Cupping is a practice used in traditional medicine in several parts of the world, including China and the Middle East. It is a technique that uses small glass or plastic cups as suction devices that are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood and energy. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes. The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. Bruising should be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within 10 days. It involves creating suction on the skin using a plastic cup. Negative pressure is created in the cup by attaching a suction device to the cup after it is placed on the skin. Please be aware, this service does add time to your session.