What Does Cupping Actually Do?

One of the top five questions I’m asked regularly is:
“What does cupping do exactly?”

To answer that, let’s first understand what cupping is, and then explore how it works and why it’s so effective.

What Is Cupping?

Cupping is a therapeutic practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing specialized cups on the skin to create suction. This suction helps to:

• Relieve pain

• Strengthen the immune system

• Move lymphatic fluid and blood

• Eliminate pathogens and stagnation

• Restore energetic flow (qi)

Types of Cupping Cups

Cups come in various materials and forms:

• Glass, ceramic, or stone: Heated to create suction through vacuum.

• Plastic or glass with suction pumps: Easier to use and ideal for home use.

• Silicone cups: Soft and flexible, they create suction on their own.

Regardless of type, the goal is the same: to create a suction that gently pulls up the skin and underlying tissues.

What About the Marks?

The suction can leave circular marks or petechiae (tiny red or purple dots), especially when cups are glided over the skin. These marks are:

• Not painful like bruises

• A sign of stagnation being released

• Often darker in areas with more congestion

These discolorations typically fade in a few days, and many clients report relief and improved mobility afterward.

Where Can Cupping Be Used?

Cupping can be applied to almost any area of the body:

• Back

• Chest

• Abdomen

• Arms and legs

• Neck and face

Note: Cups don’t stick well to bony surfaces, so for areas like the knee, they’re placed around it—on the surrounding muscles.

The most popular cupping area is the upper back, particularly around the shoulder blades and spine. This region is a hotspot for tension, making it ideal for therapeutic release.

How Cupping Relieves Pain and Moves Energy

Cupping stretches muscles in a unique way:
Instead of lengthwise like traditional stretching, it pulls tissues outward, separating muscle fibers and helping stuck substances like:

• Inflammatory chemicals

• Hormones

• Proteins and fluid

• Lymph and qi (energy)

This action stimulates the lymphatic system, which in turn supports the immune system, boosts circulation, and aids detoxification.

Cupping for Respiratory Health

One of the most powerful uses of cupping is during respiratory illness, such as:

• Colds and flu

• Bronchitis

• Sinus infections

The back is an ideal treatment area because it houses the lung fields. In Chinese medicine, the lungs are considered a delicate Zang organ, susceptible to “wind” invasion—an energetic way of describing how pathogens enter the body, especially through the back of the neck.

Pro Tip:

Wear a scarf or hoodie after a session and during windy days to protect your body’s vital energy from external invasion.

What Else Can Cupping Help With?

Aside from respiratory and immune support, cupping can help ease:

• Muscle spasms

• Fatigue

• Sinus pressure and congestion

• Drainage issues

• Emotional tension

It’s particularly beneficial in dry, allergy-prone, and transitional weather when your immune, lymphatic, and respiratory systems need extra care.

Why Regular Cupping Works

Regular sessions can:

• Reduce how often you get sick

• Support recovery during illness

• Keep your energy moving and your immune system strong

It’s not just a reactive treatment—it’s preventative care.

Cupping is more than just a trend—it’s a time-tested healing tool that works with your body’s natural systems to restore flow, reduce pain, and support immunity.