Text This technique involves dousing a cotton ball with alcohol, lighting it, and then drawing a cup over the flame and quickly applying it to the skin.

The flame creates a vacuum in the cup which then draws up the skin when placed on the body. This is excellent at stimulating blood flow and for breaking down congested muscles. It is a very pleasant experience. The cups may be moved up and down the channels using a little massage oil on the skin for lubrication. Great for back pain and general stiffness in the body.

The cups are normally made of glass or bamboo and several maybe placed on the body at the same time.

Dramatic photos illustrating ‘cupping technique’ using bamboo cups. Pictures taken at Guluo hospital, Nanjing, China.