Cupping Therapy in Metro Vancouver: What It Does, What the Research Says and How Safe It Is

Cupping leaves round marks on the skin, and most people ask about them first. This post covers the questions that matter more: what cupping is, what the research says about pain, what side effects are listed, and who offers it at Launch Rehab.

What cupping is

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes cupping as a practice from traditional medicine in several parts of the world, including China and the Middle East. A practitioner creates suction on the skin with a cup made of glass, ceramic, bamboo or plastic. The suction draws the skin and the tissue just under it into the cup. The cups are placed over areas such as the back, shoulders or legs, where you may feel tightness.

Where you can book cupping at Launch Rehab

Launch Rehab offers cupping in two ways. A registered acupuncturist offers acupuncture and cupping sessions at the New Westminster, Richmond, North Burnaby and Coquitlam studios. The rates page lists the 60-minute, 45-minute and 30-minute session lengths and their prices. Some of our registered massage therapists also add cupping to a massage session when it is clinically indicated for your complaint. Our acupuncture and IMS dry needling page lists the studios and practitioners.

Registered acupuncturists in BC are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC). If you were injured in a crash, ICBC lists acupuncturists among the providers with 12 approved treatments in the first 12 weeks, as set out on its first 12 weeks page. At Launch Rehab, ICBC acupuncture needs pre-approval.

What the research says about pain relief

The NCCIH page says that cupping may help reduce pain, but that the evidence is not very strong, and it describes most of the research as low quality. Two reviews give the detail.

A 2020 meta-analysis in the Journal of Pain pooled 18 trials with 1,172 people who had chronic pain. Compared with sham cupping, which uses cups without the real suction, it found no significant effect on pain intensity or on disability. The authors wrote that cupping might be a treatment option for chronic pain, and that the evidence is still limited by differences between trials and risk of bias. They asked for high-quality trials.

A 2023 evidence map in Frontiers in Neurology collected 14 meta-analyses of cupping for pain. It found no high-quality evidence that cupping is effective for pain-related outcomes, and it rated the evidence as very low to moderate quality.

In our clinic, we treat cupping as an add-on for muscle tightness that sits alongside exercise and hands-on care. If your pain has lasted months, the NICE guideline on chronic primary pain recommends supervised exercise as a core part of the plan. Our chronic pain management guide explains that plan, and our post on acupuncture versus massage for chronic pain compares the two options for a cupping candidate.

Why cupping leaves marks

NCCIH says that cupping leaves temporary marks on the skin. The marks are round and match the shape of the cups. NCCIH advises that you explain where the marks came from to any health care provider who sees them, so they are not mistaken for something else. If you see a doctor or have a medical check soon after your session, mention that you had cupping.

Side effects and who should take care

NCCIH lists persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns and infections as possible side effects, and says cupping may worsen eczema or psoriasis. It warns that shared equipment can spread bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis B and C, and it reports rare severe effects, including bleeding inside the skull after cupping on the scalp.

Ask your practitioner these questions before you book: what type of cupping they use, how they clean or replace the cups between clients, and whether your skin condition or medical history changes the plan. Tell the practitioner about eczema, psoriasis, or any skin that is broken or irritated. If a mark blisters, if the skin looks infected, or if the area gets more painful in the days after, contact the practitioner or your doctor.

How cupping differs from IMS and dry needling

Cupping uses suction cups and no needles. Acupuncture is performed by a registered acupuncturist. IMS (intramuscular stimulation) is performed by an IMS-certified physiotherapist, and kinesiologists do not needle. Our posts on IMS versus acupuncture and dry needling versus acupuncture explain how those treatments differ, and which problems each one suits.

This article is general information, not personal medical advice. A regulated practitioner can confirm whether the patterns described apply to you.

Sources

• NCCIH: Cupping
• Cramer et al.: Cupping for patients with chronic pain, a systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Pain, 2020 (IASP summary)
• Wang et al.: Efficacy of cupping therapy on pain outcomes: an evidence-mapping study, Frontiers in Neurology, 2023
• ICBC: Accessing treatment during your first 12 weeks of recovery
• College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC
• NICE NG193: Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s, Recommendations

Frequently asked questions

Will cupping leave marks, and should I tell my doctor?

Yes, cupping leaves temporary round marks on the skin, according to NCCIH. The agency advises you to explain the origin of the marks to any health care provider who sees them, so the marks are not misread. If you have an appointment or a physical check soon after your session, tell the person that you had cupping.

Is cupping safe?

NCCIH lists persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns and infections as possible side effects, and warns that shared equipment can spread bloodborne diseases. Rare severe effects have been reported, including bleeding inside the skull after scalp cupping. Ask your practitioner how the cups are cleaned or replaced between clients and what type of cupping they use.

Can cupping help neck or low back pain?

The 2023 Frontiers in Neurology evidence map listed neck pain, low back pain and chronic pain among the conditions it examined, and rated the evidence as very low to moderate quality. It found no high-quality evidence. The 2020 Journal of Pain meta-analysis found no significant effect on pain intensity compared with sham cupping for chronic pain.

Who provides cupping at Launch Rehab?

A registered acupuncturist provides acupuncture and cupping sessions at the New Westminster, Richmond, North Burnaby and Coquitlam studios. Some of our registered massage therapists also add cupping to a massage session when it is clinically indicated. Check the practitioner's profile or the rates page for the session length and price before you book.

How long is an acupuncture and cupping session at Launch Rehab?

The rates page lists acupuncture and cupping sessions of 60 minutes and 45 minutes for an initial or subsequent visit, and a 30-minute subsequent visit. A registered acupuncturist provides them at New Westminster, Richmond, North Burnaby and Coquitlam. Prices are on the rates page, and ICBC clients need pre-approval before the first visit.

Is cupping covered by ICBC or extended health plans?

ICBC lists acupuncturists among providers with 12 approved treatments in the first 12 weeks after a crash, and Launch Rehab requires pre-approval for ICBC acupuncture. Extended health plans differ in what they list under acupuncture and massage, and in annual limits. Check your plan booklet, or ask your insurer whether a combined acupuncture and cupping session qualifies.

Should I avoid cupping if I have eczema or psoriasis?

NCCIH says cupping may worsen eczema or psoriasis. Tell the practitioner about any skin condition, and about skin that is broken, irritated or healing, before the session. Your practitioner can decide whether cupping suits you, whether to avoid the affected area, or whether to choose another treatment.

How many cupping sessions will I need?

The research does not set a schedule for cupping, so no fixed number of sessions applies. Your practitioner will review how you responded after the first session and tell you whether to continue. If you feel no change in your complaint after a few sessions, ask whether to switch to exercise or another treatment instead.