Care
Cupping
Clear cups placed on the skin of the back, shoulders, hips or legs. Gentle suction lifts the skin for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cupping is often added after acupuncture, or on its own, for tight areas that feel better with a pull instead of a press. The cups can be still, or slid a little over oiled skin.
It can leave round marks that look like faint circles and usually fade in a few days. Results vary.
What to expect
A pulling feeling, not a pinch
Cups on for 5 to 10 minutes
A towel over the area afterward
What to know
Cupping, in plain words
Who usually comes
People with tight shoulders, a stiff upper back or sore legs from long shifts on their feet, and people who like the feeling of a pull on a tight spot.
What a visit is like
A first visit takes about 75 minutes and later visits about 45.
Check-in and a few questions
Cups placed on the area you choose
Cups off and the skin checked
What you may feel afterward
The skin under a cup can look red or show round marks, and it may feel a little tender. Marks usually fade in a few days. Tell us if the pull is too strong and we ease it.
Tell us first
Tell your acupuncturist before the cups go on if:
You are or might be pregnant
You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
You have a skin condition, a sunburn or broken skin in the area
You bruise easily
You will be at the beach or a pool in the next few days
How many visits people plan for
That depends on you, not on a number we promise. Cupping is often part of a plan with acupuncture, and your acupuncturist looks at it with you after a few visits. An authorization or a claim may set its own limit.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor
Cupping does not replace your doctor's care and is not an emergency service. See a doctor first, or call 911, for chest pain, sudden weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain after a serious fall or accident.
Ask about cupping
Book a first visit. Your acupuncturist will say whether it fits you.