Who should not do cupping?
Asked by: Dorian Senger DVM | Last update: October 25, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (39 votes)
Are there any dangers to cupping?
Cupping can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis.
What should you avoid before cupping?
- Eat light, healthy meals. It is recommended to eat light, healthy meals before the treatment. ...
- Stay Hydrated. It is essential to drink plenty of water before and after the treatment to promote healing and prevent dehydration. ...
- Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol. ...
- Avoid Smoking. ...
- Avoid Fasting.
What are the contraindications for cupping?
Contraindications
In general, cupping is contraindicated directly on veins, arteries, nerves, skin inflammation, any skin lesion, body orifices, eyes, lymph nodes, or varicose veins. Cupping is also contraindicated on open wounds, bone fractures, and sites of deep vein thrombosis.
Is cupping good for people with high blood pressure?
Conclusion. Wet-cupping therapy is effective for reducing systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients for up to 4 weeks, without serious side effects. Wet-cupping should be considered as a complementary hypertension treatment, and further studies are needed.
What They DON'T Tell You About Cupping Marks...
Where should you avoid cupping?
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. If there is suspicion of an infection or an open wound, cupping shouldn't be performed.
Why can't you shower after cupping?
You can't shower after cupping because it will hurt. After cupping your pores are open and your skin will be more sensitive than usual. Taking a hot shower or bath after cupping causes inflammation and sometimes skin damage. Taking cold showers, which will invite cold pathogens are not recommended either.
Who can't have cupping?
- Anemia.
- A pacemaker.
- Bleeding disorders like hemophilia.
- Blood clotting problems, like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a history of strokes.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis.
- Seizures (epilepsy).
What is the controversy with cupping?
Critics of alternative medicine have spoken out against cupping therapy. Harriet Hall and Mark Crislip have characterized cupping as "pseudoscience nonsense", "a celebrity fad", and "gibberish", and observed that there is no evidence that cupping works any better than a placebo.
What toxins does cupping remove?
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.
What you Cannot do after cupping?
- Caffeine.
- Alcohol.
- Sugar.
- Meat.
- Dairy.
- Extreme temperatures.
- Intense exercise.
Where should you never cup?
Cupping should never be done over skin that is fragile, broken, sunburned or swollen. Take care in areas such as the side of the neck as well as pectoral muscles. DO NOT cup in areas with major arteries.
Can I cup my groin area?
For help lowering pain, cups are commonly placed over the following areas: over the fleshy part of the shoulder blades, over the groin/loins, by the neck (for soothing tension headaches, toothaches or migraines) or around the lower back.
Why am I so tired after cupping?
You may feel more tired than normal or experience flu-like symptoms after cupping (headache or general body aches). This is a temporary reaction by your immune system to the cellular waste that cupping helps release.
What do the dark spots on cupping mean?
These marks suggest that there has been restricted blood flow or tension in the muscles for an extended period. - Why It Happens: The darker the marks, the more stagnant blood and toxins were present before the therapy.
How often should you do cupping?
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.
What is the bad side of cupping?
Safety. Cupping leaves temporary marks on the skin. The origin of these marks should be explained to health care providers so that they won't be mistaken for signs of physical abuse. Cupping can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis.
Does cupping help lose belly fat?
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.
Do doctors believe in cupping?
Most experts agree that cupping is safe. 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.
What are the don'ts of cupping?
It shouldn't be done over areas of edema, large blood vessels, or varicose veins. It shouldn't be performed on pregnant women. In addition, people who are easy bleeders, have any kind of bleeding disorder, or are taking blood thinners, shouldn't be cupped.
Can cupping therapy cause blood clots?
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.
Is cupping therapy real or fake?
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.
What not to drink after cupping?
Cupping opens pores and channels, making the body susceptible to external elements like wind and cold. 4. Mind Your Diet: Refrain from dairy, processed meats, sugary foods, alcoholic beverages, and caffeine for at least 24 hours post-treatment, as they may hinder the healing process.
Does cupping help with knots?
The vacuum acts to gently lift the skin and underlying tissues, to break up cross linkages between the tissue layers that limit our flexibility. Cupping also promotes the hydration of these tissues to help prevent further cross linkages from forming.
How many days should I rest after cupping?
Avoid strenuous activities: It is best to avoid strenuous activities or heavy lifting for the first 24-48 hours after cupping therapy. This will allow the muscles to rest and recover from the treatment. Drink plenty of water: It is important to stay hydrated after cupping therapy to help flush toxins out of the body.