Explainer | What is cupping therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)? Why stars such as Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans

Applying suction cups to create a vacuum is believed to stimulate the flow of qi, the “life force” that circulates in our bodies according to TCM principles

The suction breaks tiny blood vessels under the skin, triggering the body’s self-healing process, boosting circulation and lymphatic flow and expelling toxins

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Cupping therapy is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is believed to help restore balance in the body and renew energy. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 7:15am, 17 Mar 2022Updated: 9:34am, 4 Apr 2022

What do singer Lady Gaga, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, fashion mogul Victoria Beckham and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps have in common apart from being famous? All four are fans of cupping, a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy.

Cupping is believed to stimulate the flow of qi, the vital energy or “life force” that, according to TCM, circulates through our bodies.

TCM practitioners believe that when our qi is disrupted or disturbed, “blockages” or imbalances can occur in the body. The purpose of cupping is to remove these blockages and restore the flow of this vital energy.

How cupping works

First, a vacuum is created inside the cup, either by burning the oxygen inside a glass cup or by sucking the air out from the top of a plastic cup, says Master Ruth Lee, a TCM practitioner who has her own clinic in Hong Kong.

The cup is then quickly placed on selected acupuncture points on the patient’s skin, and the vacuum draws the skin up into the cup.

The low pressure inside the cup mobilises the free flow of qi and blood around the body through channels known as meridians. This process facilitates the removal of toxins, and ultimately restores balance in the body.