Ancient Chinese Modality
Cupping Therapy in San Francisco
Learn about cupping therapy and the many health benefits
Cupping is an ancient practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, where glass cups are applied to the skin through suction to create localized stimulation. As NCCIH describes it, the negative pressure inside the cup is created either by briefly applying a flame to remove the air before placing it on the skin, or by a suction device — drawing up the underlying tissue. We practice dry cupping only (no piercing of the skin). The science behind cupping is still limited and preliminary, but it is generally considered low-risk when performed by a trained practitioner.
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Definition
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping is a Chinese medicine practice with roots in the Han dynasty (3rd century BCE), originally using hollowed-out animal horns and later evolving into the glass and silicone cups still used today. The therapist briefly heats the air inside a glass cup with a flame, then places the cup on the skin \u2014 as the air cools, it creates a vacuum that lifts the underlying tissue upward. In the traditional Chinese medicine framework, this is said to draw stagnant blood to the surface and to stimulate the five back meridians mapped as the body's main energy channels. At Healing Shiatsu in San Francisco's Outer Richmond, our licensed therapists with years of experience offer fire cupping standalone ($40) or combined with massage from $95, seven days a week.
What the evidence says
We want to be honest about the science. NCCIH notes that research on cupping is still limited, so we describe the meridian and "stagnation" language above as tradition rather than established medical fact. The circular marks come from small blood vessels breaking under the suction \u2014 temporary skin discoloration, not released "toxins." When performed by a trained practitioner with clean equipment, dry cupping is generally considered low-risk; the most common effects are short-lived marks and skin sensitivity.
Further reading: NCCIH cupping overview \u00b7 Cleveland Clinic on cupping \u00b7 PubMed cupping research
Why Cupping
Health Benefits
Over centuries, cupping was developed within traditional Chinese medicine to work on the meridian systems of the body. We describe the benefits below the way clients experience them — as a deep, releasing form of bodywork — while being clear that the scientific evidence for cupping itself remains preliminary.
Meridian Unblocking
In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is said to unblock the five meridians on the back of the body, encouraging energy to move across its full span.
Deep Tissue Release
The suction lifts underlying tissue rather than pressing down on it — a sensation many clients describe as a deep, releasing stretch across tight muscle groups.
Circulation Stimulation
The partial vacuum within the cup draws up underlying tissues, encouraging localized blood flow to the area being treated.
Relaxation & Comfort
Like other forms of massage therapy, many people find cupping deeply relaxing — and research suggests massage may offer short-term relief for some kinds of muscle pain.
A Deeper Kind of Release
A Distinctive Deep-Tissue Sensation
What sets cupping apart from ordinary deep-tissue massage is direction: instead of pressing down into the body, the suction lifts the skin and underlying tissue upward. Many clients describe this as reaching tension that downward pressure can't, and as a deep, satisfying stretch across the back and shoulders. In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is described as moving stagnation and encouraging circulation through the treated area.
We've left out some of the bolder physiological claims you'll see elsewhere about cupping. According to NCCIH, the research is still limited, so we won't tell you cupping detoxifies the body or treats disease. What we can say is that, like other forms of massage therapy, it is a low-risk way to relax tight muscles for many people — and that the sensation is genuinely its own.
Techniques We Practice
Types of Cupping We Offer
Fire Cupping (Glass)
The traditional method we use as our default. A flame briefly heats the air inside a glass cup; as it cools, the vacuum forms and lifts tissue upward. The cup itself is warm to the touch, not hot. This is the deepest and most therapeutically useful style — what Olympic athletes and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have used for thousands of years.
Stationary Cupping
Cups stay in place for 5 to 15 minutes. Used for chronic deep tension at specific points — between the shoulder blades, lower back, hip flexors. This is what creates the visible circular marks, where the suction draws blood toward the surface; in TCM tradition, the darker marks are read as areas of greater stagnation.
Sliding Cupping (Moving Cupping)
Once the vacuum is set, the therapist applies a light layer of oil and glides the cup along muscle fibers. Covers a larger area with less concentrated marking. Used for full-back tension, sciatic nerve pathways, IT band stiffness for runners.
Dry vs Wet Cupping — What We Don't Do
We practice dry cupping only — no skin incisions, no bloodletting. Wet cupping (also called hijama) involves small superficial cuts after suction and is a separate medical specialty requiring different licensing. If wet cupping is what you're looking for, we'll refer you elsewhere.
When Cupping Helps Most
Conditions Cupping Commonly Addresses
- Chronic upper back tension that hasn't responded to deep tissue work
- Cyclist and climber lat tightness from repetitive shoulder loading
- Lower back stiffness from prolonged sitting or driving
- Pre- and post-workout muscle preparation and recovery
- Cold-weather muscle stiffness — common in foggy Outer Richmond
- Lingering tension from old sports injuries (months or years old)
- Plantar fascia tightness when applied to calves and feet
- General relaxation and muscle tension relief over consistent sessions
Contraindications \u2014 when to skip cupping.
Not appropriate over broken skin, varicose veins, recent surgery sites, areas of active inflammation, or for clients with a history of deep vein thrombosis. If you take blood thinners or bruise easily, mention it before the session \u2014 we can dial back suction strength. The marks aren't bruises (no impact trauma), but they're visible skin discoloration for 1\u20133 weeks. Plan around any short-sleeve events on your calendar.
Post-Treatment Care
- 1
No shower for 8 hours
Pores stay open after suction; skipping the post-session shower prevents cold from penetrating freshly treated tissue.
- 2
Drink warm water, not iced
Staying well hydrated after any bodywork is sensible. Aim for an extra 16–20 oz of warm water over the next 6 hours.
- 3
Keep the area covered and warm
Avoid AC drafts, fans, and open windows. Cold settles into worked tissue and undoes some of the circulation gains.
- 4
No alcohol or vigorous exercise for 24 hours
Both increase circulation in ways that prolong soreness without therapeutic benefit. Walking is fine — running, drinking, sauna are not.
- 5
Watch the mark colors as they fade
Light pink fades in days. Dark purple takes 2–3 weeks. In traditional Chinese medicine, how each mark fades is read as a clue to where tension sat last time.
- 6
Schedule the next session 7–14 days out
Cupping benefits compound, but tissue needs time to fully process between sessions. Coming back too soon means working over still-recovering areas.
Our Rates
Cupping Pricing
Massage & Cupping
30 min
$95
45 min
$105
60 min
$113
75 min
$130
90 min
$150
120 min
$190
More to Explore
Cupping in Your Neighborhood
Evidence-Based
Sources & Further Reading
Claims on this page draw on guidance from leading health and research institutions. Explore the primary sources below.
- NCCIH — Cupping — what is known (and not yet known) about cupping
- NCCIH — Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know — the TCM tradition cupping comes from
- NCCIH (NIH) — Massage Therapy: What You Need To Know — evidence overview for massage therapies
These references are for general education. Massage and cupping are complementary therapies and not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for medical concerns.
Cupping Therapy FAQ
What is cupping therapy?
Does cupping hurt?
What are the circular marks left by cupping?
Can I shower after cupping?
How long does a cupping session take?
Can cupping be combined with massage?
Experience Cupping Therapy
Book your cupping therapy session today and discover the healing benefits of this ancient modality.