Cupping is like a reverse massage – instead of pushing into the tissue, it pulls. Treatment involves placing cups onto the skin to create a vacuum which helps to increase blood and Qi flow, loosen fascia, stimulate healing and remove toxins.
The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite.
You should expect red marks as a result of the blood being pulled into that area. The darker the mark, the more stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) were dredged up during treatment. The marks last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
The more often you receive cupping for the same issue, the lighter the marks will be.