Cupping Therapy in Charlotte & Huntersville, NC: Benefits, Techniques, and Wellness

Cupping is one of the most recognizable massage techniques—and one of the most misunderstood.

The circular marks may be what people notice first, but the marks are not the goal of treatment.

What is cupping?

Cupping uses cups placed on the skin to create suction.

Depending on the technique, cups may remain stationary or be moved across the skin.

At The Clementine, cupping is used as an adjunct to customized bodywork when it makes sense for the client.

It is not automatically included in every massage.

Why do therapists use cupping?

Cupping has been studied for several types of pain, including musculoskeletal pain.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 72 trials involving more than 5,700 participants and reported potential benefits for pain-related outcomes, but the authors also noted that the included studies had high risk of bias and that the certainty of evidence was low or very low.

A newer 2026 systematic review focused specifically on chronic neck pain and found improvements in pain and functional outcomes, although the evidence base still has methodological limitations.

Another 2026 systematic review comparing dry cupping with placebo cupping found the effects on pain to be very uncertain, emphasizing the need for better research.

That is a good example of why evidence-based bodywork does not need to oversell a technique.

What about the marks?

Cupping can leave temporary circular discoloration.

These marks are generally related to the suction and local changes in superficial tissues and blood flow.

More visible marks do not mean the treatment was more effective.

In fact, I would never judge the quality of a session by how dark the marks are.

How I use cupping

I consider cupping based on what I am seeing and what the client is experiencing.

It may be used alongside hands-on work rather than replacing it.

The amount of suction, placement, duration, and whether the cups remain stationary or move can all be adjusted.

The technique also needs to be appropriate for the individual.

Cupping is not right for everyone

Cupping should be avoided or modified in certain circumstances, and clients should disclose relevant health information, medications, skin conditions, recent procedures, pregnancy, and other concerns during intake.

If you are unsure whether cupping is appropriate for you, that should be part of the conversation before treatment.

At The Clementine, cupping is a tool—not the treatment itself.

The treatment is the individualized plan we create around you.

Research: 2025 cupping systematic review, 2026 chronic neck pain review, and 2026 placebo-controlled cupping review.