How to Do Cupping At Home: 5 Cupping Therapy Variations to Try in 2023

You might be wondering - how can I possibly try cupping at home? Isn’t this meant to be done by a professional? Isn’t there fire involved? Yes, and not always! At Magnolia Wellness, we perform cupping with glass and fire, but we’re also happy to let you know that you can absolutely learn how to do cupping and try it at home, without fire or a degree in Chinese Medicine or massage. It’s safe, full of healing benefits and can be done to yourself or a partner. 

Why Cupping?

Before we get into how to practice cupping at home, let’s discuss a brief background and intro to the practice so that you can gain some context. The use of cupping therapy can be traced back to the early Han Dynasty in China. Herbalist and alchemist, Ge Hong, is considered the first to use this technique and believed that with ‘cupping and acupuncture combined, more than 1/2 of the ills can be cured.’ Fast forward to today, and cupping has gained tons of popularity, partly by celebrity exposure and partly because so many folks are curious and interested in alternative and holistic health.

Benefits of Cupping

Cupping extracts and removes toxins from the body’s muscle tissues by creating suction through specially designed cups. As a result, cupping improves blood circulation and lymphatic system function to lessen pain. Apart from leaving you feeling refreshed, here are a few benefits to cupping:

• Lowers inflammation

• Improves blood circulation

• Reduces muscle tension or stress

• Provides pain relief

• Boosts immunity

• Provides an increased range of motion

7 Steps to Safely Try Cupping at Home 

Step 1: 

Apply oil to your skin to create suction for the cups to glide on. This is a crucial step because it helps to create the vacuum for the cups to work effectively. 

Use body oil or any other oil that’s safe for your skin type and spread a thin layer on the area you wish to treat.

Step 2: 

Get familiar with the cups and the different levels of pressure. Start by applying a light suction and notice how your skin responds. 

The skin tissue will not lift as high with light suction, but as you increase the suction level, the skin will lift higher. This is where the fascia loosens up and the lymph can move more freely. 

Experiment with different suction levels to see what works best for you.

Step 3: 

Once you have an idea of the pressure, start moving the cups around. Use your hands to guide the cup in the direction you want to target. 

For example, if you're cupping your back, use your hands to glide the cup up and down along the paraspinal muscles next to the spine.

Step 4: 

Avoid applying pressure or squeezing the cups. 

Cupping is a gentle therapy, and applying too much pressure can cause discomfort.

If you start to notice any redness or discomfort, remove the cup and adjust the pressure.

Step 5: 

For silicone cups, release the suction by squeezing and lifting the cup up and away. 

This is an important step, as releasing the suction too quickly can cause discomfort.

Step 6: 

If you're combining massage with cupping, stroke towards your heart to promote detoxification. 

This technique helps move toxins out of your body and allows your lymphatic system to function more efficiently.

Step 7: 

And finally, remember to avoid the neck and any lymph nodes in that area when cupping. 

This is a sensitive area. Unless you're a professional, it's best to avoid cupping this region.

4 Cupping Variations for Specific Conditions

1. Fixed Cupping

This is the most popular and frequently used cupping technique. In this technique, the cup is fixed in one place with carefully moderated suction pressure. 

It’s ideal for easing muscle tension in specific target areas because it encourages blood flow through the blood vessels. This technique is commonly used to relieve pain, especially in the neck, back, and shoulders.

2. Sliding Cupping

Oil is applied to the skin surface of the area to be treated, and cups are fixed on it with medium strength. 

These cups are then moved through the area in a massage-like manner. This technique treats a broader area of constricted muscular tissues. 

It’s great for athletes because it can help improve range of motion and flexibility while also reducing the risk of injury.

3. Flash Cupping

In this technique, the cups are fixed and removed quickly and repeatedly in succession over a broad area. 

This stimulates better blood flow in the targeted area—making it ideal for treating areas that are prone to inflammation or have poor blood flow. 

This technique is commonly used to treat skin conditions, like acne or eczema.

4. Air Cupping 

Unlike other cupping techniques, air cupping uses an air pump to create negative pressure inside the cup. 

This is ideal for those who are sensitive to suction or have delicate skin. 

It's also great for targeting areas that are difficult to reach with traditional cups. Air cupping can be used in complementary therapy to treat a variety of conditions, such as respiratory problems, digestive issues, and even anxiety.

Best cups to use at home

Take time to get familiar with the kinds of cups you purchase. For cellulite, firmer skin and toning, we suggest Lure Cupping Edge Therapy Sets. These silicone stackable cups are plastic-free and made without BPA, BPS, phthalates, PVC, latex or other fillers. As far as learning the technique, this brand will send you a video on how to best use these cups after you make a purchase which is a huge win.

Another cupping set that we recommend is the AIKOTOO Hijama Cupping Vacuum Set which contains 24 cups, an extension tube and a hand pump so that you have full control over the suction. The package contains instructions to follow, so again - you won’t be left to your own devices to learn how to use them. We suggest starting off gently with the vacuum so that you have a feel for the suction.

Tips for Cupping at Home

Before you start cupping, you’ll want to have body oil on hand. Having oil is absolutely crucial for suction and allows for the cups to glide when they’re on your skin. Now that you have oil and cups in front of you, get familiar with the cups and have an understanding of different levels of pressure. Play with different levels of suction and notice how the skin lifts. With light suction, the skin tissue will not lift as high. When you see the skin bubble higher, this is where the fascia loosens up and the lymph can move.

Once you have an idea on pressure, you’ll want to get an understanding of how to move the cups around. Get used to gliding the cups on oiled skin to target the body part you want to focus on. Using your hands, guide the cup in the direction you’re targeting without applying pressure or squeezing. If the tissue in the cup starts to look too red or feels uncomfortable, remove the cup and apply less pressure when you place the cup again. For silicone cups, you’ll remove the cup by squeezing to release the suction, and lift up and away.

If you’re using any massage in tandem to cupping, you’ll want to make sure you stroke towards the heart so that you can allow for detox to properly flush through the system. 

As a rule of them, avoid the neck and any lymph nodes in the neck area when cupping. Unless you’re professionally trained and certified, this is a region you want to avoid when you’re treating yourself to an at home cupping session.

If you purchase a cupping set and try this at home, let us know how it went! Send us an email or a DM on with your thoughts. Of course, if you’d prefer to get treatment by us, you’re always welcome to add cupping to your acupuncture service. Whichever way you choose to incorporate cupping, know that your body and muscles will thank you.