cupping Cupping has been practised for thousands of years for the treatment of disease and pain. It is a form of acupuncture that focuses on the movement of blood, energy and body fluids, such as lymph - which circulates around the body's tissues. Oriental medicine states pain is due to stagnation. This stagnation can be a result of injury or stress. Cupping is believed to stimulate flow of blood, and lymph to the affected area. Its uses include relieving pain in the muscles, especially back pain from stiffness or injury, and clearing congestion in the chest, which can occur with colds and flu. The heat of a naked flame inside a glass cup creates a vacuum on the skin. The cups can be left in a static position or can slide over muscle groups to relieve tension and pain. Slight circular bruising may last up to a week, depending on the strength of the vacuum.