tube method or bamboo tube therapy. Later, bamboo pots evolved into pottery pots. 

Today, cupping therapy has taken on a whole new look, but the intent and approach remain the same.

What is cupping therapy and how does it work?

Experts are still learning about how cupping therapy works. Jamie Bacharach, DiplAc, who is an experienced cupping therapist and head of practice at Acupuncture Jerusalem explained one of many theories around cupping therapy.

“Cupping therapy is an alternative medical practice that involves placing a suction cup — typically made from glass or silicon — on the skin​ to promote muscle recovery, as well as reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and reduce pain,” Bacharach said.

Tom Oddo, DC, CSCS, who is the owner of City Integrative Rehab in New York City, added that he finds cupping to be an interesting form of therapy, simply because of its decompressive nature. “Most of the soft tissue treatment that manual therapists do is some form of compression,” Oddo said. 

Consider how massage therapists, licensed physical therapists, and chiropractors use their hands to push on and essentially move tissues in the body. This form of pressure is known as compression.

“Cupping does the opposite. It decompresses the tissue and theoretically makes ‘room’ under the skin and in the muscle and fascial layers. This is why blood flows to the area,” Oddo said. 

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Potential health benefits of cupping therapy

There’s limited scientific evidence around how well cupping therapy works. That said, some research suggests that cupping therapy can help to:

• Relieve pain: By stimulating blood flow through muscle tissue, cupping therapy may help relieve neck pain or lower back pain.

• Lessen fascial restrictions: Injury, lack of physical activity, and inflammation can restrict or tighten fascia — connective tissue that supports all the structures in your body. Similar to fascia stretching, cupping may help release fascial restrictions and improve range of motion.

• Manage some types of headache: Though limited, some research suggests that cupping may help relieve tension and migraine headaches. 

Types of cupping therapy

There are several types of cupping therapy. Below are four common types and information on what the research shows about their potential benefits. 

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1. Dry cupping

Dry cupping is one of the most common forms of cupping therapy and doesn’t involve any oils or lotions. With dry cupping, usually the cups just suction to your skin and stay in place during the therapy session.

Dry cupping may help improve symptoms associated with musculoskeletal problems, including back and neck pain. 

2. Sliding cupping

In sliding cupping, a therapist first applies oil or lotion on the area being treated. Then they place cups on the area, but not as tightly as with dry cupping. The therapist then methodically moves them up and down the affected area, similar to massage.

Small studies suggest that sliding, or moving, cupping helps alleviate neck pain and improve range of motion in the lower extremities. 

3. Flash cupping

With this type of cupping, “severa​l ​cups are applied to the skin in quick succession ​in order to create a ‘flashing effect’​ to promote circulation,” Bacharach explained. 

Compared to other forms of cupping therapy, though, there isn’t much research on flash cupping for musculoskeletal problems. It has been studied in Chinese medicine for treatment of facial paralysis.

4. Wet cupping

With wet cupping, a therapist places cups on the skin and makes a small incision to draw blood from the area. The idea is that it removes blood with toxins from the body to allow healing. Much like dry cupping, there are a range of potential benefits associated with wet cupping. These include alleviating migraine and tension headaches and chronic lower back pain.

How long does it take for cupping therapy to work?

How and when you get relief from cupping depends on the condition you’re trying to treat and how severe it is. Jin noted that, to achieve a full recovery, at least two to three sessions are often recommended.

Jin added that what you do after a cupping session is key to how the healing effects set in. “Resting and proper prevention after the cupping session are highly encouraged in order to obtain the most benefit, because cupping initiates the healing process but the body heals itself,” Jin said.

How do you know if cupping therapy is working?

Jin said the color of your skin after cupping can say a lot about what’s going on in your body. In fact, he suggested that the color can indicate what type of ailment or injury is affecting you. Though, other factors, such as pressure, the site of the cupping, and the length of time the cups were left on may also affect the color.  

Does cupping therapy have side effects?

There are a few possible side effects you could experience after a cupping session. Skin discoloration might be the most common, nonserious reaction, according to Marie Watkinson, LMT.

“Typically, you will see a ‘pooling’ of blood and toxins that come to the surface of the skin after you remove the cups,” Watkinson said. “This can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on the person and technique.”

Side effects of cupping therapy can include:

• Skin irritation: Cupping can lead to short-term swelling, redness, and bruises on the skin​.

• Infection: Skin infections can happen if the cups aren’t sterilized between sessions. And since wet cupping involves opening the skin, there’s a risk for blood-borne infection, such as hepatitis or HIV.

• Scarring: Scarring and hyperpigmentation can occur if the suction of the cups is very strong or the cups are left on for a long time. The incisions from wet cupping can also lead to scarring.

• Discomfort: Some people experience pain, dizziness, or nausea with cupping. 

Who should try cupping therapy?

People who have frequent headaches or experience neck, back, or knee pain might find relief from cupping. And it’s possible that people with other health conditions might benefit from the therapy, but it’s best to check with a healthcare professional first.

Licensed acupuncturist Tom Ingegno, DACM, MSOM, also noted that anyone with chronic pain from injuries or who has experienced overtraining syndrome could benefit from cupping therapy.

“Since cupping firmly moves blood through [muscle] tissue, it can be a great recovery tool for people training for events,” said Ingegno, who added that treatments are often relatively quick and require minimal aftercare.

Who should avoid cupping therapy?

Cupping therapy isn’t always a safe option. Avoid applying cupping therapy to areas with: 

• Skin wound, burn, infection, or rash

• Varicose veins

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

• Fractures

Similarly, cupping therapy isn’t recommended if you are pregnant or have:

• Low blood platelet count, anemia, or a bleeding disorder

• Cancer

• Organ failure

• An implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker

Bacharach also recommended that people with medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and blood clotting disorders talk with a healthcare professional before trying cupping. 

Where do I go for cupping therapy?

Only a licensed professional should perform cupping therapy. There are a range of healthcare professionals who perform cupping, including: 

• Acupuncturists 

• Massage therapists

• Physical therapists 

• Chiropractors 

How much does cupping therapy cost?

The price of cupping therapy differs from facility to facility and depends on how long your session will be. A session that’s 15 minutes might cost $25, while a 2-hour session might cost $200.

Health insurance doesn’t cover cupping, though some facilities might accept flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) cards.

To save on cupping therapy, you can consider:

• Charging the session to an HSA to avoid paying taxes on the session 

• Trying a shorter session 

• Buying a group of packages for a discounted price

• Looking for discounts online, as long as they’re for trusted establishments

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Written by:

Cheyenne Buckingham, BS

Cheyenne Buckingham is a journalist and editor who specializes in nutrition, women’s health, fitness, food injustice, and the relationship between chronic disease and diet. Before joining Nike as the staff editor for activity growth content, Cheyenne was the senior editor at Eat This, Not That!. She has a special interest in food justice and policy and believes everyone should have access to healthy and nutritious foods, at a price that's affordable to them.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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