Cupping
In cupping, a warm glass cup is set on the skin and held there by gentle suction, usually on the back or shoulders, for a few minutes. It is added to an acupuncture visit when you and your acupuncturist decide it fits, and it is never required.
Who usually comes in
People who carry tension across the upper back and shoulders, or who sit, lift or drive for a living, often ask about it. It is always your choice, and you can have acupuncture without it.
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We talk
We check the skin on your back and ask about blood thinners, sunburn and anything tender.
- 02
Step 2: Cups go on
A few warm glass cups are placed on your back or shoulders. Tell us if the pull is too strong.
- 03
Step 3: You rest
They stay for a few minutes while you lie still, and we stay within earshot.
- 04
Step 4: Cups come off
We release each cup slowly and tell you what to expect over the next few days.
Afterward, and how many visits
What you may feel afterward
Cups leave round, faint marks that are usually gone in several days. The skin can feel tight or tender, and some people feel pleasantly loose. Keep the area covered from the sun until the marks fade.
How many visits
Cupping is usually part of a visit, not a course of its own. Your acupuncturist decides with you whether to add it again, and you can say no at any visit.
Tell us first
Blood thinners or bruising
If you take a blood thinner or bruise easily, marks are darker and last longer.
Skin that is broken or sunburned
Tell us about a rash, a sunburn or a healing cut. We leave that area alone.
Pregnancy
Tell us if you are or might be pregnant, and we adjust where cups go.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor instead
Cupping does not draw anything out of your body, and it does not replace your doctor's care. We do not promise a result.
See your doctor or an urgent care clinic first for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, a sudden severe headache, new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, or a fever with a stiff neck. In an emergency, call 911.
How paying works is on our fees page, and your first visit is a short message away.