What is Cupping?

Popularised by Katy Perry and her love heart cups, Olympic athletes with mystery marks on their bodies.

Cupping involves two styles. Mobile cupping and fixed cupping. 

In both types, heat source is briefly held within the cup to create a vacuum effect. The heat source is then removed before placing the cup on the patient. The vacuum draws the patient’s skin and muscle tissue into the cup encouraging localised blood flow.

Mobile cupping involves a single glass cup being moved in a gliding motion across the patient. Oil is used on the patient’s skin to enable gliding motion.

Fixed cupping involves using multiple cups being places on muscular areas of the body for around 5 - 10 minutes.

It is similar to that of a deep tissue massage which is good for muscular pain, promoting blood and lymph circulation, reduce swelling, improve respiratory conditions and detoxification.

What are those marks?

Depending on the amount of your muscular tension, cupping usually causes pink-reddish to dull purplish markings. It’s all part of detoxification and promoting blood circulation.

After cupping, you may feel sore for the first 1-2 days, similar to after a deep tissue massage. However, the soreness is not severe and will not interfere with your daily activities.

Generally cupping marks will disappear within 4-5 days. If the marks are deeper in colour or if you are prone to bruising, then it can take up to 7-10 days to disappear.