“The suction from cupping breaks capillaries, which is why not infrequently there are bruises left in the shape of the cups afterward…. If you repeatedly injure the same area of skin over time … by placing the cups in exactly the same place over and over again, the skin there can actually die.”
Healthcare professionals generally consider cupping therapy to be safe. However, people may experience preventable side effects, including burns and blisters, due to incorrect techniques or applications.
Cupping can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis. Rare cases of severe side effects have been reported, such as bleeding inside the skull (after cupping on the scalp) and anemia from blood loss (after repeated wet cupping).
The current principle on adjusting the intensity of cupping therapy is that if the absolute value of negative pressure is too low, cupping therapy may not be effective. On the other hand, if the absolute value of negative pressure is too large, cupping therapy would cause discomfort and pain to the patient.
There are also certain areas, such as the lower abdomen, lower back and certain acupuncture points, that should not be cupped on pregnant women. And be warned! Cupping will leave slight bruising. Patients are often well advised about this by their practitioner so that they aren't surprised or scared when it happens.
Avoid placing cups on the front of the neck. This is where your Carotid artery and your trachea are, and is unsafe for placement. Never leave cups on for more than 15 mins in a single spot. Do not place cups over open wounds.
These potential adverse effects can be categorized as preventable or nonpreventable. Preventable adverse events of cupping therapy include scarring, burns, bullae, abscesses, blood-borne and skin infections, pruritus, anemia, and panniculitis.
Cupping pulls built up toxins from your body by increasing blood flow and helping remove the toxins to your lymphatic system. This may leave you feeling like you have a mild cold, but these symptoms normally last a few hours total, and are a sign your session was effective.
It pulls stagnant blood, lymph, cellular debris, and toxins to the surface of the skin, helping to clear them from the body's tissues. It also removes substances that might contribute to pain and inflammation, possibly including metabolic wastes and other byproducts from the fluid between cells.
Cross fiber friction, trigger point release and myofacial release techniques are great for breaking down those knots. Another modality that is great for these "knots" is cupping. Cupping is a technique of creating a suction in a cup that is applied to the tissue.
In fact, your cupping therapist will probably tell you to avoid taking a shower right after your session. The reason? – Your pores will be opened for a few hours after the cups are removed, and exposure to hot water and soap could lead to damage or infection.
3. Dark Red or Purple Marks. - What They Mean: Dark red or purple marks are commonly associated with chronic conditions, indicating long-term stagnation of blood or a buildup of toxins in the area. These marks suggest that there has been restricted blood flow or tension in the muscles for an extended period.
Cupping shouldn't cause pain, though you may experience some skin tightness during the procedure. After cupping therapy, you may feel bruised and slightly sore, but you shouldn't have severe discomfort.
According to the NCCIH "Cupping can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis".
Bruising: Cupping can cause bruising, especially if the cups are left in place for too long or if too much suction is used. Skin irritation: Cupping can cause temporary skin irritation, including redness and swelling.
A randomized controlled trial from China also reported cupping could reduce waist circumference and BMI and lower the level of TC and TG in obese patient. A network meta-analysis from Korea showed cupping plus acupressure was optimal for BMI reduction compared with non-treatment in childhood simple obesity.
What is Severe Stagnation. In Cupping Therapy severe stagnation can be determined by the aforementioned dark purple mark. This usually indicates that the injury or ailment is not new and it's been left alone for long periods of time. The injury will therefore require more time to clear the stagnation.
Cupping therapy can be done as often as necessary. For most people, cupping therapy is done once a week. However, if you are using cupping therapy for pain relief, you may need to do it more often. Some people find that they need cupping therapy two to three times a week to get relief from their pain.
As long as those treated don't mind the circular discolorations (which fade over a number of days or weeks), side effects tend to be limited to the pinch experienced during skin suction. It's quite unusual that cupping causes any serious problems (though, rarely, skin infections have been reported).
You may feel very emotional after a cupping session. This is also normal, as sometimes the cups can release some tension or feelings we may be holding in our muscles.
Can cupping therapy cause blood clots? There's no conclusive evidence, but some believe it's a risk. Experts warn to avoid cupping if your skin is scraped, oozing, or infected, as this can increase the chance of blood clotting. Also, if you're on a blood thinner or have heart disease, you shouldn't do cupping therapy.
While there are not any dangerous side effects of cupping therapy, some patients may experience nausea, sweating or dizziness, mild soreness in the areas where cupping is used and minimal pain. Ensure your practitioner knows if you have any skin conditions like eczema as cupping may worsen that area.
There has been some research that suggests cupping does have benefits when it comes to pain relief, but the studies are generally considered low quality. More studies are needed to conclusively understand the health impacts of the therapy.
It is not recommended for people with liver, kidney or heart failure or those with a pacemaker. As well, it can't be used if you have hemophilia, anemia or similar blood disorders, heart disease or are on blood thinners. “If pregnant, it has been advised to avoid cupping to the abdomen and lower back,” Ebinger said.