Skip to content
104 West Weaver Street, Suite 2, Carrboro, NC 27510Tuesday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. · Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.Tuesday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.75-minute first visitAccepting new patients(919) 555-0109
Juniper AcupunctureCarrboro, North Carolina
Book a first visit
Book a first visit

Cupping

Cupping places glass or silicone cups on the skin, usually over the back and shoulders. A little suction lifts the skin and the muscle under it. I leave the cups in place for a few minutes, or glide them over a thin layer of oil.

Who usually comes for it

People with tight shoulders, a stiff upper back or a sore low back who like firm, steady pressure, and people who would rather start with something other than needles. Many have it in the same visit as acupuncture.

What you may feel afterward

Cupping often leaves round marks, from faint pink to deep red or purple. They are not painful to the touch, and they usually fade within a week or so. The skin can feel warm or tender, and some people are tired afterward. Keep the area covered from sun and cold, and drink some water.

What a visit is like, in order

  1. 01

    Step 1: The talk

    I ask about your skin, your medicines and any blood thinner you take, and where the tightness is.

  2. 02

    Step 2: Oil and cups

    I draw the cups on with a small pump or a flame-free silicone cup, and set the suction to what you can easily bear.

  3. 03

    Step 3: A few minutes

    The cups stay still or glide for about five to ten minutes. You should feel pulling, never sharp pain, and I check in often.

  4. 04

    Step 4: Cups off, skin checked

    I release the suction slowly, look at the skin and wipe the oil away.

Tell me first

Say these at the start, so I can plan the visit around them.

  • Blood thinners

    Or a bleeding disorder. Cups can bruise more deeply. Tell me what you take, and I decide with you whether to cup at all.

  • Sore or broken skin

    Sunburned, rashy or healing skin: I do not cup over it. Tell me where it is.

  • Pregnancy

    I do not cup over the lower back or belly, and I plan the visit around it. Say so when you book.

  • Visible marks

    The marks show above a neckline or a tank top. Tell me if that matters, and I can place the cups lower or skip them.

  • Fear of suction

    You can try one cup first, and I take it off the moment you ask.

  • Everything you take

    Medicines, supplements and herbs, written down or on your phone.

How many visits, and what this does not do

Cupping is usually added to acupuncture, a few cups for a few minutes. I will tell you when I think it is worth another go and when it is not, and you can say no at any visit. Results vary, and some people do not notice a change.

What it does not do, and when to see a doctor

Cupping does not replace your doctor’s care, and the marks are not a sign of anything wrong or right. See a doctor for sudden severe pain, chest pain, fever with back pain, new weakness or numbness in the legs, or pain after a fall or a crash. In an emergency, call 911.

How fees work is on its own page, with the questions to ask your plan. When you are ready, send a message and I will find you a first visit.