Cups on the upper back
Cupping
In cupping, a small glass or silicone cup is placed on the skin of your upper back or shoulders and held in place by gentle suction for a few minutes. It is often added to an acupuncture visit when the shoulders and neck are tight from long hours at a desk.
Who usually comes for it
People who carry a bag, a laptop or a long shift on their shoulders
Anyone who clenches and hunches when stressed
People who want a firm, quiet option
A visit, in order
How a visit goes
Cupping is usually added to a regular visit, a few minutes at a time.
- 01
We talk
Where you hold tension, and whether skin or tape bothers you.
- 02
We place the cups
One to four cups, held in place by gentle suction.
- 03
You rest
A few minutes, and you tell us if the pull is too much.
- 04
We lift them off
We check your skin and talk about what to expect.
Cups often leave faint round marks that fade in days, and the area can feel tight or tender. Tell us right away if the pull is too strong.
Before you come
Tell us first, and what it does not do
Cupping is offered as part of a plan we talk through at the first visit. We start with a light touch and change it to suit you.
Tell us first
Say so when you book and again in the room, so we can change the plan or skip a step:
Skin that bruises easily, or a bleeding disorder
Blood thinners
Pregnancy, or trying to conceive
Sunburn, a rash or broken skin where a cup would go
A pacemaker or implanted device near the area
What it does not do
Cupping is not a replacement for medical care, and results vary.
It does not replace your doctor, your prescriber or therapy, and it does not change your medicines.
See a doctor first for chest pain, a sudden change in sleep or mood with no clear reason, a fever, or anything that has you worried.
If you feel unable to cope, call or text 988, any time. In an emergency, call 911.
Curious about cupping?
Ask about it when you request a visit, or at your first one.