What does cupping feel like?
A cup is placed on the skin and air is drawn out, either by heat or a hand pump, so the skin and superficial tissue are lifted into the cup. The sensation is a strong pull, similar to a very firm massage in reverse. After a minute or two it settles into a dull, warm pressure. Static cupping, where cups stay in place for five to fifteen minutes, is usually relaxing. Sliding cupping, where oiled cups are moved across the muscle, feels like deep tissue massage and can be briefly uncomfortable over tight areas.
Try it in Chiswick: your practitioner adjusts the suction to your comfort throughout. A 30-minute cupping session at our Chiswick clinic is £60. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.
Is cupping painful? When it can feel more intense
Over very tight muscle, particularly the upper back and shoulders, and where suction is set high. A practitioner adjusts suction to your tolerance, and you can ask for it to be reduced. Cupping should never be sharp or unbearable.
Dry, fire and wet cupping (hijama) compared
Dry cupping uses suction alone, created with a hand pump or with heat. Fire cupping is a form of dry cupping in which a flame briefly heats the inside of the cup before it is placed; the flame is removed first, so you feel warmth and suction rather than the flame. Wet cupping, known as hijama, adds small cuts to the skin so that a little blood is drawn into the cup, so it involves brief sharp sensations as well as suction. Whichever type you choose, it should be done by a trained practitioner using sterile equipment.
Do the cupping marks hurt?
The rings left after cupping are not bruises from injury. They are caused by blood and fluid drawn into the superficial tissue by suction, and they are painless or very mildly tender. They range from pink to dark purple depending on the tissue and fade over three to ten days. See how long cupping marks last.
Does cupping hurt afterwards?
Some people feel a pleasant looseness, some feel tired, and a mild ache in the treated area for a day is common. Drink water and avoid heavy exercise, hot baths and alcohol for the rest of the day.
At Omnia
Cupping at our Chiswick clinic is delivered by practitioners trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, usually alongside acupuncture or Tui Na massage. Suction is set to your comfort and adjusted throughout. A 30-minute cupping session is £60, or cupping can be part of a 60-minute acupuncture session in Chiswick at £80. Book cupping online or call 020 4515 0000, and see cupping therapy in London for more. Omnia Lifestyle is at 8 to 9 Bedford Corner, The Avenue, Chiswick W4 1LZ, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. Read our full guide to cupping therapy and whether cupping is safe.