What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

Cupping isn't painful, but rather a soft pinch or tightness when the suction is present. Most people fill an instant relief of tightness or tension immediately afterward. Small colored circles may be left as a result of the stagnant blood that has been brought to the surface. These circles are usually darker in muscles that are more stressed and chronically tight.