Cupping is a method of relieving local congestion or pain by applying glass cups to acupuncture points or affected areas of the body. The vacuum created by heat stimulates flow of qi and blood.

The suction between the cup and the skin causes the muscle and skin to separate slightly, and allows for impurities and cellular waste products in the muscles and fascia (connective tissue) to be drawn towards the skin.

In Chinese medicine, the skin is considered to be the surface layer of the body, thus conditions in the skin are considered to be more superficial and less serious than problems deeper in the body. In drawing pathogenic factors out of the muscles and into the skin, the condition is being brought to the surface where it is more easily expelled by the body. The "stuff" being released will appear as a dark, red or purple blotch on the skin in the area where the cup was used.

Cupping can be especially effective for: