Cupping is where glass cups, with a vacuum seal, are placed on the skin to stimulate Qi and blood flow to clear stagnation.

 

A piece of cotton wool, clamped with a pair of forceps, is dipped in Surgical Spirit and ignited.  With a swift movement, the fire is placed into the cup and removed, thereby burning off the oxygen within the cup.  This creates a negative pressure effect, then the cups are placed onto the body and the negative pressure tries to draw air back into the cup so doing it draws the surface tissue (skin) into the cup, facia and muscles thus helps to reduce pain.