Last updated July 2, 2025
Once a fringe ritual, cupping therapy has carved out a place in modern wellness, with surprising force and some (literal) suction.
No longer confined to the sidelines of alternative medicine, cupping therapy is now a fixture on spa menus, recommended by sports physiotherapists and searched for in growing numbers across Google. The therapy, recognizable by the circular marks it leaves on the skin, has gone from obscurity to high visibility.
Cupping dates back over 2,000 years, with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ancient Egyptian healing and Middle Eastern prophetic medicine. The therapy was used to balance the body’s internal forces and clear what practitioners called “stagnation.”
Today, cupping therapy is used as a tool for stress relief, inflammation, detoxification and muscle recovery. Its popularity is driven by athletes, wellness seekers and those chasing the feeling of a physical reset.
So what’s behind this sudden magnetism? As it turns out, the appeal of cupping therapy runs deeper than its surface marks.
What Is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping involves placing small cups—typically glass, silicone or bamboo—on the skin and using suction to draw the tissue upward. Practitioners either apply heat or use a mechanical pump to create a vacuum.
This pressure is believed to stimulate circulation, release muscle knots and promote lymphatic flow. Some treatments use static cups, while others move the cups slowly across oiled skin.
The sensation can range from tight to deeply soothing. No needles, no cracking joints. Just firm, lasting pressure. What appears afterward is the result of capillaries responding to suction. These circular marks—deep red or soft plum—typically fade within a week.
Though its mechanisms are still being studied, cupping is often sought for relief from back and neck pain, migraines, fatigue and post-exercise soreness. Therapists and patients alike report better sleep, improved mobility or an elusive sense of lightness.
The Case for Cupping Therapy
Cupping satisfies something that many wellness treatments don’t. It feels decisive—physical, visible and refreshingly free of spiritual theatrics. For spas, it strikes a rare balance between tradition and trend.
In a space increasingly saturated with softly lit everything and mindfulness speak, cupping stands apart. Patients feel the shift. Therapists see muscular tension let go in real time.
Cupping appeals to those seeking something more tactile than talk therapy, more direct than meditation. People turn to it for migraines, neck tension, athletic recovery or just a pause from constant forward motion.
Still, cupping isn’t a silver bullet. Research on its benefits remains limited. Some experience real relief; others walk away unconvinced. It may ease localized discomfort, but it won’t solve systemic issues. And those with clotting disorders, fragile skin or certain medical conditions should check with a doctor first.
Then there are the marks. Some wear them like medals. Others find them annoying. Either way, they stick around—usually for three to seven days.
Where to Try Cupping Therapy
These five destination spas and wellness retreats treat cupping not as a novelty, but as part of a deeper, intentional practice.
Six Senses Douro Valley — Portugal
Housed in a 19th-century wine estate in northern Portugal, Six Senses integrates cupping into Traditional Chinese Medicine programs rooted in diagnostics and clinical depth.
Mandarin Oriental Spa — Bangkok
One of Bangkok’s most respected spas, this riverside retreat draws on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Cupping is integrated into treatments designed to rebalance energy and restore physical ease.
COMO Shambhala Estate — Bali
In the jungle highlands of Ubud, COMO folds cupping into multi-disciplinary plans that draw on Ayurveda, hydrotherapy and nutritional therapy.
TIA Wellness Resort — Vietnam
On Vietnam’s central coast, TIA offers cupping as part of a Vietnamese therapeutic protocol designed by the resort’s in-house TCM doctor.
Euphoria Retreat — Greece
Set against the pine forests of the Peloponnese, Euphoria combines ancient Greek principles with and Chinese therapeutic practices. Cupping is featured in their Harmony treatment series.
Snapshot Summary
Cupping therapy has evolved from ancient practice to mainstream wellness trend. This 2,000-year-old technique uses suction cups to boost circulation, ease muscle tension and aid recovery, leaving distinctive circular marks that fade within a week. Athletes and wellness enthusiasts swear by its direct, no-nonsense approach to pain relief and stress reduction. From Portugal’s wine estates to Bali’s highlands, destination spas now offer cupping as serious therapeutic practice, not a trendy gimmick.
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