Is Cupping Therapy Scientifically Backed?

When referring to cupping, I assume you are discussing the practice of placing a flame in a glass vessel, then quickly setting the vessel on the skin to create suction. The air inside the vessel cools, creating negative pressure that pulls the skin into the cup, often leaving round marks similar to bruises.

I have personally experienced this practice multiple times, and while it is indeed relaxing, it is unlikely to be doing much more than triggering a placebo effect. However, the placebo effect can sometimes be better than nothing at all.

The Mechanism and Potential Benefits of Cupping

The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can provide several benefits, including:

Loosening muscles Encouraging blood flow Sedating the nervous system

Common Uses of Cupping

Cupping is used for a variety of conditions such as:

High blood pressure Back and neck pain Stiff muscles Anxiety Fatigue Migraines Rheumatism Cellulite

Critique of Cupping Therapy

Despite its long-standing use, cupping is not a scientifically proven technique. Most of the benefits associated with cupping are likely due to the placebo effect, and there is a lack of rigorous scientific evidence to support its efficacy.

In recent years, research into cupping has mostly yielded negative results or results of poor quality with high bias. The bottom line is that there is no compelling evidence for any real physiological effect from cupping. Apologists may argue that the therapy is benign, but there are possible side effects that need to be considered.

Possible Side Effects of Cupping

Common side effects of cupping include:

Pain Swelling Burns Dizziness Lightheadedness Fainting Sweating Skin pigmentation changes Nausea

Cupping also leaves round purple marks or bruises on the skin. These marks may begin to fade after several days but can remain for two to three weeks.

Further Information

For more detailed information on cupping, see the Harvard Health Blog.