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Dry cupping (self, caution)
حجامة (dry cups) / 拔罐
A listing is not a recommendation.
This entry is not recommended. It is listed only as a caution.
Origin: The Middle East, China, and elsewhere (many parts of the world) · Tradition: Unani, Chinese medicine, and folk practice · Manual therapy & points
What it is
Applying suction to the skin with a cup. Wet cupping (hijama, which draws blood) is close to a medical procedure and is not treated here as self-care. Dry cupping also carries risks of bruising and of burns (with fire cups).
A short introduction (not a treatment instruction)
- Do not do wet cupping (piercing the skin to draw blood) yourself.
- For dry cupping too, do not use fire or a strong pump for the first time without a professional’s guidance.
- Even with a commercial pump, keep the time short and do not repeat it on the same place.
Symptoms or aims often mentioned with this practice
- Stiff shoulders
- Low back pain
- Muscle stiffness
Related symptom videos
Research notes (this is not a promise of effect)
C: Preliminary, small, or lower-quality studies, or mixed results. These notes should not be over-read
There are reviews for musculoskeletal pain, but quality is low and any effect is uncertain. Safety data on self-administration are scarce.
Sources
Safety notes
Blisters, burns, bruising, and infection. Wet cupping has a particular infection risk. It is dangerous for people on anticoagulants.
If you are unsure, or if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medicine, consult a qualified professional.
Situations in which this is better avoided
- Doing wet cupping yourself
- A tendency to bleed
- A wound on the skin, or the abdomen in pregnancy
- Using fire cups on yourself