Cupping is not painful but may leave some bruise-like marks on the back, that will usually disappear in a few days.

Recent studies have shown cupping’s effectiveness in reducing pain intensity and providing positive short-term benefits. Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, weight loss, cellulite and others.

There are five meridian lines on the back, and the cups are usually placed on these lines. By targeting the meridian channels, cupping strives to ‘open’ these channels – thus providing a smoother and more free-flowing qi. The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system. Cupping can be likened to the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upwards.