Body and Facial Cupping therapy
What is cupping therapy?
Facial Cupping: what it is and whether it leaves marks?
How does body cupping work？
What happens to the “waste” mark after cupping?
Why does this help?
Who can benefit from cupping therapy?
1.What is cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy is an ancient practice of alternative medicine and a highly effective method for releasing toxins from body tissues and organs.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, it stimulates and encourages the flow of qi (energy) and blood, helping to clear blockages and restore balance.
2. Facial Cupping: what it is and whether it leaves marks?
Facial cupping is a gentle, non-invasive technique that uses small cups to create light suction on the face. It helps:
Increase blood flow and circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
Relax facial muscles and release tension, reducing tightness and stress lines.
Support lymphatic drainage, helping reduce puffiness and promote detoxification.
Enhance skin tone, elasticity, and natural glow.
Unlike body cupping, facial cupping uses very light suction, so it rarely leaves marks. If marks do appear, they are usually very faint and fade quickly.
Overall, it’s a soothing, rejuvenating treatment that sculpts, lifts, and revitalises the face without bruising.
3. How does body cupping work？
Cupping works by creating a vacuum inside special cups (glass, silicone, or plastic) that are placed on the skin. This suction gently pulls the skin and underlying tissues upward. Here’s what happens:
Negative pressure (suction): Instead of pressing down like massage, cupping lifts the tissues. This increases blood flow to the area and stimulates circulation.
Fascial and muscular release: The suction helps loosen tight muscles and fascia (the connective tissue around muscles), reducing tension and improving mobility.
Lymphatic drainage & detox: By drawing fluids toward the surface, cupping supports lymphatic flow, which helps the body clear waste and toxins.
Nervous system effects: The sensation can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, encouraging relaxation and reducing stress.
Healing response: Increased circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, speeding up repair and recovery.
That’s also why cupping often leaves temporary circular marks — they’re a sign of blood and metabolic waste being drawn to the surface, not bruises from tissue damage.
4. What happens to the “waste” after cupping?
The suction draws blood, interstitial fluid, and cellular debris (metabolic waste products) into the superficial layers of the skin.
This isn’t because the waste is literally “expelled” out of the body through the skin — it’s more like a signal to your body.
Once brought closer to the surface, the lymphatic system and capillaries reabsorb these substances, and your body’s detox pathways (liver, kidneys, lymph nodes) process and eliminate them naturally.
5. Why does this help?
Increased circulation: By drawing blood to the surface, cupping increases local microcirculation, which speeds up nutrient and oxygen delivery for healing.
Lymphatic activation: The suction stimulates lymphatic drainage, so waste and stagnant fluids can move out more effectively.
“Stagnation release”: In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, it moves stagnant qi and blood, which relieves blockages and restores balance.
Nervous system reset: The pulling and release effect can relax the fascia and muscles, which in turn calms tension patterns held in the body.
So the dark “marks” you see are not bruises but more like evidence of stagnation being pulled up for clearance. Over the next few days, as the lymph and blood flow improve, those marks fade — meaning the waste has been carried away and processed.
6. Who can benefit from cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy is suitable for people experiencing:
Muscle tension, stiffness, or soreness (neck, shoulders, back, or face)
Poor circulation or sluggish lymphatic flow
Chronic stress or nervous system imbalance
Headaches, jaw tension, or sinus congestion
Signs of fatigue, dull or puffy skin
Qi or energy stagnation according to Traditional Chinese Medicine
In short, cupping supports relaxation, rejuvenation, and holistic wellbeing, making it ideal for both body and facial treatments.
