07/30/2026
I get asked all the time how / why cupping works
In TCM terms: cupping moves stagnant qi and blood. When qi and blood stop flowing smoothly, you get pain, tightness, stuck feelings in the body. The suction pulls stagnation to the surface so circulation can do its job again
In clinic I use cupping for: tight muscles, back and neck pain, recovery for athletes, colds and respiratory stuff, digestive sluggishness etc etc the list goes on and on
From a western research lens it’s less settled. A 2018 review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine landed on: several theories albeit none are complete
the shortlist (TLDR):
• pain gate theory: cupping stimulates nerve fibers that compete with pain signals for the brain’s attention
• diffuse noxious inhibitory controls: one pain masks another. your body is juggling priorities
• nitric oxide release: possible vasodilation, which means more blood flow to tired tissue
• immune activation: some shifts in immune markers post-cupping, the mechanism of how/why is still fuzzy
• blood detoxification theory: the most debated one, claims about drawing out toxins via negative pressure
