Cupping therapy helps with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. It is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which the LMT places special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. The LMT uses a vacuum to pull the air from strategically placed cups. This causes your skin to rise and redden as your blood vessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for up to 3 minutes. Cupping therapy supporters believe that wet cupping removes harmful substances and toxins from the body to promote healing.

A more modern version of cupping uses a rubber pump instead of fire to create the vacuum inside the cup.