Same idea—suction—different tools, intensity, and settings. Use this page to compare methods before you try one.
| Type | Best known for | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Fire / glass | Traditional clinic feel | Professional |
| Pump / plastic | Adjustable suction | Clinic or home kits |
| Silicone | Self-care, massage-style | Home / travel |
| Bamboo | Traditional material | Often professional |
| Wet cupping | Suction + controlled skin prick | Trained professionals only |
A brief flame removes air from a glass cup, which is then placed on the skin. The flame does not stay under the cup against your skin when performed correctly.
“Dry” means no intentional bleeding. Suction is created with a hand pump or flexible cup. Most modern sessions people mean by “cupping” are dry.
After suction, the skin is lightly pricked and the cup reapplied so a small amount of blood is drawn. Used in some traditional systems.
Soft cups that seal when squeezed. Popular for home use on limbs, hips, and accessible back areas—with training and caution.
Cups stay in one place for several minutes. Classic for back, shoulders, and larger muscle groups. Produces the familiar circular marks.
Oil is applied; cups are glided along muscle groups. Feels more like a deep tissue massage with suction. Marks may be streakier.
Cups are applied and removed rapidly in succession—often used for stimulation rather than long suction holds.
Fire cupping is visually dramatic and culturally iconic. When performed by a skilled practitioner, the flame is a tool for creating vacuum—not a burn treatment. If you’re fire-averse, ask for pump or silicone dry cupping; the therapeutic idea is the same suction principle.
Choose a technique
