…a river that is blocked. You do the cupping to remove the blockage.”
Eschewing such mysticism, Western practitioners believe that cupping can help the body by increasing blood flow to damaged or tight tissue, Danesh added.
“Anytime you injure a body part, you want to increase blood flow to stimulate the body’s natural responses, to clear out any toxins or repair any damage that’s been done,” Danesh said. “The increased blood flow also increases oxygen delivery to the areas involved. Oxygen is what’s used for food and nutrition for every single cell in your body.”
Cupping also can help improve flexibility by loosening up tight muscles, increasing an athlete’s range of motion in the same way a good massage might, Danesh added.
Small studies have shown that cupping might create an anti-inflammatory effect, by increasing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in the treated area, Bauer said.
But not all medical experts are sold on cupping.
“There is no data to support the concept that local tissue injury can improve a systemic condition,” said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Other than tagging you as having a bright visible scar, there is no scientific evidence to support this ancient practice.”
Bauer agreed that no large-scale studies or clinical trials have shown a consistent benefit from cupping.
“At the end of the day, we’re left with something that’s fairly dramatic looking but relatively harmless,” he said. “Some people do seem to get benefit in terms of pain control, but is there any true beneficial effect in terms of performance from an athletic standpoint? Those studies haven’t been done.”
Despite the lack of evidence, both Mayo and Mount Sinai offer cupping as part of their integrative medicine programs. Danesh and Bauer both say they have patients who swear by the practice.
“In the hands of a good practitioner who’s not just using it as a gimmick but part of an overall treatment program, I’ve had many patients use it successfully,” Bauer said. “They’ve seen the benefit.”